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Explosive ordnance disposal technicians with 2nd EOD Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, prepare to conduct a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training operation during their pre-deployment training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 6, 2015. During the scenario, the Marines had to conduct reconnaissance on an explosive device, identify the agent in the device, and defuse it before it detonated.

Photo by Cpl. Andy Orozco

Explosive ordinance disposal Marines prepare for deployment

18 May 2015 | Cpl. Andy Orozco The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

Marines with 2nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, conducted training to maintain proficiency aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 4 to 8, for an upcoming deployment with the Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response this summer.

“This week we’re putting second platoon, who will be deploying [with] SPMAGTF-CR this summer, through all the training and readiness standards for EOD,” said Staff Sgt. Adam Clements, a staff non-commissioned officer in the Special Training Unit with 2nd EOD Company and a native of Canal Nulcon, Ohio. “This covers everything from conventional ordnance to [improvised explosive devices] and [chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear warfare].” 

The scenarios the Marines were put through were very similar to those they would experience while forward deployed, Clements said.

“The IED scenarios that we have built are based on real events,” Clements said. “Doing so provides the Marines with real world devices, so that if they were to go to a specific country or area, they [will be] already familiar with the [tactics, techniques, and procedures] that the enemy uses.”

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael Gaydeski, the second platoon commander, and a native of Forks, Washington, said that the training they are receiving helps maintain unit proficiency.

“The training we’re doing is exercising our ability to safely and proficiently deal with certain situations,” Gaydeski said.

Clements said that although the Marines were unsure of certain scenarios, they were able to increase their knowledge on their craft through the challenging situations.

“Some Marines were caught a little bit off balance, which is good, because there’s always going to be an element of the unknown,” Clements said. “Even if it’s a [scenario] that you’ve done 10 or 15 times before, it’s something that can be new and different each and every time.”