The U.S. Army is working to establish an airborne bomb squad with the capacity to respond to global contingencies as fast as the 82nd Airborne Division and the Global Response Force, Army Times reported Wednesday.
Meghann Myers writes the 767th Ordnance Company, 192nd Ordnance Battalion have completed the Army’s first conventional explosive ordnance disposal operations with members of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg.
Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Golson said in an interview with Army Times that the development of an Army airborne disposal unit can lead to collaboration between technicians and paratroopers that will respond to conflicts on the ground and help protect troops from conventional ordnance and improvised explosive devices.
“The purpose of us jumping in is to offer EOD support earlier on in the joint force entry operations, and that’s what the 82nd does,” said Golson.
“EOD’s role in support of the [Global Response Force] is a lot of protecting the force during rapid threat assessment … Once our guys jump in, they’re looking at threats the force may encounter,” added Capt. Zachary Abood, commander of the 767th Ordnance Company.
