Giancarlo Casem
In a significant collaboration across military branches, a six-day Field Training Exercise titled "Obsidian Dragon" concluded at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Sept. 13. The FTX brought together Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams from various U.S. military bases. This comprehensive training focused on critical areas such as unexploded ordnance identification, hazard mitigation, and counter-improvised explosive device tactics. “Holding a joint FTX of this nature allows our EOD teams to further refine their technical and tactical EOD techniques, increase interoperability, and gain familiarity with joint service operating procedures,” said Maj. Jed Tait, 812th Civil Engineer Squadron Commander. Hosted by the 812th CES, the event drew specialized teams from Army EOD at Fort Irwin, Marine Corps EOD from Camp Pendleton, and multiple U.S. Air Force EOD units from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Beale Air Force Base, and March Air Reserve Base. Additionally, 412th Security Forces Squadron personnel and 812th CES Fire and Emergency Services personnel from Edwards participated, enhancing the exercise's scope and impact. “Our EOD team put in some long hours in the planning phase leading up to the exercise and those efforts resulted in an outstanding FTX”, Tait said. The FTX was designed to address several critical operational skills. Key training objectives included: – IED defeat and 9-line response tasks – Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE) – Rapid Hazard Explosive Mitigation and runway recovery – Tactical Operations Center (TOC) Management – Responding to small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) Participants practiced soldiering skills such as reacting to fire, small unit tactics, and executing 9-line medical evacuation procedures. Ground sign awareness and effective counter-IED strategies were also focal points, ensuring that all personnel were prepared to navigate the evolving landscape of modern warfare. “This exercise prepares EOD technicians for new and evolving threats, but it also ensures our skills stay sharp from lessons learned during OIF and OEF. Our EOD Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen are better prepared now than my generation was in the early 2000’s and its exercises like this and support from leaders across the entirety of the DoD that will make sure our people stay ready,” stated Master Sgt. Kalvin Moore, EOD Flight Chief. The FTX also featured a competitive aspect that highlighted the top teams and superior performers based on individual and team tasks: 1st Place: United States Marine Corps, Mobile Unit 1, Camp Pendleton Staff Sgt. Austin Sinclair Sgt. Jeffrey Shaffer 2nd Place: Edwards AFB Team Tech. Sgt. Joseph Griffin Senior Airman Cole Tysver Senior Airman Samual Yao 3rd Place: Beale AFB Team Staff Sgt. Brandon Romaca Senior Airman Aaron Bowman Airman 1st Class Benjamin Reyes De Diego Top Team Member Staff Sgt. Joshua Sherwood, March ARB Top Defender: Senior Airman Joshua McHugh, Edwards AFB "While this was our first exercise of this scale, we are committed to building on this success in the future," Moore said. "We appreciate the support from our Wing and Group leadership, which was instrumental in making Obsidian Dragon possible." As military operations continue to evolve amid great power competition with peer adversaries, the need for enhanced collaboration and training among various service branches will remain a priority. Future iterations of exercises like Obsidian Dragon are expected to further solidify the capabilities of EOD teams and improve readiness for real-world threats.
Explosive Ordnance Teams from multiple branches and bases converged on Edwards Air Force Base, California, for Field Training Exercise Obsidian Dragon, Sept. 8-13. (Air Force photo by Madeline Guadarrama) 
Explosive Ordnance Teams from multiple branches and bases converged on Edwards Air Force Base, California, for Field Training Exercise Obsidian Dragon, Sept. 8-13. (Air Force photo by Lindsey Iniguez) 
Explosive Ordnance Teams from multiple branches and bases converged on Edwards Air Force Base, California, for Field Training Exercise Obsidian Dragon, Sept. 8-13. (Air Force photo by Richard Gonzales)