Sgt. Chris Martin of the U.S. Army's 192nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion monitors for disturbances during Exercise Ardent Defender, a multinational explosive ordnance disposal training exercise at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick, Canada, Sept. 25. Canadian Armed Forces photo by S1 Larissa de Guzman.
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FORT LIBERTY, N.C. – A U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion encounters and defeats unexploded ordnance during local response missions throughout the eastern United States.
Army explosive ordnance disposal technicians from the 192nd Ordnance Battalion (EOD) support local, state and federal civilian authorities from east of the Mississippi River and north from South Carolina to Maine.
The 192nd EOD Battalion, based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, is part of the 52nd EOD Group and the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the leading multi-functional, deployable formation in the U.S. Army.
From 19 bases in 16 states, Soldiers and Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command handle the world's most dangerous weapons in support of military operations and local authorities.
Service members were blocked together to unload artillery shells at a demolition range from November 30 to December 4 at Letterkenny Army Depot located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. These technicians are part of a joint force operation that protects Pittsburgh communities. In this case, 1,200 Civil War artillery shells were found in the Pittsburgh area and teams worked together to make them safe.
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The 192nd EOD Battalion is one of several EOD units in the 20th CBRNE Command that handle unexploded ordnance on and off base. The 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Command (CBRNE) includes two U.S. Army EOD groups, five EOD battalions, and 32 EOD companies.
Over the past two years, EOD technicians from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Command (CBRNE) have responded to an average of 1,500 military munitions discovered annually off-site and on-site.
Because civilian bomb squads are not authorized to work on military ordnance due to the Military Ordnance Rule in the Code of Federal Regulations, Joint Service EOD technicians are called upon when old off-base military ordnance is discovered.
In accordance with DoD Instruction 3025.18, DoD Instruction 3025.21, and Joint Publication 3-42, EOD technicians are the only DoD personnel authorized to respond to and safely provide UXO ordnance.
Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth A. said: Schwimmer, commander of the 192nd EOD Battalion, said her EOD techniques help save lives, prevent suffering and protect property during civilian local support missions.
The 192nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion responded to 187 on-site and 40 off-site missions during fiscal year 2024, Schwimmer said.
Sgt. Dionne Brown, 55th Ordnance Company, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), 192nd OD Battalion (EOD), 52nd OD Group (EOD), 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Command (CBRNE), secures detonation cord in preparation for demolition. Nov. 30 At Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, PA Brown is part of a joint force operation that protects communities pittsburgh. In this case, 1,200 Civil War artillery shells were found in the Pittsburgh area and teams worked together to make them safe. (U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Sharifa Newton, 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD))
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“By their nature, local responses are unique to the continental United States where EOD teams support civilian authorities and follow requirements of civil authorities in support of local, state and federal defense, and where EOD teams provide installation support under non-combat orders,” Schwimmer said.
A native of St. Augusta, Minnesota, Schwimmer earned her bachelor's degree in physics-electro-optics from the University of St. Cloud. I served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq.
The 192nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion recently destroyed a variety of unexploded ordnance, including a 12-pound cannon shell, a suspected pipe bomb, and a homemade flamethrower.
Civilian bomb squads often handle unexploded ordnance off base but use military explosive ordnance disposal technicians when necessary, Schwimmer said.
“Commercial explosives, fireworks and potential IEDs are the responsibility of local, state or federal bomb squads to handle unless they are on a military installation,” Schwimmer said.
“Local law enforcement can ask for our support, and we will respond in an advisory role,” Schwimmer said. “The exception is if local law enforcement is not available due to time and location constraints and the threat requires immediate action, we will respond.”
Sgt. Deone Brown, 55th Ordnance Company, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), 192nd OD Battalion (EOD), 52nd OD Group, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Command (CBRNE), holds a cannon shell during Operation Blue Steel in Nov. 30 at Letterkenny Army Depot located in Chambersburg, Pa. Brown is part of a joint force operation that protects Pittsburgh communities. In this case, 1,200 Civil War artillery shells were found in the Pittsburgh area and teams worked together to make them safe. (U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Sharifa Newton, 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD))
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The 192nd EOD Battalion includes seven EOD companies stationed at Fort Liberty, North Carolina; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and Fort Drum in New York. The battalion supports Airborne Forces, Army Rangers and Special Forces units.
The local response mission is a non-fail mission, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, said Capt. Christopher H. Whelan, commander of the battalion's 18th Ordnance Company.
The 18th EOD Company has three EOD teams supporting homeland response missions simultaneously, with teams at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
“Most of the local EOD calls we receive are ordnance-based, which is an essential function of domestic and foreign EOD. EOD technicians perform real-world missions with live ordnance, which can also be easily translated into operations,” Whelan said. “This gives EOD team leaders experience and the opportunity to learn in a safer environment than outside.”
EOD technicians are required to take control of the scene, manage their team and return the scene to normal during domestic and overseas missions, Whelan said.
The U.S. Army and Fort Indiantown Gap teamed up this month to dispose of hundreds of Civil War-era artillery shells found in Pittsburgh this spring. The munitions were destroyed at Fort Indiantown Gap. Several variants have been found at the now-defunct Allegheny Arsenal site. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Angela King Swigart)
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Originally from Carl Junction, Missouri, Whelan graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He was deployed to Iraq in 2015.
Some missions require EOD technicians to handle munitions that are in the history books, Whelan said.
One of his explosive ordnance disposal teams dealt with a Civil War-era artillery shell that was discovered during a construction project in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“There is historical significance when modern-day EOD techniques respond to a munitions item that is potentially 160 years old. It turns out that this item had no explosive hazards at all and was just a big ball of lead,” Whelan said. Sometimes, driving five hours back and forth to get a lead ball is the nature of the business.”
Sgt. Nicholas R. said: Mackowiak, an explosive ordnance disposal team leader from the 18th EOD Company, said his team must balance national response missions with readiness to serve as an immediate response force with the 82nd Airborne Division.
A native of Gardner, Massachusetts, Mackowiak holds an associate's degree in applied science and certifications in forest management and logging. He joined the Army in 2018 and deployed to the US Central Command area of operations with the 18th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company.
“We have to work longer hours to make sure the training is complete,” Mackowiak said. “Most importantly, I work and train with my team and make sure the new EOD Soldiers adapt to the diverse EOD task set. If we are to fight back, I want my team to be known for its expertise and discipline.”
