BUNKER HILL – One of the most high-tech explosive-control units in the state recently moved into a renovated building at Grissom Air Reserve Base.
The base recently completed a $360,000 remodel on a 15,000-square-foot facility that will now house its explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit.
Deputy Chief of Public Affairs Doug Hays said the project gutted and renovated a World War II-era facility that previously housed security forces units.
The EOD unit first started arriving at Grissom in 2011 before becoming fully operational in 2014. The team is now made up of six full-time members and eight traditional reservists who employ a wide-range of high-tech equipment to find and dispose of munitions.
That equipment includes a remote-controlled robot, a portable x-ray machine that can look into packages and a trailer in which explosives can be safely detonated.
“It takes quite a bit to stand up a brand new unit at a brand new location, especially one as highly technical and dangerous as this one,” Hays said. “(Grissom) has been their home for several years, but now they have a place to call their own.”
The unit supports law enforcement agencies and responds to calls in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. The team was the first Air Force Reserve Command unit to respond and render safe an improvised explosive device off base.
In 2012, they made their first official run in support of off-base requests. In 2013, they responded to six events. In 2014, that number jumped to 11 deployments. In 2015, they were requested and responded to 18 events. So far in 2016, they have made seven runs.
Hays said the unit, which is assigned to the 434th Civil Engineer Squadron, has three missions. First is the protection of the base and base assets against any explosive devices or devices of terrorism. They also provide EOD response for military munitions in three states and are responsible for organizing, training and equipping deployable EOD technicians.
Hays said the new facility isn’t just an improvement to the base, but an asset for the entire tristate area.
“To be able to use those skills they’re learning in the military in the community is a great win everybody,” he said.