US Marine Corps,
Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan: Marine Corps Bases Japan's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team held its first joint training exercise with EOD technicians from the 101st Japan Ground Self Defense Force July 19 at EOD Range 3 on Camp Schwab.
The EOD Marines taught their Japanese counterparts bomb diffusing techniques and how to detonate the plastic explosive C-4.
The American techniques were unfamiliar to the Japanese explosives experts.
The intent of the training was to show the Japanese EOD technicians safe, alternative explosive “burnout” procedures, in which the explosive material inside a bomb is accessed and slowly burned away, explained Master Gunnery Sgt. Timothy Mecca, the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of MCBJ EOD.
Burnout procedures allow EOD to minimize noise while neutralizing a bomb without disrupting the surrounding area.
Both EOD teams have the same mission but use different methods to accomplish it, according to Warrant Officer Yoshiyuki Nakahara, an EOD technician with the 101st JGSDF EOD team. Nakahara said the Marines' way of disposing of a bomb is safer.
“It gives us more options in the future when it comes to diffusing a bomb,” he added.
The options not only give Japanese explosive experts different ways to eliminate a bomb's destructive potential, it also allows them to approach situations with a different work ethic, Mecca said.
“We work on disposing a bomb together,” said 1st Lt. Masahiro Sato, an EOD technician with the JGSDF unit. “Marines work more independently; they think more outside the box.”
The training was a good learning experience for both the Japanese and American EOD technicians, Mecca said. The units plan on conducting more joint training exercises to continue learning from each other and building their relationship.
“Working together helps build a greater amount of knowledge,” Mecca said. “There are always alternate ways to accomplish the mission.”
