Liberty Airman Takes On Difficult Position
LIBERTY-- U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Josh Winters has just completed and graduated from the Naval School of Explosive Ordinance Disposal at the Eglin Air Force Base in Niceville, Florida placing him in one of the most difficult and dangerous positions in any branch of military service.
Winters, 19, a 2014 graduate from Tri-Valley Central High School entered the Air Force in November and just completed the 38-week class which earned him the Basic Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge (EOD) which recognizes those service members, qualified as explosive ordnance disposal technicians.
These technicians are specially trained to deal with the construction, deployment, disarmament and disposal of high explosive munitions and may include other types of ordinance such as nuclear, biological and chemical weapons along with improvised explosive devices and improvised nuclear devices.
Winters qualified to enter this field by scoring within the top 10 on his entrance examination but this grueling course of instruction results in a there is a low percentage of military personnel who complete and pass this rigid training.
Other branches of the military in this class with Winters included United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
The EOD badge is the only occupational badge awarded to all four services under the United States Department of Defense.
The Senior EOD badge is issued after 3-5 years as an explosive ordnance specialist and the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge is issued after 7-15 years of service in a senior supervisory position.
Winters noted that his career tasks could include the handling of live explosives, detection and identification and safe recover and disposal of explosives and ordinance that are unsafe including military ordinance, criminal and terrorist homemade items and chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
The new Airman First Class will work on the flight line during aircraft emergencies, on bombing ranges during range clearances, in munitions storage areas, in accident areas and in any other area or climate where an explosive hazard exists.
Winters will also maintain equipment, technical data and vehicles and analyze unknown munitions and explosives for exploitation and use by the intelligence agencies.
Another important task these technicians provide is protection to the president, vice president and other dignitaries in support of the United States Secret Service.
The EOD badge commonly known as the "crab" has a "Wreath" on it which is symbolic of the achievements and laurels gained minimizing accident potentials through the ingenuity and devotion to duty of its members.
Winters received his certificate of graduation and was pinned with the EOD badge by Maj. Rebik at the Eglin Air Force Base on October 23.
Josh is the son of Wade Winters of Liberty and will depart for his first assignment November 18 to the Lakenheath Air Force Base in England.
Airman First Class Josh Winters, right, of Liberty receives his official Navel School of Explosive Ordinance Disposal graduation certificate from Maj. Rebik October 23 at the Eglin Air Force Base in Niceville, Florida.
The official Basic "Crab" Explosive Ordnance Disposal badge now worn by Airman First Class Josh Winters of Liberty.
LIBERTY-- U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Josh Winters has just completed and graduated from the Naval School of Explosive Ordinance Disposal at the Eglin Air Force Base in Niceville, Florida placing him in one of the most difficult and dangerous positions in any branch of military service.
Winters, 19, a 2014 graduate from Tri-Valley Central High School entered the Air Force in November and just completed the 38-week class which earned him the Basic Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge (EOD) which recognizes those service members, qualified as explosive ordnance disposal technicians.
These technicians are specially trained to deal with the construction, deployment, disarmament and disposal of high explosive munitions and may include other types of ordinance such as nuclear, biological and chemical weapons along with improvised explosive devices and improvised nuclear devices.
Winters qualified to enter this field by scoring within the top 10 on his entrance examination but this grueling course of instruction results in a there is a low percentage of military personnel who complete and pass this rigid training.
Other branches of the military in this class with Winters included United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
The EOD badge is the only occupational badge awarded to all four services under the United States Department of Defense.
The Senior EOD badge is issued after 3-5 years as an explosive ordnance specialist and the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge is issued after 7-15 years of service in a senior supervisory position.
Winters noted that his career tasks could include the handling of live explosives, detection and identification and safe recover and disposal of explosives and ordinance that are unsafe including military ordinance, criminal and terrorist homemade items and chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
The new Airman First Class will work on the flight line during aircraft emergencies, on bombing ranges during range clearances, in munitions storage areas, in accident areas and in any other area or climate where an explosive hazard exists.
Winters will also maintain equipment, technical data and vehicles and analyze unknown munitions and explosives for exploitation and use by the intelligence agencies.
Another important task these technicians provide is protection to the president, vice president and other dignitaries in support of the United States Secret Service.
The EOD badge commonly known as the "crab" has a "Wreath" on it which is symbolic of the achievements and laurels gained minimizing accident potentials through the ingenuity and devotion to duty of its members.
Winters received his certificate of graduation and was pinned with the EOD badge by Maj. Rebik at the Eglin Air Force Base on October 23.
Josh is the son of Wade Winters of Liberty and will depart for his first assignment November 18 to the Lakenheath Air Force Base in England.
Airman First Class Josh Winters, right, of Liberty receives his official Navel School of Explosive Ordinance Disposal graduation certificate from Maj. Rebik October 23 at the Eglin Air Force Base in Niceville, Florida.
The official Basic "Crab" Explosive Ordnance Disposal badge now worn by Airman First Class Josh Winters of Liberty.
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