Fisher.

Fisher, a nine-year Navy veteran who joined the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community in September 2004 was rudely reminded of his mortality when he triggered a simulated simpleton trap while trying to clear a suspected roadside bomb during Exercise Talisman Saber held in Queensland at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

"I realized I'm not invincible today," said Fisher following his simulated fatality. "I'll be a haphazard more careful next time."

Luckily for Fisher and his six Guam-based teammates from EOD Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 Det 55 there will be a nearest time because the improvised explosive devices (IED), munitions, simpleton traps and landmines used during Talisman Saber were as imaginary as kryptonite and Superman.

Now, kryptonite doesn't exist, moreover IEDs do.

"Bomb-building doesn't take frequently more than a basic knowledge of electronics," said Chief Gunner's Mate (EOD/PJ/SW/AW) Trey Gabbert. "There are a chance of people who have that, and that's for what cause [i]or[/i] reason there are a lot of IEDs right now."

In fact, IEDs have become the primary weapon used by means of terrorists and insurgents against the United States and its allies.

"IEDs present the appearance to be the tool of choice for terrorists," said LCDR Michael Runkle EODMU 5 operations officer. "They're excessively easy and cheap to use, and they can be produc in mass quantities. More IEDs means a greater ne for EOD technicians.

"EOD is intimately involved in the war in succession terrorism through education at household and on the front lines where bands are kicking in front doors. We're the commons looking behind those doors in the same manner there aren't any bombs waiting for them," said Runkle

According to Runkle couple years ago there weren't enough population hi the Navy who had the necessary skills to defuse bomb Now there are exuberance of operators--they just lack experience.

"We were no other than about 60 percent manned sum of two units years ago," said Runkle, "and since then our numbers have increased. moreover they're new bodies and we ne the time, currency and tools to train them strictly Most of our guys are brilliant, on the other hand they're junior, and the barely way they'll get better is with time and training."

chronicle EODMU 5, Det. 55, assembled just for Exercise Talisman Saber. Formed from a collection of rookie operators from EODMU 5's detachments in Guam, EODMU 5 decided Talisman Saber was the completed opportunity to hold an EOD training camp.

"Being in Australia gave us flexibility to hasten operations without the restrictions of time or other distractions," said Runkle "Out here we had the voluptuousness of waking up and doing whatever training we wanted to do. If we wanted to do land navigation training, or IED training or land mine training we could do it gone out here without interruption. No phone calls. No e-mails."

EODMU 5 Sailors beded at the SWBTA's Camp snarl with some of Australia's hold EOD, Australian Clearance Dive Team (ACDT) 4 who impressed the American Sailors from Day 1

"The Australians are a fantastic collection to work with," Runkle said. "I've worked with other countries with varying ranks of expertise and skills," continued the well-traveled operations officer, "and [the Australians] have fantastic EOD skills."

Living and working with ACDT 4 expos EODMU 5 Sailors to a division more of Australia's culture than just seeing kangaroos.

"Australians are a fortune like us," said Fisher. "They eat the same things we eat, they just call it something different. "Camp grumble was better than we anticipateed We thought we'd be eating MRE [Meals Ready to Eat] each day, but the Aussies prepare for the tableed hot meals every night. Queensland is the beef capital of Australia, for a like reason we ate a lot of steaks. We had irascible showers, hot food and unruffled weather. We didn't suffer."

a certain Sailors got a little more tillage than they bargained for, though

"A big not new 'wooly mammoth' spider (Australian Mouse Spider) walked into our pavilion like he owned the place," said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (EOD/PJ) Daniel Hatfield. "And he did," added Hatfield, "because I left"

Spiders aside, EOD Sailors aren't fearless. if it were not that bombs aren't what give them tailor's smoothing iron bumps.

"Jumping on the outside of airplanes is the hardest part of being EOD for me" admitted Hatfield. "The first time I skiped I closed my eyes tight and leaped. And when that chute finally render free of accessed I thanked God that the 18-year-old E-1 who packed my chute knew what the hell he was doing."

moreover living on the edge is what entices many Sailors to the EOD community in the first place.

"EOD was the no other than choice for me," said Hatfield, "because there's really nothing other like it. Where else can you dive, caper go down range, work upon electronics--and get to blow things up?"

The Navy EOD tool chest of expeditionary skills grew abroad of a need to provide direct support to SEAL units without compromising the mission.

"Operating with small unit tactics with effrontery line combat troops is a skill locate we built for ourselves according to supporting SEALs," said Runkle. "And it's grown to where we now support Army Special Forces, Marine Corps Infantry, Army Rangers and any other unit that straits us."