419th EOD member serves tour at White House Published Sept. 7, 2006 By Capt. Lennea Montandon 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Most military service men and women have only a basic understanding of the duties Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians perform. Most people know these explosive experts respond to base or forward deployed location emergencies, "able to detect monitor, evaluate and decontaminate explosive, radioactive, chemical, or biological ordnance hazards." Yet there are many other facets to the job. Recently, Master Sgt. Eric Wass, 419th EOD superintendent, educated me on EOD's role in support of the Secret Service, providing protection to the president, vice president, and other dignitaries. In January, Sergeant Wass volunteered to augment the 75th ABW EOD as a team chief for the on-call bomb squad at the White House, a regular rotation for EOD personnel. He served in Washington D.C. for about one month. EOD teams cover the president and his staff round-the-clock. They are charged with searching press equipment, incoming gifts and packages, and motorcades. They also sweep the White House after public tours and events and meeting areas between dignitaries. EOD is a small career field where Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen routinely train and work together. Members are mobilized in two-man teams. Senior Airman Chezera Ruiz, 75th Air Base Wing EOD technician, worked hand-in-hand with Sergeant Wass during the January rotation. As team chief, Sergeant Wass was in charge of making critical judgments and implementing proper actions when a suspected explosive devise was detected. "It sounds impressive, but once you do it, it's not as glamorous. There is a lot of sitting around waiting for something to happen," Sergeant Wass said. While the job may seem "not so glamorous" to those experts who perform this mission, the nation trusts and depends on these teams to protect our leaders and to act quickly and decisively when necessary. During his rotation, Sergeant Wass' team responded to an alarm at the secretary of Homeland Defense's home, searching the area for suspicious devises. He's also swept rooms before Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was scheduled to meet with foreign dignitaries. Obviously, EOD team members' contributions to national security are vital. In his job as 419th EOD Superintendent here, Sergeant Wass manages, supervises and trains EOD personnel and acts as a liaison between the 419th and 75 Air Base Wing.