UK Forces Provide Bomb Disposal Training

December 5, 2013

UK armed forces experts have been drafted into Bermuda to help train soldiers, police and firefighters in how to deal with unexploded bombs.

And yesterday [Dec 4] Governor George Fergusson and Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley watched the three-strong Explosive Ordnance Disposal [EOD] team put volunteers through their paces on a two week course which started on Monday at Warwick Camp.

RAF bomb disposal expert Sgt George Rice shows Regiment Lance Corporal Jelani Frost and a firefighter how to wire up a detonator.

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Regiment Lance Corporal Jelani Frost, 26, from Sandys, said, “I have learned a lot – it’s a huge amount of learning, but it’s been really interesting.”

PC Darren Mercano added, “It’s a great course – it’s all about detonating certain kinds of explosives and how to disarm them. If we’re ever presented with a problem like that, this kind of training is definitely an asset.”

He added, “It’s good working with the Regiment and the Fire Service – it’s a great experience.”

The Governor with Regiment CO Lt Col Michael Foster-Brown and a police bomb disposal expert:

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The UK Defence EOD, Munitions and Search Regiment team includes Sergeant George Rice and Chief Technician Neil Dinwoodie from the RAF and Royal Engineer Warrant Officer II Kim Slaughter, who was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for safely disabling two 500kg German World War II bombs simultaneously in 2007.

Firefighter Sergeant Deroy Somner said, “I have done the Regiment, but I haven’t done EOD before. We’ve learned quite a bit. They have been teaching us how to identify different kinds of explosives which might have to be safely exploded and teaching us the different things to use to do explosions.”

He added, “It’s another useful skill – I’m used to putting fires out, not blowing things up.”

Soldiers, police and firefighters on the firing range at Warwick Camp:

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Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Martin Weekes said that EOD work had been the responsibility of the police since the US Navy pulled out of Bermuda in the mid-1990s.

He added, “There are so many other things we need to do and we have had problems getting kit and explosives, especially since 9/11. Working with the Regiment makes it easier to get explosives.

“And the bulk of our work is military ordnance disposal, so the military should be involved. The police will still be first responders, but having extra guys on call is a great help.

“This course is about having a basic idea of what to do if they come across something which might be explosive – and sharing the load is a great boost for Bermuda.”

Royal Engineer Warrant Officer II Kim Slaughter explains explosive ordnance disposal techniques to Minister Dunkley and Lt Col Foster-Brown.

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Regiment Staff Officer Major Joe Carnegie said good links with the UK military meant the Regiment could acquire the equipment needed for realistic training faster than the police.

He added that the UK Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, who visited the Regiment earlier this year, took a personal hand in having the UK team seconded to the island.

Maj. Carnegie added, “This was a need we identified about two years ago – the guys are really enthusiastic and want to take a role that helps Bermuda.”

And he said, “Joint working like this is the way ahead and hopefully there will be more opportunities to help the police and the other services. All of us working together offers resilience and a chance to help the island as well.”

Mr Fergusson said, “These skills need to be in place on the island because of the discovery of legacy explosives in Bermuda.

“It’s good to see the Regiment, police and fire service come together on something like this and get specialist support from the British Army and Royal Air Force.”

Minister Dunkley – who detonated a simulated suspect device in a controlled explosion during his visit – said, “We have limited resources in Bermuda and we need to make sure they are as effective as possible. Cross-training and working together is extremely important.

“It breeds better morale within the organisations taking part – it’s team-building and we need to continue to do that in Bermuda.”

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Comments (8)

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  1. Nuffin but da Truth says:

    Dunkley!…take your hands outta ya pockets!
    (best drill master voice).

    • What Do You Think says:

      Brace the body Mr. Dunkley

    • James Goodfellow says:

      and stop trying to look cool in those shades, wear something that suits your age.

  2. Joonya says:

    So who’s Larry gonna call if he finds himself in this type of pickle… Ghost Busters?

  3. Terry says:

    Probably thinking ‘got enough to deal with now. Um nut tuchin nuffin’.

  4. What Do You Think says:

    Interesting….The Regiment use to send soldiers who were interested or qualified to the UK for Skill at Arms courses. I was one of them and bomb disposal was part of the training. I don’t know if the Regiment still send soldiers to do that course. It was a great learning experience and I am happy to see that EOD, Munitions & Search Regiment have a team here on the island to train Police,Fire and the Regiment. All three services will benefit especially the BFS&R since a good bit of the Fire Service consist of former Regiment members. I feel that they should have included HM Customs,not in the actual disposal or detonation but more in the recognition of explosive devices that can now be disguised in many forms that can get pass overseas airports security. Now that volenteers are going through training will the police & regiment K9 sections get bomb sniffing dogs?

    • Logic76 says:

      I agree HM Customs would benefit from this course. I’m not aware that there is a K9 section in the Bermuda Regiment. Detection dogs cannot be cross-trained to detect both drugs and explosives. Perhaps an explosives detection dog could aid in the battle against the importation of illegal ammunition to our shores. I’m not qualified in this area, just a thought.

      • ACE BOY... says:

        Police dogs are trained to detect drugs and ammunition. Explosive dogs are an entire different field of work. As for any kind of K9 application, i doubt the government wants to spend anymore money now. Dogs are about 15k each (trained and ready).