Fire in the hole!
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Shawn Lundgren, a technician with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight in the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron since 2005, demonstrates to scouts Josh Tashiro-Townley (left) and Mike Ong (center) how to operate the remote F6A Robot to safely handle explosives. The robots are used to save lives and decrease the direct risk our EOD personnel face in combat environments. Sixteen Boy Scouts from Troop 316 out of Issaquah, Wash., came out as part of a "boot camp" experience and visited with the "bomb guys" Sept. 23 on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The scouts were eager to experience what service men and women go through during basic military training. The experience kicked off with the EOD tour followed by a trip down memory lane with the C-141 Starlifter. After the excursions at McChord Field, Troop 316 journeyed to Camp Murray, which is home to the Washington National Guard and were "greeted" by two former Marines. The taste of "boot camp" began with lots of shouting, standing at attention, push-ups, commands not executed properly, followed by numerous "do-over" commands, according to Rich Loudon, Boy Scout Troop 316 Scoutmaster. They ate real MREs and each scout stood a half-hour fire watch in the middle of the night. "With the exceptional tours and the rigorous physical challenge presented them, the Troop 316 Boy Scouts have decided this was the best event of the year," said Loudon. Tours for off base groups are organized and scheduled through the 446th AW Public Affairs office. Please contact 982-3330 for more details (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Lori Fiorello).