An explosive training experience: Fort Carson hosts cadets

  • Published
  • 20th CBRNE Command
FORT CARSON, Colo. --  Soldiers from Fort Carson's explosive ordnance disposal company hosted a joint training exercise featuring nine Academy cadets, Nov. 20.

Cadets, taking Chemistry 350: Chemistry of Weapons class, trained with Soldiers assigned to the 764th EOD Company.

"It was a terrific opportunity for the cadets to increase their knowledge on the effects of explosives and meet Army NCOs and officers," said Maj. Tom Heier, an instructor assigned to the Academy's Chemistry Department. "The event absolutely added to the cadets' understanding of how important each service's role is in today's joint-environment."   

The training opportunity gave cadets the chance to take their training from the classroom to the field, Heier said.

"In the classroom, we study the explosive power of various compounds and their effects, but we can't demonstrate on the scale here that we can at Fort Carson," he said.

Col. Heidi Hoyle, commander of the Fort Carson-based 71st EOD Group, said cadets worked with live explosives under the supervision of Army EOD technicians.
"By training with the 764th EOD, students were able to gain real-world, hands-on experience to supplement their theoretical knowledge and classroom study," Hoyle said.

The recurring training is sponsored by the 242nd EOD Battalion and Academy's Engineering Department.

"I can't thank the Fort Carson team enough for hosting us," Heier said. "They're always very open to hosting cadets and we certainly appreciate it. We absolutely look forward to teaming up with these Army experts in the future. The cadets really appreciated this experiential learning opportunity."

This was the second trip to a Fort Carson training range for Heier's cadets.