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U.S. Army Southern European Task
Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) Soldiers with the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) fusion cell, pose for a photo at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Oct. 23, 2024. From left to right, U.S. Army Maj. Ian Bloomsburg, C-IED deputy director, stands with Sgt. 1st Class Beau Martindale, humanitarian mine assistance (HMA) noncommissioned officer in charge, 1st Lt. Stanley Brown, EOD liaison officer with the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, and Master Sgt. Justin Jacobs, noncommissioned officer in charge of SETAF-AF's C-IED fusion cell. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros)
Photo by: Maj. Joe Legros
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U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 720th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment partnered with Kenyan Defence Forces observe the effects of a punting charge explosion during exercise Justified Accord 23 (JA 23) in Isiolo, Kenya, Feb. 17, 2023. JA 23 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), this multinational exercise brings together more than 20 countries from four continents to increase partner readiness for peacekeeping missions, crisis response and humanitarian assistance. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christian Dela Cruz)
Photo by: Sgt. Christian Dela Cruz
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U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Cianfarra, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist with the 754th Ordnance Company, 192nd Ordnance Battalion, instructs members of the Tunisian Armed Forces on the use of the EOD rover in Ben Ghilouf on May 1, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. William D. Kennedy III)
Photo by: Pfc. William Kennedy
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U.S. Army Southern European Task
A member of the Tunisian Armed Forces wears a bomb suit during explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training in Bizerte, Tunisia, May 5, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premiere joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine T. Bustos Chaves)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Bustos Chaves
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U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Isaac Bocanegra, a team leader with the 720th Ordnance Company (Explosives Ordnance Disposal), observes a soldier from the Kenyan Defence Forces using a ground search metal detector during counter-improvised explosive device training during Justified Accord 2023. Led by the Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA23 brings together U.S. Forces, Kenya Defence Forces, and partners to build readiness, prepare regional partners for United Nations and African Union mandated missions, and increase multinational interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Steven C. Eaton)
Photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Steven Eaton
VICENZA, Italy – A soldier gently places his finger against a detonation switch. As quick as a lightning strike, a spark speeds down the firing wire. Less than a second later, an explosion ripples through the air, leaving behind only smoke and fragments where moments earlier lay the threat of an unexploded ordnance (UXO).
“Disarmament week,” which runs from Oct. 24 - 30, is an annual event marking the anniversary of the United Nations’ founding. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) fully supports this mission, disarming more than just hazardous devices. Engaging throughout Africa, as well as accompanying partners to U.S.-based exchanges, SETAF-AF equips its partners with skills and resources to manage and eliminate remnants of war, like landmines and other UXOs.
“The humanitarian aspect of our work is often overlooked,” said U.S. Army Maj. Ian Bloomsburg, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) deputy director, SETAF-AF C-IED fusion cell. “Stronger explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) skills are one thing, but getting rid of UXOs and ensuring the safety of a partner country’s civilian population is another.”
A critical aspect of SETAF-AF EOD’s work involves training partner forces in physical security stockpile management, helping to prevent inadvertent explosions and catastrophic incidents at ammunition storage sites. This mission includes instruction on best practices and adherence to UN standards for supply and explosive storage.
“We’ve got a stockpile management exchange coming up soon in Cabo Verde,” said Bloomsburg. “We’re going to assist them in getting rid of thousands of pounds of ordnance such as landmines.”
Next January and February, the team’s training objective is to advise the Cabo Verdean Armed Forces (FACV) EOD technicians in proper storage and demolition procedures, both areas in which the nation requested assistance.
“Multiple concerns were noted during previous FACV engagements,” said Bloomsburg. “Based on these observations, we’ll conduct a stockpile destruction course and provide some hands-on experience with demolition.”
The team expressed excitement for the upcoming Cabo Verde engagement, their first to be conducted in 2025. In 2024, they supported 26 multinational EOD missions across Africa.
SETAF-AF’s EOD team also actively participates in multinational exercises like African Lion, held in Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, as well as exercise Justified Accord, hosted in Kenya.
“Building a good relationship means long-term benefits for everyone involved,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Beau Martindale, humanitarian mine assistance (HMA) noncommissioned officer in charge, SETAF-AF. “We’re constantly looking for those EOD champions who can carry the torch within their own ranks, within their own country’s force.”
Beyond technical skills, the team focuses on fostering bonds and building trust with partner nations, disarming any prior apprehensions.
To this end, SETAF-AF also facilitated the inclusion of Tunisian EOD partners in competitions such as Raven’s Challenge at Camp Williams, Utah, and the 52nd Ordnance Group’s EOD “Team of the Year” competition at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Engagements like these enable partners to gain valuable international experience, as well as the chance to share lessons learned with their teams back in Africa.
“For most of our African partners, the goal is to spend a sufficient amount of time with them, so they can do this work themselves,” said Martindale. “For instance, in Zambia we’ve worked with engineers and other soldiers to build up their HMA EOD skill levels, establishing a foundation for their future EOD assets.”
Enabling African partners to lead EOD operations independently reduces the region’s reliance on external forces to manage and neutralize explosive threats. These engagements support U.S. Africa Command’s stance of “partner-led, U.S.-enabled” training.
“The difference is not only the skill level, but the technologically advanced equipment we bring to the table,” said Martindale. “Not to mention, we have more fun than anyone I know. Whatever your job is, you should consider joining EOD. It’s better here.”
To accomplish their EOD mission, SETAF-AF cannot do it alone.
They regularly interface with U.S. embassies, the NATO Center for C-IED Excellence and others. Additionally, the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (20th CBRNE) provides expertise to the team, supplying about 80 percent of the personnel for SETAF-AF EOD engagements in Africa.
As SETAF-AF’s EOD team joins in marking UN’s disarmament week, their work reflects not only a commitment to reducing the immediate dangers posed by explosives but also to building lasting peace and stability across the continent.
To learn more about joining the U.S. Army’s EOD team, visit www.goarmysof.army.mil/EOD or email goarmyeod@army.mil.
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