CORONADO —- Two dozen Navy bomb experts departed from North Island Naval Air Station on Tuesday to assume responsibility for one of the most dangerous jobs remaining for U.S. military personnel in Iraq: detecting and defusing improvised explosive devices.
The sailors, part of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, will assume command of the 500-man Joint Task Force Troy, responsible for command and control of explosive ordnance disposal forces throughout Iraq. Part of the yearlong mission is to help teach Iraqi forces how to take over the assignment when the Americans leave by the end of next year.
“The insurgent is opportunistic. He will try to exploit any opportunity,” said Capt. Edward Eidson, the group commodore. “It’s our goal not to give them that opportunity.”
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