RED HORSE builds bunker for EOD Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jamie L. Coggan
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Guardsmen from the 219th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) unit, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., finished building a bunker for the 355th Civil Engineer Explosive Ordinance Disposal team here Feb.15.

The new EOD range bunker is a safe house for EOD Airman to work in that is far enough away from any blast, which they can use as an ignition point to detonate ordinances.

"It is awesome anytime you can improve the safety factor at a base," said Master Sgt. Robert Brewer, RED HORSE project manager. "It is essential to the mission."

EOD requested a new safety shelter because the one they had didn't satisfy their safety needs. Basically, it was a metal box buried in the dirt. 

The 17 RED HORSE members, who are known for wearing their traditional red hats, have built similar bunkers in Africa, but began construction here Jan.22. 

The bunker is constructed mostly of concrete masonry unit cinder blocks. The CMU blocks are 8x8x16-inch concrete blocks that make up CMU walls. The masonry blocks are pre-cast concrete blocks that have been molded to a specific shape and size and are used to build a block or rock retaining wall. 

The CMU blocks are known for being durable, self contained, low maintenance and fire resistant. They are suitable for the most stringent fire ratings. 

"This bunker was made to last and will ensure the Airmen have adequate protection," said Sergeant Brewer.
The Guardsmen painted the walls desert tan, cleaned out a trench, and laid down more than 1,400 feet of conduit, which is an underground water system for a firing line that goes to the new EOD range bunker.

"The new bunker is a 100 percent improvement over what we had," said Master Sgt. Robert Hannon, EOD flight chief. "They (RED HORSE) did a fantastic job."