Utah EOD Airmen adapt dismounted operations to emerging drone threats

The battlefield is changing. Drones can turn the sky into a threat, explosive hazards can hide in unfamiliar terrain, and the equipment needed to survive a mission may be limited to what an Airman can carry on their back.

For 17 explosive ordnance disposal Airmen from four states, those challenges became the focus of Bodacious Guardian, a two-week training exercise led by the Utah Air National Guard's 151st Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight at Camp W.G. Williams, Utah, in September 2026.

The exercise brought emerging battlefield threats into realistic training scenarios, challenging EOD Airmen to identify and neutralize explosive hazards, operate aerial drones and ground robots, and respond to simulated enemy attacks while working alongside Air National Guard security forces personnel.

At the center of the training was a simple but increasingly important question: How do EOD Airmen accomplish their mission when the environment, the threats and the resources available are constantly changing?

For Tech. Sgt. Lance Steck, an EOD team leader assigned to the 151st CES EOD Flight, answering that question starts with preparing the next generation of Airmen for threats they may not have encountered before.

One of those threats is the growing use of small unmanned aerial systems in modern warfare.

Drawing on lessons from conflicts abroad, instructors introduced Airmen to different types of drones, their components, capabilities and potential applications by adversaries. Those lessons carried into field scenarios, where participants responded to simulated drone attacks and assessed recovered aircraft for explosive hazards and information about their potential origin or intended use.

Rather than learning about emerging threats solely through classroom instruction, Airmen were challenged to recognize and respond to them during practical exercises.

But the sky wasn't just another source of danger. It also offered EOD teams a new perspective on the battlefield. Using the X10 quadcopter unmanned aerial system, Airmen practiced surveying terrain, monitoring areas of interest and investigating potential hazards from a distance. The technology gave teams another way to gather information before committing personnel to potentially dangerous areas.

As Airmen explored the advantages of aerial surveillance, they also faced a challenge that has long defined dismounted operations: Every piece of equipment comes at a cost in weight, space and mobility.

"In our training exercise, we specifically focus on outside the continental United States, which means they're limited to gear that they carry on their backpacks," Steck said. "It's a more critical thought process than just blowing something up; they have to think about the equipment and supplies they have on hand and how to use them."

That limitation influenced nearly every aspect of Bodacious Guardian.

Across hills, valleys, urban settings and subterranean environments, teams conducted day and night operations while managing the equipment needed to accomplish their missions. Explosive materials, water, medical supplies and other essential gear had to be balanced against the physical demands of moving on foot.

The challenge extended beyond what Airmen carried. It also required them to understand how their mission fit into a larger tactical operation.

Working alongside security forces personnel, EOD teams practiced coordinating movements, communicating threats and dividing responsibilities as simulated enemy activity complicated their missions.

Exercise controllers introduced sniper fire, simulated casualties, post-blast situations and two-way engagements. Teams had to respond to changing conditions while providing casualty care, establishing safe areas for wounded personnel and conducting simulated evacuation procedures.

These scenarios challenged Airmen to think beyond the explosive hazard directly in front of them.

An EOD technician might be focused on identifying a suspicious device, but the surrounding environment could demand an immediate shift in priorities. Protecting teammates, responding to an attack or assisting a wounded Airman could become just as important as the technical task at hand.

While emerging threats played a significant role in the exercise, the fundamentals of explosive ordnance disposal remained essential.

Participants trained to identify homemade explosives, assess suspected hazards and determine when to approach a threat directly or use remote capabilities.

The T7 unmanned ground vehicle provided another option. Airmen practiced operating the robotic system to inspect potential explosive hazards while maintaining distance between themselves and the threat.

After identifying hazards, teams practiced disruption techniques and post-blast procedures, including examining remaining materials, assessing the surrounding soil and checking for potential injuries.

Together, the aerial drones, ground robots and dismounted scenarios reinforced an important lesson: Having the right equipment matters, but knowing when and how to use it can be just as critical.

For instructors, developing that judgment was a central objective.

Steck taught robotics, unmanned aerial systems and explosive techniques during the exercise. He said instructors incorporated knowledge gained through professional military education, observations of foreign conflicts and operational experience during the Global War on Terror.

The training itself was more than six months in the making, with planners drawing on experience from multiple military services and specialties to develop scenarios intended to challenge participants.

"They are all highly proficient in everything that they teach," Steck said. "They have studied it, manufactured it or built it all themselves."

The next threat EOD Airmen encounter may not resemble anything they have faced before. The terrain may be unfamiliar, the equipment limited and the situation unpredictable.

Bodacious Guardian was designed to prepare them for exactly that uncertainty, not by providing an answer to every possible scenario, but by developing the judgment and adaptability needed to find one.

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