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Smardan, Romania- At NATO’s Steadfast Dart exercise, the precision and skill of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams are critical to ensuring safety and operational success. Lieutenant Zach from the 17th Field Squadron of the 35 Engineer Regiment of the British Army leads his team, which includes a crucial canine member. Along with their Greek counterparts, they highlight the significance of EOD tasks in complex military operations.

Zach emphasizes the focus on interoperability, which is central to the activities at Steadfast Dart. Working alongside a Greek EOD team, the unit benefits from shared expertise and diverse operational techniques. “The key focus for us is interoperability,” Zach explains. “We have been working closely with a Greek EOD team, learning from each other and sharing different techniques and experiences.”

We work with military dogs all day long. Each of our teams includes a K9 dog, which is essential for our day-to-day operations.

The team leader of the Greek EOD team reflects on the collaboration: “The exercise has been very good, and the collaboration with our allies is highly effective and productive. We are learning a lot from the British Army, and they are learning from us, which enhances our collective EOD capabilities.”

The primary role of Zach’s team involves high-stakes tasks such as neutralizing sophisticated IEDs and clearing routes of potential threats. “Our job is to handle the more technically challenging devices and ensure safe passage for allied forces,” he states. This involves planned operations and rapid response to unexpected ordnance discoveries, requiring a high level of skill and coordination.

The Greek team leader details the specific focus of his team: “Our main role is to identify and clear all ammunition and improvised explosive devices that could obstruct our paths. We are committed to clearing the roads and overcoming all obstacles, ensuring the safe movement of our forces.”

An integral part of the team is Toto, a military working dog, handled by Daniel from the 1st Military Working Dogs unit, who plays a vital role in the high-assurance searches. “Toto and I work together on high assurance searches where his keen sense of smell is indispensable for detecting hidden explosive devices and their components,” explains Daniel. The capability of dogs like Toto to detect odors surpasses technological solutions, providing a reliable and efficient method of ensuring areas are clear of explosive threats.

The Greek EOD team leader underscores the importance of canine members in their operations: “We work with military dogs all day long. Each of our teams includes a K9 dog, which is essential for our day-to-day operations. ”The scenarios encountered during Steadfast Dart are designed to mimic real-world threats as closely as possible, preparing the teams for actual combat situations. “We’re training to respond quickly to calls about potential IEDs, integrating our standard procedures with the practices of the Greek EOD team,” Lieutenant Zach details. 

This collaborative training ensures that both teams can enhance their response strategies and adapt to a variety of EOD challenges.

The scenarios encountered [...] are designed to mimic real-world threats as closely as possible

As Steadfast Dart progresses, the exercises build on the foundational readiness established in the initial stages, preparing NATO forces for any future challenges they may face. This strategic training initiative not only tests the mettle of the troops but also fortifies the alliance, ensuring that NATO remains a formidable force capable of operating across diverse and challenging environments.