Capitol Hill Forms EOD Caucus

Washington, D.C. Congressman Rick Crawford (R-Arkansas), a former Army EOD Technician in the late 1980s, serves as co-chair along with Congresswoman Susan Davis, of California, of the recently formed House EOD Caucus. The 19-member caucus was formed to educate lawmakers on how the importance of EOD on the Global War on Terror including counter-IED operations.

To promote the newly formed caucus, more than a dozen EOD soldiers from the 55th EOD unit out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia were invited to the inaugural event to showcase various technologies used by EOD. On display were interrogation technologies such as X-rays systems, personnel protection gear including newly design bomb suits, and various IED defeat tools.

Pictured - Congressman Crawford, Congresswoman Davis, Staff Sgt. Josh Bowden, and Pvt. 1st Class Thomas McCockill of the 55th EOD.

The event, held in the atrium of the Rayburn House Office Building provided lawmakers the opportunity to connect one-on-one with EOD personnel through various displays of EOD technologies. According to Co-chair Crawford, "it was an opportunity to shed some more light on what are the key enablers in the War on Terror, with respect to counter-IED operations". The committee is dedicated to promoting technologies and support for the EOD war-fighters in the Global War on Terror.

The 55th EOD unit supports the National Capital Region by providing assistance and expertise to the civilian bomb squads already operating there.