Afghanistan Marine EOD Master Sgt. Daniel Fedder, 34, was killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province. The Camp Pendleton-based Marine was assigned to the 1st EOD Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, on his first deployment to Afghanistan. Prior to deploying to Afghanistan, Fedder had served two tours in Iraq in 2004 and 2006.

The 16-year veteran of the Marine Corps from Pine City, Minnesota was awarded more than a dozen personal service awards, including the Purple Heart during his time in the Marines. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

Albany, New York The remains of 24-year old Staff Sgt Derek Farley were flown back from Afghanistan to be laid to rest. Farley served as an EOD technician team leader with the 702nd EOD Company. He was two weeks from completing his tour of duty in Afghanistan when he died from an IED explosion.

Farley was born in Troy, New York and had served in the military for six years. He received a Purple Heart after he lost the hearing in one ear to a bomb detonation in Iraq, where he served from 2006 to 2007 with the 756th EOD Company.

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Montclair, New Jersey A 62 year old man clearing out his lawn discovered a munition item among a scrap metal pile in his lawn several months ago. The man believing that the munition was inert left the item in place as he was waiting for the next heavy garbage day to come around. Having piles of scrap metal in the lawn was not unusual for his residence as the home has been in the man's family for over 60 years with a previous relative living there who worked as a junk yard contractor.

The munition item was re-discovered by the neighbor who was installing a fence between his property and the house where the munition was left. Upon the discovery, the neighbor called the police to report the find. The local police and fire department responded and evacuated the area. The Essex County Sheriff's Bomb Squad was called in for technical support. The bomb squad identified the munition as a military ordnance and called the Air Force EOD unit from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Central Jersey for support.

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New Boston, New Hampshire Nearly 70 million gallons of water and counting have been pumped from the Joe English Pond at the New Boston Air Force Station (AFS) over a five day period so crews can clear UXO from the area. The Joe English Pond and Dam Removal Project, authorized by 2002 Defense Authorization Act, will reduce the pond by approximately 20-25 acres so that the area can be cleared from UXO and put to recreational use.

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Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Three EOD Marines with EOD Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd MLG, received the Bronze Star Medal for their brave actions during their deployment to Afghanistan in 2009. Those awarded included Gunnery Sgt. Eric J. Gonzalez, Gunnery Sgt. James P. Otto, and Gunnery Sgt. Drew B. Jordan. Gen. Michael G. Dana, the 2nd Marine Logistics Group commanding general, presented the metals during an award ceremony.

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Indian Head, Maryland Two civilian workers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) were injured when the rocket motor on an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile ignited while being dismantled. The missile reportedly did not have a warhead attached. One worker received second and third degree burns while the other worker only received minor injuries. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

CLEAR - SECURE - TRAIN
Position 2010-2254

Overview:

RONCO Consulting Corporation is an international professional services firm specializing in humanitarian and commercial mine action and ordnance disposal, environmental remediation, security services, specialized training, canine detection, and post-conflict operations. We have immediate opportunities for specialists to provide in-theatre operational Explosive Ordnance Disposal and De-mining capabilities to coalition forces.

The incumbent will provide and/or support safe and effective area and emergency mine / UXO clearance operations in and around key infrastructure and Coalition-occupied areas. De-mining/UXO clearing shall be performed in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and/or host nation mine action standards.

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Darlen, Georgia The Marine Corps issued a notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the modernization and expansion of its Townsend Bombing Range (TBR) in southeast Georgia. The 5,100 acre range is owned by the Marine Corps but is managed by the Georgia Air National Guard. Currently more than 3,000 training flights are conducted over the range per year. Details of the size of the proposed expansion have not been released but reportedly only practice munitions with spotting charges will be authorized for use.

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Hamburg, Germany Workers at a scrap recycling facility found an old bomb mixed in with a pile of scrap metal that was being processed. The workers called the police who responded with technical support from a bomb disposal unit. The bomb was identified as a WWII era 500-pound U.S. aerial bomb (specific nomenclature not reported).

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