European EOD exercise hones Incirlik airmen’s tactical edge

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Airmen from the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron at Incirlik Air Base, Turkiye, joined counterparts from across Europe for Operation Deterrent Viking II, a weeklong field exercise hosted by the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron from Ramstein Air Base at Germany’s Baumholder Military Training Area, May 3–8.

The multi-day event assembled more than 50 EOD specialists and emphasized realistic, scenario-driven training to sharpen readiness and strengthen regional response. Teams rotated through mission profiles that included identifying and neutralizing unexploded ordnance, navigating challenging terrain, conducting casualty evacuations, and executing controlled detonations. Participants lived and worked in austere conditions to mirror deployed environments, testing technical proficiency under pressure and reinforcing tight coordination across teams and units.

“EOD plays a critical role in keeping the 39th Air Base Wing and our NATO partners ready to fight through effectively supporting our daily operations, post-attack airfield recovery, aircraft emergencies, UXO response, and suspicious package handling,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. William Berner, 39th CES commander. “The team will bring back what they’ve learned and incorporate those lessons into an already rigorous EOD training program so the whole flight can benefit.”

Organizers said the goal was to expose Airmen to situations they may not routinely face at home stations while giving them the space to refine tactics in a safe but demanding setting. “It’s critical to conduct exercises like this so we can replicate likely situations that personnel may not routinely encounter or practice at their home stations,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Alexander Um, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight commander. “It gives EOD personnel the opportunity and freedom to hone their skills in a controlled environment.”

Alongside U.S. Airmen, EOD personnel from partner nations, including Slovakia and Belgium, took part, exchanging tactics, techniques and procedures to bolster interoperability. Leaders said the cross-pollination of approaches and equipment familiarization are central to operating seamlessly in contingency environments across the European theater.

For many participants, the value of the exercise extended beyond technical repetitions. “The most important part of the exercise, to me, was teamwork,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tori Payne, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD training noncommissioned officer in charge. “Debriefing our drills throughout the week allowed us to collaborate and refine our tactics, techniques, and procedures.”

Payne added that the shared experience built confidence across the formation. “I hope everyone left Operation Deterrent Viking II with a stronger sense of camaraderie, as well as more confidence in their skills,” Payne said. “This week pushed us to a higher level both physically and mentally, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Officials said the iteration underscored the importance of integrated multinational training to produce cohesive, quickly deployable EOD teams capable of responding to evolving threats. Exercise lessons learned will be fed back into unit training pipelines at Incirlik and Ramstein, with the aim of sustaining high readiness for U.S. and allied missions throughout Europe and beyond.