“Dragon” Battalion works with Iraqi Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams
BAGHDAD — Disposing of unwanted ordnance is often an explosive process and Soldiers from the 731st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, attached to 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, and their Iraqi counterparts with the 6th Iraqi Army Division’s Bomb Disposal Company recently conducted a combined operation where they set off quite a few explosions.
“We’re clearing out a safe holding area for the 6th IA Div. (and) getting rid of the last of a large (weapons) cache they picked up a couple months back,” said Sgt. 1st Class Dana McClanahan, a platoon sergeant with the 731st EOD Co.
McClanahan said that every few weeks his Soldiers and those from the 6th IA Div. go to the demolition range to destroy items found in the Baghdad area as well as outdated ordnance. And for McClanahan and his Soldiers this particular day at the demolition range was something different than ranges back home. 
“You get to see something big go up,” said Spc. Clint Graves, with the 731st EOD Co. “Normally you wouldn’t get he chance to see (this) in the states because we normally don’t get to do this big of a demo op (demolition operation).”
And that also makes for a good hands-on training.
“It’s definitely good training for me,” said Graves. “We don’t have a lot of opportunities to come out here and see this much ordnance all at once and be able to get rid of it. So, it is good training.”
A mission like this also works to build upon a greater working relationship between the two units.
“They’re pretty fun,” said Graves of the Iraqi Soldiers. “Even though we don’t speak the same language you can still tease them, razz them a little bit and they seem to get it OK, even though it is more or less hand gestures.”
For McClanahan, the working relationship with the 6th IA Div. goes back a few years. “I started with this company, 6th IAD BDC, in 2008,” said McClanahan. “Then I left and came back and got lucky and got stuck with the same group of guys. They’re really enjoyable to work with.”
And McClanahan said that he has seen quite a few changes in the BDC since 2008. “They’ve gotten a lot safer,” he said. “They’ve started using the robots and more of their EOD equipment, instead of doing stuff by hand like they used to.”
For Graves, on his first deployment, that change is also evident.
“The way that I look at it, with the EOD guys that we work with on the Iraqi side, they’re more than equipped and ready to take over,” he said. “They seem to be doing a good job. “ But, in the end, for the EOD personnel on both sides the highlight of the day was simply blowing stuff up.
“The best part about being EOD is just to watch the explosions go off,” said Graves “Also just going out helping people. I’d like to say EOD is one of the best fields out there.”
“You get to see something big go up,” said Spc. Clint Graves, with the 731st EOD Co. “Normally you wouldn’t get he chance to see (this) in the states because we normally don’t get to do this big of a demo op (demolition operation).” And that also makes for a good hands-on training.
“It’s definitely good training for me,” said Graves. “We don’t have a lot of opportunities to come out here and see this much ordnance all at once and be able to get rid of it. So, it is good training.”
A mission like this also works to build upon a greater working relationship between the two units.
“They’re pretty fun,” said Graves of the Iraqi Soldiers. “Even though we don’t speak the same language you can still tease them, razz them a little bit and they seem to get it OK, even though it is more or less hand gestures.”
For McClanahan, the working relationship with the 6th IA Div. goes back a few years. “I started with this company, 6th IAD BDC, in 2008,” said McClanahan. “Then I left and came back and got lucky and got stuck with the same group of guys. They’re really enjoyable to work with.”
And McClanahan said that he has seen quite a few changes in the BDC since 2008. “They’ve gotten a lot safer,” he said. “They’ve started using the robots and more of their EOD equipment, instead of doing stuff by hand like they used to.”
For Graves, on his first deployment, that change is also evident.
“The way that I look at it, with the EOD guys that we work with on the Iraqi side, they’re more than equipped and ready to take over,” he said. “They seem to be doing a good job. “ But, in the end, for the EOD personnel on both sides the highlight of the day was simply blowing stuff up.
“The best part about being EOD is just to watch the explosions go off,” said Graves “Also just going out helping people. I’d like to say EOD is one of the best fields out there.”
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