INDIAN ISLAND — About 60 members of the Navy’s bomb squad, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11, will train today through July 29 at Naval Magazine Indian Island.
In addition to personnel from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, 14 Australian troops and three observers from Canada will participate or observe the training.
“These are the people you want to call to diffuse a bomb,” said Sheila Murray, Navy Region Northwest spokeswoman.
“They have lost lives in Iraq. They support coalition forces abroad.”
Naval Magazine Indian Island Cmdr. George Whitbred, base commanding officer, is an explosives ordnance disposal expert.
During the “unit level interoperability training,” the public can expect to see more traffic of military vehicles, Murray said.
There may be a search and rescue helicopter practicing life-saving extraction activities on the water during a medical evacuation training scenario.
Murray said that most of the training will be conducted in forested areas on about 1,300 acres of the island across Port Townsend Bay from the city of Port Townsend.
“The loudest explosive device to be used will produce a sound equivalent to a .12-gauge shotgun shell,” said Lt. Tim Walker, public affairs officer with the group known as Task Group Rasar.
Gunfire is not expected to be heard farther inland, he said.
Seven Humvees, seven pickup trucks, seven sports utility vehicles, five containment gear vehicles and possibly some boats will be used in the training, Murray said.
The training, Walker said, will resemble real-life situations.
Vehicle came across Admiralty Inlet from Whidbey Island on Tuesday to the Naval Magazine site.
“I don’t think anyone would realize we are there, if you didn’t tell them we would be there,” Walker said, adding that personnel may be seen downtown during their liberty.
In addition to training activities, the sailors will work on community service projects, which the group normally does while on missions.
They will help to paint the Tri-Area Community Center, work in Fort Worden State Park, and lend a hand to maintenance on Jefferson County trails on Friday, Saturday and July 23.
Jefferson County and Olympic Community Action Programs are arranging for paint and supplies.
