RED HORSE: create and destroy

Staff Sgt. Michael Miller and Senior Airman Antoine Davis, 823rd RED HORSE Squadron pavement and construction equipment operators, measure a piece of detonating cord at the explosive ordnance disposal range on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Nov. 21, 2013. The cords required precise measurements to ensure the demolition team had adequate time to evacuate during timed detonations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kentavist P. Brackin)

RED HORSE: create and destroy

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Dwan, 823rd RED HORSE Squadron heavy equipment and construction supervisor, tapes detonating cord to the top of a shape charge at the explosive ordnance disposal range on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Nov. 21, 2013. The shaped charges made initial holes in the ground by directing the force of the explosion downward. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kentavist P. Brackin)

RED HORSE: create and destroy

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Dwan, 823rd RED HORSE Squadron heavy equipment and construction supervisor, pushes a crate of TNT into a large crater during demolition qualification training at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Nov. 21, 2013. Airmen practiced with various explosives including C4, TNT, military-grade dynamite, 40-pound shape charges, and 40-pound cratering charges during their training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kentavist P. Brackin)

RED HORSE demonstrates explosive skills

Published Nov. 22, 2013
By Senior Airman Kentavist P. Brackin
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Air Commandos with the 823rd RED HORSE Squadron demolition team participated in demolition qualification training at the explosive ordinance disposal range here Nov. 21.

The purpose of the monthly training was to ensure Airmen stay proficient in demolition. This way, they can remain capable of base denial operations. This includes destroying infrastructures such as power plants or airfields to prevent them from being used by enemy forces, according to Tech. Sgt. Matthew Mayfield, 823rd RHS pavement and construction equipment supervisor.

"If for some reason the base was overrun, we wouldn't want the enemy to be able to use our equipment," said Mayfield. "So, we disable it."

The training also increased the unit's proficiency in demolition, such as destroying disabled or condemned buildings and bridges to make room for new infrastructures.

The Airmen practiced with various explosives including C4, TNT, military-grade dynamite, 40-pound shape charges and 40-pound cratering charges during their training.

Shaped charges are used to make initial holes in a surface by directing the explosion force downward. Depending on the composition of the soil, holes made by shape charges can be two to six feet deep.

Cratering charges are used after shaping charges to create large holes. The charges are buried in the initial hole and explode outward to expand it.

Prior to detonations, Airmen took cover from the force of the blasts and waited for what Senior Airman Antoine Davis, 823rd RHS squadron pavement and construction equipment, described as a "really cool" moment.

"You can actually feel the water move underground before you hear the explosion," he said. "It's unique to this base because we're in Florida. The elevation is a lot closer to the water table than other bases."