Finding their bearings amid choppy seas

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SMOL BOMB BUSTERS
30 Oct 2023 | COMMUNITY

SMOL BOMB BUSTERS

Getting hands-on with robots and bomb suits: Two lucky boys got to spend a day with the SAF's bomb busters as part of PIONEER's Children's Day special.
// PRODUCER TEO JING TING / PHOTOGRAPHER KENNETH LIN / CAMERAMAN AJAY PRASHAD
Reuel Teo, 9 and Dharran Raj, 11, got the rare chance to visit the home of 36th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (36 SCE) in October – where they went through a slice of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Vocational Obstacle Course (VOC), checked out (dummy) bombs and controlled a huge robot!

Check out their day of fun!

All suited up and ready to go!
Team 3IC of 36 SCE, 3SG Wong (left), who is also chaperone of the day, introducing the EOD 10 bomb suit to the boys.
The boys watching an EOD personnel going through the – Staggering Tyres – station, the second obstacle of a truncated VOC for the kids to try out.
It's my turn! Reuel going through the first VOC station – Over Table – with confidence.
Dharran taking on the third VOC station – Balancing Log – with intense concentration.
3SG Wong (left) introducing the boys to the various bombs that EOD operators train with. In his hands is a Singapore Fragmentation Grenade, while the ones on the table are a 68mm rocket (left) and an 81mm mortar (right).
3SG Wong guiding Reuel on how to control the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), also known as AUNAV. Fitted with a robotic arm, the ROV allows EOD operators to disrupt Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) from a safe distance.
Both Dharran (left) and Reuel (right) using the videoscope to identify objects inside a bag. EOD operators usually use this device – which is fitted with a long tube that has a camera at the tip – to safely inspect and search a suspicious bag.
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