EOD gets the mission back on the road, in the air Published Nov. 12, 2008 By Senior Airman Danielle Johnson 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- While supporting an operation targeting Al Qaeda in Iraq, the platoon leader spotted some points of interest he wanted to check out. The unit started moving on foot toward the location. Five minutes into the movement, heavy machine gun fire broke out and mortars started landing on their position. Everyone fell back to an abandoned house, and that's when a van with armed insurgents was spotted 200 meters away. "I opened fire on the van but it kept moving," said Senior Airman Brian Buhrer, 305th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician. "Within minutes we had Apache gunships come overhead and eliminate the insurgents. All in all, it was an intense experience." This experience earned Airman Buhrer an Air Force Combat Action Medal, and also contributed to an Army Commendation Medal for his work with 1st Battalion 21st Infantry Regiment Alpha Company and 2nd Stryker Combat Regiment during a six-month deployment to Iraq. When the Clear Lake, Texas, native joined the Air Force nearly three years ago he wasn't sure what he wanted to do as long as it was challenging. After seeing a short video on EOD, he decided that was it. "It's always something new," Airman Buhrer said. "The battlefield is always changing, so you always have to adjust with the times. They'll learn your tactics so you have to adjust." "Start to finish it's an adrenaline rush," he said. "You know you're going out somewhere and you're in harm's way. This thing is set up to kill somebody and you're the guy who's supposed to come in and save the day so the troops can move down the road and do the job." "I find the sense of accomplishment you get from an incident to be most rewarding," said Airman Buhrer. "You generally show up to a hectic, dangerous site and leave it a lot safer. Planes can fly, tanks can roll and Soldiers can continue to patrol. Prior to my team's arrival, none of that could happen." Though a self-professed adrenaline junky, the senior airman explained that, due to the nature of the job, EOD units are cohesive with a strong sense of camaraderie, and that's a big part of why he can't imagine going into any other career field. "I don't see how I could do anything else after I've been through all the intense scenarios and brotherhood, it's kind of hard to leave that and go sit behind a desk," he said. "I don't think I could do that now." "A typical day deployed is impossible to describe; that's part of the beauty of the job - no day is typical," Airman Buhrer said. "You could do nothing all day and then at 2 a.m. some insurgent decides to attack a Stryker (armored wheeled vehicle). It's my job to either stop that from happening or go and sort through the wreckage to see if I can get any evidence." In addition to his accomplishments while deployed, Airman Buhrer has also earned accolades back at McGuire, including Airman of the Quarter and being promoted to senior airman Below the Zone. And as part of a unit whose members have earned many awards and decorations - including four Bronze Stars, seven Army Commendation Medals and one Army Commendation Medal with Valor - Airman Buhrer continues to hold himself to a high standard. "Some people do the minimum to get by and he's always going extra," said Tech. Sgt. John Rehak, EOD Flight superintendent. "He's a dedicated and highly motivated Airman. His knowledge and the way he speaks to people sticks out and sets him apart from the rest." For now, Airman Buhrer will continue playing soccer, working on his college degree in his off-time and training with his fellow EOD members for the next call or deployment. Then he'll be off with another rush of adrenaline to get the mission on the road or in the air again.