From the Frontlines: Senior Airman Anthony A. Dasilva

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
His damp hand clenches the analog of the remote. The sweat dripping off his forehead isn't from the heat ... it's his first time dismantling a live explosive. He has his life, and his teams' lives, in his hands.

Senior Airman Anthony A. Dasilva, 509th Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, was deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, from September 2009 to March 2010.

"I was in charge of the team's truck, tools and equipment," said Airman Dasilva. "On calls, I was the robot driver or gunner, as needed."

Airman Dasilva said he spent a majority of his time deployed on route clearance patrols. His team drove through specific transportation routes in their area of responsibility and removed any explosive threats.

"We cleared the roads to prevent civilians and convoys from being harmed by improvised explosive devices," said Airman Dasilva.

His work wasn't limited to only Kirkuk. He said his best time deployed was the two months he spent at the forward operating base in Hawija, Iraq.

"Down at the FOB, we were averaging two to three calls a week, so we had quite a bit of experience handling many types of unexploded ordnances and IEDs," Airman Dasilva said. "The first couple missions I was excited, but nervous. I didn't know what to expect.

"Throughout training here you learn skills on-paper and receive practice calls, but nothing can fully prepare you for being 'outside the wire,'" Airman Dasilva said. "You have to put all your skills to the test when you're put in a combat situation."

The more time he spent deployed and the more experience he gained, the more comfortable he became in performing his duties.

"Once I got settled in and understood what my roles were and what I needed to do, I anticipated the next call," he said.

"I had one call where I knew exactly what I was about to encounter, so I ran through the scenario in my head," said Airman Dasilva. "I took the explosive apart, realized the device was a hoax and moved to the next. The next situation was the same. We were in and out within an hour.

"That's the best feeling you can have," he said. "The less time we're on a job, the better chance we have of surviving."

He's been back for less than three months and is already itching for his next assignment.

"I learned a lot for my first time being deployed and know exactly how to handle it," said Airman Dasilva. "I'm ready to go back."