From the Frontlines: Staff Sgt. Scott Underdahl Published May 11, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Montse Ramirez 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sgt. Scott Underdahl, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team member, returned from his eight-month deployment to Ghanzi Province, Afghanistan, in March. He deployed to a Polish forward operating base where he was embedded with the U.S. Army. "We conducted improvised explosive device responses, where we would go search for them and then detonate them on safe ground," said Sergeant Underdahl. Sergeant Underdahl said he also performed plan operations and route clearance patrols along with the U.S. and Polish Army. Sergeant Underdahl said he and his team trained to deploy so they are as prepared as possible, but at this Air Force Global Strike Command base he doesn't get to work alongside other services or countries like he did at his deployment. "It was awesome getting to work with the Polish; they were really fun," he said. "Some didn't know much English, but we managed to communicate." Sergeant Underdahl said one of his favorite missions was his first mission, with the U.S. and Polish Army, where he and his team found more than 3,000 pounds of explosives and disposed of them safely. "It is a great feeling to know that we were able to help our members and the Afghan community," he said. "The payoff was evident." His work didn't go unnoticed by the Army, which awarded him a commendation medal recognizing his efforts. "It was a great experience, but I was glad to be back home to my wife and friends," Sergeant Underdahl said.