EOD Airmen get innovative training through government collaboration

The loading screen of new training technology for Air Force Global Strike Command Explosive Ordnance Disposal Airmen as created through a partnership between the command, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Cyber Innovation Center, and Adaptive Immersion Technology (AIT). (Courtesy of AIT)

By Sean Green | CIC Facilitation and Outreach Manager

BOSSIER CITY, La. — Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Airmen are receiving cutting-edge training technology thanks to Adaptive Immersion Technology (AIT), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC).

Through STRIKEWERX, AFGSC’s innovation hub, the CIC is working with DTRA and AIT to refine and improve a custom, interactive, virtual reality trainer for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).

The game-based simulation is based around a scenario of EOD crews responding to a downed aircraft. The training is designed to test the same cognitive skills that users would need in a real-world scenario.

DTRA is having AIT enhance the training software to be as realistic as possible while adding new features, scenarios, environments, and aircrafts.

“Our goal is to equip Airmen with a system so advanced and indispensable that they will not want to train without it,” said Phillip Mangos, AIT president and chief scientist. “We wish to help the Air Force realize a return on investment measured in millions of dollars of training cost savings.”

This new development will utilize input from EOD Airmen and other stakeholders to capture the minutiae of training in a virtual environment. The trainer also uses performance metrics as feedback to instructors with the ability to better customize training.

The final version is slated to be delivered in September 2026.

AIT delivered the initial EOD training prototype in December 2023. They were one of three companies chosen via the STRIKEWERX Advanced Training Concepts Challenge to provide minimum viable prototypes for different use cases across the command.

“Working with DTRA and STRIKEWERX on this project has been an awe-inspiring journey focused on the most important stakeholder — the end user,” added Mangos.