HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — ATF officials in Huntsville are training people from all over the nation to become Certified Explosives Specialists.
On Tuesday, students participated in an explosives demolition day at the Capano Range on Redstone Arsenal.
As part of their training, ATF employees, state and local police, and fire marshals from all over the country set off explosives to learn more about how they work.
Public safety professionals have to be ready for any call they may get. The knowledge they take away from the training will help them to protect the communities they serve.
ATF Agent and K-9 Handler for the Detroit Field Division, George Linen, said, "When we're out doing our searches whether it be for a security sweep or if there is a suspicious package, we understand them a little better and can just do a little better in saving the community, keeping the community safe, and understanding distances and things of that nature."
Redstone Arsenal is one of very few facilities in the country where this kind of training takes place.
Due to the pandemic, only 16 students are currently taking the three week class.
ATF Special Agent in Charge, John Underwood, said, "Non-COVID times, we train about 5,400 students a year here in our various courses."
These students have been in the classroom for the past two weeks. They got out in the field on Tuesday to learn more about how to find explosives and how to safely dispose of them.
"More bomb technicians traditionally have been injured in the disposal of pyrotechnic products than ever have been disposing of say a pipe bomb or some other type of device," said Underwood. "We're teaching those public safety professionals how to dispose of those products properly."
From the Nashville Christmas Day bombing to the insurrection at the Capitol, this training could not be more important. The students being certified are part of agencies being stationed at the nation's Capitol Building for Joe Biden's inauguration.
"In the same way that we talked about what it would be like in the community, it would be the same thing there," said Linen. "It would be searching, security, understanding what we may encounter and how we can safely keep distances and safely keep the public away from that scene."
The students will continue with hands on training and graduate on Friday.
People who want to become a Certified Explosives Specialist must complete a two-year candidacy program. As part of the program, trainees have to go through a basic explosives training course, learn post-blast investigation techniques, study homemade explosives, and much more.
To learn more about the requirements to be a Certified Explosives Specialist, click here.
WATCH: Public safety professionals set off explosives during training
