Camp Pendleton’s Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team and local communities participated in the third annual EOD Warrior 5K run in San Diego on May 25.

The event was open to the public and was used to raise money for fallen and wounded EOD service members.

EOD technicians perform various duties that include locating, accessing, identifying, rendering safe, neutralizing, and disposing of hazards.

During the event, members from military and civilian EOD organization had the option to participate in a 3K relay race in which each team was comprised of three members. Each member donned a 70-pound bomb suit and ran one kilometer.

The Camp Pendleton Base EOD team took third place in the bomb suit relay race.

“There is really no way to describe the feeling of running in a bomb suit,” said Sgt. Derek Jonese, an EOD Technician with Camp Pendleton Base EOD. “It’s hot and heavy, but it was an honor for us to participate in this race and pay tribute to our fallen EOD brothers on Memorial Day.”

Not only did the participants have to run the kilometer, they also had to transfer the suit to the next member of the team. It was no easy task, according to Jonese.

“It literally looks like a NASCAR pit stop out there,” said Maj. Jose Soto, the Base team coach and officer-in-charge. “The runners come in and their teams help take the suit off and change it over to the next runner as fast as they can.”

Each year, EOD communities try to raise awareness of the event to support their wounded comrades.

“It was great to see so many participants from the local militaries such as 1st EOD Company and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in the 5K,” said Soto.

According to Jonese, Base EOD challenged all local EOD units to don a bomb suit in the 3K relay race next year to improve the competition.

“We challenge anyone to knock us out of the top five,” said Soto. “We’ll be training, and we look forward to competing in honor of our EOD brothers again next year.”