EOD safety day focuses on training, taking care of Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kirsten Wicker
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Explosive ordnance disposal Airmen here recently took a day to set daily work aside and focus on personal health, safety and training.

EOD Safety Day was part of an Air Force-level program for all EOD units not operating in a hostile fire or combat zones, to take time out, relax and discuss lessons learned in combat and become familiar with programs to support and enhance Airmen and their families' health.

The Air Force Civil Engineer, Brig. Gen. Timothy Byers, recognizes many EOD Airmen are experiencing a third or fourth combat tour. Joining with Air Force EOD leadership, the Civil Engineer community identified the need for a tactical pause to focus on standard operating procedures: tactics, techniques, procedures and the health of EOD warriors.

EOD Safety Day here included briefings dealing with topics in trainingand best practices, as well as briefings from the chaplain and mental health professionals on topics of self and family care. The day also provided classified briefings on lessons learned and battlefield hazards - tools Airmen can use to arm themselves with the knowledge to prevent future injuries or loss of life.

"We are focusing on the whole person concept," said Master Sgt. James Ruth, 62nd Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight chief. "The operations tempo and high deployment rates can be very stressful for Airmen, so we are spending half the day talking about training and the other half focused on ways to care for ourselves and for each other."

The day was designed to provide an opportunity to take care of our Airmen and their families in the midst of increasing deployments, he said.

"Safety Day is an opportunity for us to reflect, relax and learn some things that can keep us alive outthere," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Miller, 62nd CES EOD team member and veteran deployer.

One of the briefings designed to help Airmen care for their health and well-being was given by Chaplain (Maj.) Brian McCormack, who spoke to Airmen about what stress is and healthy ways to cope with varying degrees of stress. Eating a healthy diet and having an exercise routine, maintaining a close social network of family and friends, and even spiritual practices are just a few techniques he encouraged Airmen to utilize.

EOD Safety Day also provided a chance for the Airmen to recognize their achievements in the field and talk about actual scenarios they have faced or may face in the future.

"It really helps to sit down and solve problems with a peer group that understands," Sergeant Miller said. "It's good to know that we have help and training available to us and that people really care about what we go through."

McChord's ten-member EOD flight has completed nine to ten deployments each year averaging anywhere from 179 to 365 days at a time for each member since the start of operations in Iraq. Four Airmen are currently deployed, while three more are scheduled for departure in the near future.