A tactical pause: EOD 'family' participates in safety day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abigail Klein
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Continuing an initiative established in 2008, the Airmen of the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight, along with other EOD members in the Air Combat Command, will cease normal operations to observe Nov. 13 as Explosive Ordnance Disposal Safety Day.

The Annual EOD Safety Day is a deliberate pause in operations to allow EOD operators to focus on compliance with standard operating procedures, tactics, techniques and procedures while also examining the health of the EOD career field.

The idea to designate an EOD Safety Day was a direct result of the increasing involvement of AF EOD participation in today's fight. This increase in participation has caused EOD Airmen to be on their third or fourth combat tour during short periods of time, and heightened the possibility of EOD combat-related deaths.

"As of October 2009, EOD has had two more combat related deaths and two more injuries, bringing the total to ten combat related deaths and 54 injuries," said Master Sgt. Anthony Blackmon, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight chief. "That's a large number of people when you consider how small of a career field we are."

While allowing time for the Airmen to critique and reinforce their skills as EOD operators, subject matter experts from the base chapel, Airman and Family Readiness Center and the 28th Medical Group, will help provide solutions for EOD Airmen to deal with the possible after-effects of frequent deployments and assistance available to their families during deployments.

The benefit of having an EOD Safety Day last year has also allowed for more definitive informational briefings specific to the flight including how to identify and treat post traumatic stress disorder and how to balance the EOD mission while also maintaining a family.

"After having the safety briefings last year, we were able to better tailor the briefings for our flight," Tech. Sgt. David Fitzpatrick, 28 CES EOD operator. "We've always reviewed [EOD] incidents after they occur and try to learn from past mistakes, but this time we really want the operators to feel free to talk and ask questions during the briefings."

Another addition to the briefings this year is the presence of the Airmen's family members for part of the day.

"Involving the families of the operators in the briefings allows the 'whole' EOD family to get together and be part of the discussion," said Sergeant Fitzpatrick.

While the possibility of operators asking more questions and participating in the discussion as the goal of the day, the long term goal is saving Airmen's lives and maintaining the reputation of AF EOD as the safest EOD in the Department of Defense, said Sergeant Blackmon.

The 28 CES EOD has helped maintain this reputation by responding to reportable incidents and destroying unexploded bombs and improvised explosive devices, mortars and various other threats while deployed, as well as handling off-base situations throughout the local area and various parts of the South Dakota.