EOD safety day brings evaluation, reflection

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stephen Delgado
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Working with 56th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight is not a job for the squeamish.

"It is a high-risk job," said Tech. Sgt. Sean DeVore, 56th CES EOD craftsman. "Our deployed Airmen in Iraq and Afghanistan have a variety of dangerous tasks. We disarm improvised explosive devices and clear routes for American forces. When an IED explodes, we handle the investigation of the site to get as much evidence as possible and to find out what the IED was made of. We also disarm bombs that don't explode."
With all the dangers and challenges, the Air Force has designated today as EOD Safety Day.

"We take a day to evaluate what's been done here and overseas during the past year," said Capt. Nicholas Van Elsacker, 56th CES EOD Flight commander. "The safety day started last year, and it will be an Air Force requirement to have one each year."
The EOD Flight has numerous additional tasks and challenges.

"One of our primary tasks is to clear the Barry M. Goldwater Range of bombs that don't detonate," Sergeant DeVore said. "The BDU 33 practice bomb turns into a chunk of metal after being used. We work with the 56th Range Management Office to recycle them."
What's more, Captain Van Elsacker said that the EOD Flight works closely with area police departments and the Secret Service.
"We're authorized 49 people presently, but that number will increase to 73 within three years, plus there are 15 Reservists that we work with," he said. "This field requires constant training. We train until we are deployed, and once deployed, we do our job. Two-thirds of our shop can be deployed at any one time."

Lt. Gen. Loren Reno, Air Force Logistics, Installations and Mission Support deputy chief of staff, stated the importance of having a safety day in a recent letter to all major commands.

"The Air Force EOD program is transforming as our Airmen continue to predominantly support land component commanders in ground combat operations," he said. "As you may be aware, our EOD operations tempo has been tremendous since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. EOD Airmen are experiencing 1:1 dwell, with many on their third or fourth combat tours. These factors led the Air Force Civil Engineer to direct a tactical pause to focus on standard operating procedures; tactics, techniques, procedures and health of the EOD career field in 2008. This was an undeniable success and this same pause is warranted in 2009."

"The safety day is beneficial because we talk through what we did the previous year and make it a learning experience," said Master Sgt. Richard Mills, 56th CES EOD NCO-in-charge.

This day focuses on operations, according to Captain Van Elsacker. The dangers and risks that the people face in the EOD Flight came close to home at Luke when one of their own was wounded.

"Tech. Sgt. Matthew Slaydon, EOD technician, was seriously wounded Oct. 24, 2007, while inspecting an improvised explosive device in Kirkuk, Iraq," Sergeant Mills said. "He retired from the Air Force Aug. 28."

The EOD career field has some unique aspects.

"All of the services train together at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and we continuously work with all branches of the military," Captain Van Elsacker said. "Also, enlisted and officer ranks train together, so it isn't unusual to have a private training with a captain."

Captain Van Elsacker and Sergeant Mills said that the safety day is one more tool to help the EOD Flight maintain their standard of excellence.
Sergeant Mills just returned from a deployment in Afghanistan and Captain Van Elsacker is scheduled to deploy early next year.

Former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley had these comments about the importance of the EOD Flight in the Air Force.

"Every Airman can be proud of our fellow warriors in the EOD community and the tremendous job they are doing around the globe," he said. "Their dedication, skill and determination are securing and protecting the lives of fellow Airmen, Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Coalition forces every day."