EOD teams Air Force wide take day to reflect on operations

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The Explosive Ordinance Disposal team at Malmstrom, along with all EOD shops across Air Force Global Strike Command and the Air Force, will be participating in an annual safety stand-down day Nov. 19 to provide the Airmen an opportunity to review past missions and incidents in the hope that it will prevent future losses within their career field. This tactical pause will give the team an opportunity to focus on compliance with standard operating procedures; tactics, techniques, and procedures; and to examine the health of the EOD career field.

Since 2005, 13 EOD Airmen have lost their lives in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and eight have been seriously injured. By taking the time to facilitate a discussion about the realities and residual effects of combat stress, and highlight some of the contributions and sacrifices made by others.

"We started having the annual Air Force EOD Safety Day's about three years ago," said Master Sgt. Cimarron Reeves, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron EOD superintendent. "It really gives the group an opportunity to re-evaluate how we're doing business as a whole both stateside and overseas, and review the latest incident reports to analyze and evaluate to see what can be done better."

The safety day includes open discussions, briefings by Medical Group staff, Chaplain and Family Support representative as well as a detailed review of previous incidents.

Deployed EOD Airmen currently fill 230 United States Central Command requirements, which account for one-third of the total EOD positions overseas. Having this demand for personnel to disarm improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance has increased their deployment tempo drastically.

"We have a pretty dangerous career field," Sergeant Reeves said. "Too many of us are just getting out because of the high level of stress and danger that goes along with what we do. The safety day will help to illuminate the bigger picture and put their primary focus back on safety."