Staff Sgt. Kenneth Roads, formerly of Peterson’s Explosive Ordinance Detachment, destroys rockets on a timer pointed at Bagram, Afghanistan. EOD Airmen play an important role in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but on Nov. 7 at Peterson AFB, they took a day to focus on how to perform their mission as safely as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Airmen and Soldiers work together to examine a crater in Afghanistan for forensic evidence. EOD Airmen play an important role in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but on Nov. 7 at Peterson AFB, they took a day to focus on how to perform their mission as safely as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

EOD pauses to focus on safety

Published Nov. 10, 2008
By Corey Dahl
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Peterson's Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight recently took a break from dismantling bombs and focused on something different, but just as important - safety.

The unit designated Nov. 7 a "Safety Day." Members spent the day reviewing standard operating procedures and lessons learned from incidents where EOD Airmen were killed or wounded in action. Since 2005, eight EOD Airmen have lost their lives and 33 Airmen have been wounded during ground combat operations.

EOD also received briefings from Peterson's chaplain about various support programs available for deploying Airmen and their families and from health care providers about the signs of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The day was part of an Air Force-wide mandate from Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg, the Air Force Civil Engineer.

Because EOD Airmen have been heavily tasked throughout Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, General Eulberg asked all EOD flights not operating in hostile fire or combat zones to pause and discuss safety and the resources available to deploying Airmen. Many EOD Airmen are already on their third or fourth combat tours.

EOD member Tech Sgt. Greg Niles said he's glad the Air Force mandated a day to sit down and talk about safety and thinks it was helpful for the unit's members.

"I don't think you can review this stuff enough," he said. "Safety is absolutely important."

For Airman 1st Class Achiel Pype, who has yet to deploy, the day gave him a chance to hear about real-life scenarios and learn how to prepare for them.

"You need as much safety info as you can gather before you deploy," he said. "In school, they teach you a lot of best-case scenarios, but that isn't always what happens in the field."