Malmstrom EOD team holds safety stand-down day

Published Nov. 24, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- The team sat around a table in a conference room in building 408, listening as Chaplain (Capt.) John Vanderkaay, Air Force Global Strike Command's 341st Missile Wing senior chaplain, spoke to them about coping with stress both in a deployed environment and at home. The visit by the Chaplain was part of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team's annual safety stand-down day Nov. 19.

The safety day also included open discussions and briefers from the Health and Wellness Center, Public Health, Family Support and the Medical Group.

"Everyone has a different capacity when it comes to handling stress," said Chaplain Vanderkaay. "That's part of what today is about; reminding ourselves there is nothing wrong with asking for help. Sometimes we have to 'take a knee.'"

To take a knee is to do three things, he said. First, it's about giving ourselves permission to be human. Many times, especially in a deployed environment, there is this mentality we have to be superhuman and there is no room for weakness, which isn't true. We all have our limitations. Second, we have to recognize that we are on a team. No one can defend freedom by themselves; it's always a team effort. Lastly, we have to gain and keep the big perspective. When things happen, we tend to lose sight of the big picture and tend to lose hope. We have to remember what our fight is truly about.

The purpose of the safety stand-down day was to give the EOD Airmen 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 members within their occupation have lost their lives in operations overseas. During the safety day, they review past missions and incidents in the hope that it will prevent future losses.

"The safety day allows us to step back and look at the entirety of what we do," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Hunsinger, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron EOD operations NCOIC, who returned from a deployment in February. "Most of the time we're so engrossed in our daily activities, whether it be our additional duties, equipment, operations or meetings. Having the stand-down is a chance for all of us to look at everything together, remember our fallen EOD duty comrades, and reflect on ways to prevent similar situations from occurring."

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.

"Our deployment rotation is usually six-on, six-off," said Senior Airman Kyle Brown, 341st CES EOD training NCOIC.

When EOD teams deploy they can potentially be attached to Army or Marine Corps units, and be sent to austere locations such as forward operation bases or combat outposts. They might conduct dismounted operations in local villages locating and disarming IEDs, or getting caught in fire fights with enemy combatants. Airman Brown recalled from his recent deployment some of the hardships he faced while in the field. Unlike the EOD teams on base, Airman Brown went with Soldiers into villages to disarm explosives and safe areas.

"During the month I spent in the Afghan desert in tents with the Marines, we found eight to 10 confirmed IEDs a day on top of suspected IEDs," Airman Brown said. "Being out there, you learn from the attacks on a day-to-day basis."

By sharing their knowledge from deployments, and learning from the sacrifices of those who were lost in combat, the EOD stand-down day is able to prepare other Airmen for the hardships they may face, and focus on the ultimate importance of safety.