Hundreds gather to pick up what doesn't belong

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen walk the airfield looking for foreign object damage April 29. FOD walks are conducted to remove small pieces of foreign objects that can cause catastrophic damage to an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown/Released)

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Hundreds gather to pick up what doesn't belong

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Col. Al Wimmer, 35th Fighter Wing vice commander, center, joins Airmen and Sailors as they collect foreign object damage on the airfield April 29. An annual FOD walk is held in order pick up potential safety hazards that could possibly affect Misawa's aircraft and people. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown/Released)

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Hundreds gather to pick up what doesn't belong

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Vang Le, left, and Senior Airman Kevin Shoultz, 35th Maintenance Squadron, pick up foreign object damage on the airfield April 29. An estimated 140 pounds of foreign objects, trash and debris were collected off the airfield. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown/Released)

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Hundreds gather to pick up what doesn't belong

Published April 29, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Marie Brown
35 FW/PA

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen and Sailors participated in the 35th Fighter Wing annual foreign object damage walk at Misawa Air Base airfield April 29. More than 1,300 Airmen and Sailors gathered to collect an estimated 140 pounds of foreign objects, trash and debris.

The focus of the FOD walk is to pick up potential safety hazards that could possibly affect Misawa's aircraft and people. Just a small piece of a foreign object can cause catastrophic damage to an aircraft.

"I want to thank "Team Misawa" for their dedication and participation in the FOD Walk," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Breeden, 35th Maintenance Group, FOD monitor. "I enjoyed observing the 35 FW coming together to take part in an important FOD Prevention event."