EOD pauses to stand down

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Any Airman can find himself downrange, in harm's way, but none more so than an explosive ordnance disposal member. In acknowledgement, appreciation and understanding of the toll this reality takes on them and their families, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD Flight recently participated in an Air Force Headquarters directed safety stand-down day.

With EOD members deploying every other six months, technician Tech. Sgt. Rory Stark said it's a constant struggle to keep some of their programs from falling apart due to steady change-overs and additional duties.

But, at least for one day, that came to a halt.

The strategic pause in operations allowed the technicians to focus on their mission, and on each other, as members of a small, but highly-recognized and dangerous career field.

The day allowed the group to have closed-door discussions with a base chaplain and mental health representative, as well as go through EOD operating procedures, tactics and techniques.

"We've taken a step back and re-evaluated how we do things, and how we can be safer when conducting our operations," said Sergeant Stark. "We can go forward with confidence knowing we have this inherent danger by discussing the topics we have, and knowing we are doing things the right way."

"It's good to take a break because you get buried in the job and with training, he added.

The day was as a decompression in which the technicians took a breather, he said.

Their morning was focused on them, while families and squadron leadership joined in the afternoon for a barbeque and interactive games.

While internally reviewing EOD operations, the technicians went over story boards together. The boards, that were visual investigation reports on their responses involving improvised explosive devices and other EOD-related incidents, were a personal reminder of the hardships accompanying the job.

"It's fairly emotional going through the story boards, which I've actually experienced, said Sgt. Stark, "of my friends and brethren who were killed." We go through the safety procedures and the operations, but the day is also part of remembering the sacrifices we go through, some of us paying the ultimate sacrifices."

They also participated in a trust exercise, hosted by mental health, and talked about resiliency and coping with high-stress situations.

"During the trust exercise, one of our Airmen was blindfold and led by a partner around obstacles using voice commands," said Sergeant Stark. "We are pretty good (at the exercise) because of the nature of what we do on a daily basis. You have to be able to trust the technicians on your team.

"We do a lot of group activities were we are always training together, he added. "We always try to share laughs and have fun together, do stuff on the weekends, and it's a pretty tight-knit family."

Currently, the flight at Misawa is sparse with only five of its 18 technicians on station, the others deployed. Even while their entire troupe couldn't be in attendance, Sergeant Stark said deployed technicians will also have opportunities to take a moment.

"They do have a type of down day in deployed locations, but while missions are ongoing, flights will split the teams to hold their safety days on different calendar days, he added."

During the afternoon, the technicians continued to unwind during lunch and at the base paintball field with family members present.

Technicians' families go through a toll too when Airmen are on that deployment tempo - being gone, coming home, and then going back out again, Sergeant Stark said.

"(The stand down) is a good break," he said. "This is a day we would like to see more of."