EOD flight holds safety stand down Published Nov. 16, 2009 By Master Sgt. Thomas Allen 36th Civil Engineer Squadron ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- When people think of the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron's explosive ordnance disposal flight, they often think of the people who come out for an unexploded ground burst simulator or that have responded to a suspect package at a work center. However, the broader mission of EOD directly touches most functional and combatant mission areas within the Department of Defense. This places a great deal of responsibility and stress on one of the smallest career fields in the Air Force, numbering less than a thousand personnel worldwide. The high-demand, low-density nature of our business necessitates that we have an annual tactical pause to ensure that our operators do not fall victim to redundancy, complacency or emerging terrorist tactics, training and procedures. The EOD flight held its second annual safety stand down Nov. 13. The theme mirrored the Air Force's Year of the Military Family. For the warfighter, knowing that their family will be cared for allows them to concentrate on the mission and reduces mental distractions in a non-permissive environment. The topics discussed dealt with family support programs offered by the chaplain's office, casualty affairs, the family liaison program, and mental health. Providers from the 36th Medical Group discussed at length the symptoms, processes and diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. These ailments are afflicting many Airmen returning from combat tours. The day culminated in a thorough classified review of standard operating procedures, AOR rules of engagement and multi-theater based insurgent tactics to improve our operators' survivability on the battlefield. Though the event focused on the EOD combat mission, all Airmen can benefit from receiving this knowledge base regardless of their functional background. Safety is a relative term in any occupation and EOD technicians understand the irony better than most. But even an EOD operator is capable of minimizing risk by enforcing solid safety practices and an annual reminder of those policies will save lives. Since September 11, 2001, 10 AF EOD Airmen have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Any program developed to prevent further losses is well worth the time and energy. The proof is in the results. In the 12 months since the last EOD Safety Stand Down the 16-man flight was awarded 31 medals, zero of which were Purple Hearts!