News

EOD techs welcome Safety Day

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Grant Saylor
  • 446 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The bomb would go off in less than 30 seconds unless MacGyver snipped the correct wire. Was it the red one, or the green one? After some profuse sweating, and nerve-racking suspense, the television character always seemed to guess right and save the day.

Like MacGyver, the members of the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight have a stressful job that mandates they be right every time. Unlike MacGyver, they don't guess.

As is the case Air Force wide, the 446th EOD Flight has maintained a tremendously high operations tempo since the start of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Most members of the flight have deployed at least twice in support of OEF and OIF.

These demands on EOD professionals were the inspiration behind Sunday's second annual EOD Safety Day here, a strategic pause in traditional training designed to focus attention on standard operating procedures within the career field and help prevent accidents and injuries to personnel.

"This is a chance for our guys to take a well-deserved mental pause," said Chief Master Sgt. James Coley, 446th EOD flight chief. "It allows us to break from the day-to-day focus on IEDs (improvised explosive devices), take a step back, and do a check-up from the neck up."

Chief Coley's 16-member team of professional EOD technicians has received a number of accolades: five bronze stars, four combat action medals, one purple heart, and one Army combat valor medal when one of the technicians pulled a soldier out of a vehicle struck by an IED in Iraq.

"We have a dedicated, professional staff here," said Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Sursely, 446th EOD superintendent.

Sergeant Sursely is a prime example of that professionalism and dedication to duty. He was part of an intelligence-gathering team back in 2006 when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by a roadside bomb south of Kirkuk, Iraq. The explosion injured three of the four team members, including Sergeant Sursely.

"Jeff was so methodical and aware of his training," said Chief Coley. "He immediately took control of the situation, had everyone check their ammunition and check each other for injuries."

Sergeant Sursely received a purple heart for injuries sustained during the incident. He credits his training as a police officer for maintaining a calm demeanor during such incidents.

"We realize the job we're doing is dangerous and that's why this correlates to EOD safety day," said Sergeant Sursely. "It gives our guys a chance to focus on themselves rather than just the mission."

The EOD flight has averaged three to four Reservists being deployed at any one time since the start of OIF and OEF, said Sergeant Sursely. He has deployed three times since 2003.

"Wherever our wing deploys, we have somebody there providing EOD support," said Chief Coley. "We push our guys to train hard."

Therefore, Sunday's safety day was welcomed as an opportunity to have a candid discussion about the combat stress that EOD personnel tackle on a continuing basis. The EOD flight invited leaders from other squadrons to the event to provide support for the critical role these technicians play.

"One of the benefits of this down day is our Airmen get to learn from outside organizations such as medical, family support, chaplain, and our commander," said Sergeant Sursely. "It gives senior leadership a chance to interact with members of our career field and become familiar with our extremely high ops tempo."

It also gives those outside the career field a moment to appreciate the vital role that EOD members play in the protection of their fellow Airmen, and the incredible sacrifices they make to ensure Air Force assets are protected from a determined enemy.

"We're lucky to be part of team McChord and the 446th Airlift Wing," said Sergeant Sursely. "They understand our mission and support us fully."