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Services Display Honor While Exercising

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Terrica Y. Jones
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Service members workout in honor of fallen Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians Nov. 21 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.  

This year was the second annual EOD 130 memorial workout and Capt. Jacob Flatz, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight commander, coordinated the EOD 130 Memorial Workout of the Day.

The EOD 130 Memorial Workout is in honor of the 130 EOD Technicians in the Navy, Army, Marine and Air Force who have made the ultimate sacrifice since 9/11. 

“This started last year as a way to help raise money for the EOD warrior foundation that supports the families of fallen EOD techs, as well as EOD members that suffered injuries and can no longer be on active duty,” he said.

Flatz participated in the event at his home station of McGuire Air Force Base last year and after he received a reminder email from the foundation he thought it would be a good idea to have one at AUAB.

“There were some logistical challenges here because the CrossFit style workout which requires unique equipment,” said Flatz. “We had some equipment but not enough for the volume of participants so I had to reach out to the CrossFit gym and they helped out hosting the event,” he said.

There were 45 people who participated in the EOD 130 Memorial Workout outside the Blatchford-Preston Complex gym. The workout consisted of two man teams performing a variety of exercises to remember the fallen. There were four couplets to represent the four branches of service, each couplet consisted of two exercises with 65 reps per exercise totaling 130 reps.

In addition to the four couplets there were 16 lateral partner over burpees to complete after each couplet. The number 16 has its significance among EOD technicians.

“In EOD School every student has to pass every test with an 85 percent. There are mistakes that you can make on any test called 16 point hits meaning it’s an automatic failure,” Flatz said.

“I liked the workout and the teamwork,” said Tech. Sgt. Judy Meno 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group engineering assistants. “It’s a good partner workout for a good cause and you get to support the fallen EOD warriors and their families; I would do it again.”

The EOD Memorial Workout raised a total of $6,000.