SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight conducted their annual safety down day here Nov. 23, 2015 with a four-mile ruck march to start the day.
The EOD safety down day is held annually across the Air Force in November. During these down days safety as well as the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness (physical, spiritual, mental, social) are addressed.
“EOD members participate in story boards, or case studies of EOD incidents that have occurred either [Continental United States] or outside of CONUS,” said Capt. Rachel Rupp, 386th EOD flight commander. “We also meet with medical and mental health professionals and the chaplain.”
For the physical piece of Airman fitness during the safety down day, the ruck march is a reminder of the training that all EOD members go through in the preliminary school phase of their career. Body armor is worn during the march as well as a 35-pound ruck sack.
For first-time deployer Senior Airman Christian Hulsey, EOD Team Member, this year’s down day has greater significance.
“It’s a much more eye-opening experience here than stateside because you get to see a lot of different things,” said Hulsey.
According to Hulsey stateside units often focus on reports from the deployed locations. Being in the Area of Responsibility reviewing reports is quite interesting and lends itself to the ultimate goal of their annual down day.
“[Our goal is] to over the basics as to what we are doing, why we are doing it, and doing it safely,” said Hulsey.