Bomb-suit run honors deceased EOD Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Carter
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 60th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight hosted a bomb suit 5K Nov. 30 at Travis Air Force Base, California.

Participants were given the opportunity to run in teams with one team member donning the suit EOD technicians wear when they dispose of improvised explosive devices or an unexploded piece of ordnance while the other team members carried 35-pound ruck sacks.

"The event encouraged teamwork which is very important in our career field," said Senior Airman Scott McDonough, 60th CES EOD journeyman. "The additional team members were responsible for keeping the bomb suit wearers hydrated and motivated while monitoring their physical status to prevent sickness or injury."

If you think the 1.5-mile run for a fitness test is difficult, try running three miles in a 75-pound bomb suit.

"Just the weight makes it a challenge," said Master Sgt. Mark Walker, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance flight operations section chief. "The weight is distributed across the body and the suit doesn't breathe well. The participants will have to regulate their speed so they don't overheat."

The event was held in commemoration of the 20 Air Force EOD technicians that gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

"Our goal is to showcase AFEOD and the sacrifices that our career field has made for the war on terror," Walker said. "It is a little known fact that no other career field in the Air Force has sacrificed as much as Air Force EOD in terms of loss of life and injuries. During Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, we completed 55,847 combat missions and responded to 19,946 IEDs."

During the run, names of the 20 fallen EOD technicians were read along with a bio for each.

"The event gave us the opportunity to spread awareness of the danger and challenges the EOD community faces while deployed," said Senior Airman Scott McDonough, 60th CES explosive ordnance disposal journeyman. "On EOD safety down day, we take a look at our health and safety on the job as well as back home. Among many other topics, this year we discussed the four pillars of comprehensive Airmen fitness and the bomb suit run covered the physical fitness pillar."

Senior Airman Austin Shockey, 60th CES electrician, and his team were the first to cross the finish line with a time of 34 minutes.

  "Our shop decided to do it just on a whim," Shockey said.  "To finish first with my team was great and it's also funny because we are electrical and no one expected that from us. My favorite part was that final lap and finishing because I was exhausted and ready to take off the bomb suit. I ran with a team and without them I would have never finished as good as I did. Just having them stick with me to the end and not leaving me behind was my motivation."