U.S. service members line up prior to the start of the 5 km run hosted by the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team May 7, 2011, at an air base in Southwest Asia. Many service members came to participate or cheer on the runners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Anthony Graham)
Airmen start the morning off with a 5 km run hosted by the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team May 7, 2011, at an air base in Southwest Asia. Many service members came to participate or cheer on the runners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Anthony Graham)
U.S. service members participate in a 5 km run hosted by the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team May 7, 2011, at an air base in Southwest Asia. Many service members came to participate or cheer on the runners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Anthony Graham)
by Senior Airman Veronica McMahon
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
5/10/2011 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Service members and coalition partners at an air base in Southwest Asia gathered May 7 for a 5K 'fun run' to celebrate the first national Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day.
More than 220 participants gathered in physical training clothes, uniforms, tactical gear and body armor with members of the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer EOD team who wore their 75-pound bomb suits for the run.
"For EOD and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, today it was all about teamwork," said Tech. Sgt. Ryan Mcclary, a 379th CES EOD technician. "Our fellow EOD brothers and sisters in both Iraq and Afghanistan are asked to risk their lives daily. Although EOD operators assigned (here) do not have this task asked of them, we would like to show support and gratitude for their daily tasks. In addition, we honor the 15 fallen EOD operators who made the ultimate sacrifice this past year."
National EOD Day falls on the first Saturday in May, and people at this desert air base weren't the only ones honoring the memory of fallen warriors. Bases around the area of responsibility gathered in 'Bomb-Suit 5Ks' and held ceremonies to honor and support the occasion.
"People have done bomb-suit runs in the past, but we just went a little bit further, I think," said Staff Sgt. Michael Bramble, a 379th CES EOD technician and event coordinator. "We allowed everyone else to bring out their (personal protective equipment) and body armor and run with us like that."
"I thought it was pretty cool," said Airman 1st Class Jacob Butitta, a 379th ECES firefighter. "We got a chance for the firedogs to show our appreciation to EOD and what they do and come out and support our (civil engineer) brothers."
