EOD students "out of training" stay engaged

  • Published
  • By Dan Hawkins
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  For Airmen who find themselves 'out of training' while at Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD), the 366th Training Squadron's Field Training Detachment 3 has implemented a new training program to make sure they don't lose some of their already learned skills.

Approximately 80 percent of all Air Force EOD candidates at NAVSCOLEOD spend time out of training for administrative, medical or academic reasons. For many of those candidates prior to the new program's implementation, that time was spent doing details for various base agencies while their learned EOD skills began to erode.

With a total of 725 Airmen out of training at NAVSCOLEOD throughout the 2011 fiscal year, equaling 8,851 man-days, unit leadership knew they had to figure out a better way to keep students in touch with EOD specific training and prevent skill-fade.

"Before we started this program, Airmen removed from class were taken entirely out of the learning environment," said Lt. Col. Jerry Sanchez, 366th TRS Detachment 3 commander.  "They (students) would conduct details for various base agencies and have no exposure to NAVSCOLEOD coursework. We wanted to find a way to change the process to keep students engaged despite being out of the formal training loop."

In May of this year, Sanchez and his staff decided to develop and implement a remedial training course for the detachment's Airmen out of training. After looking at multiple options, it was decided to create an Air Force-only training course.

"We designed the Airmen out of training program around basic and core skills used throughout all the NAVSCOLEOD divisions," said Staff Sgt. Amber Vinci, 366th TRS Detachment 3 EOD instructor. "The curriculum was put together by certified instructors in each of the divisions and is tailored around both field application and a study hall-like atmosphere."

It cost approximately $3,000 for tools and other expendable training items to start up the program. Thinking cost conscious culture through every part of the process, the majority of the supplies needed were obtained at no cost from NAVSCOLEOD or the Eglin Air Force Base EOD flight.

"Tech. Sgt. (James) Joiner really spearheaded the acquisition part of the program," Vinci said. "He really worked hard securing just about all the items we needed to start up training at zero cost. It's about using the resources you have."

Although the program is still being tailored as it grows, the results have been positive thus far.

"It's been very helpful for me," said Airman 1st Class Moises Gonzalez, EOD candidate assigned to the 356th Civil Engineering Squadron at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. "Even though you are out of training, you still want to make sure you are ready when it's time to integrate back into a division."