First Friday successful

  • Published
  • By Capt Nicole Walters
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo --  The first Friday of the month brought Warren members together at the Trail's End Club here to discuss deployments, learn about the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight and relax. 

Wing leadership created First Friday with the hopes of becoming a new on-base tradition centered in esprit de corps, education and mission readiness. 

The initial First Friday presenters were Tech. Sgt. Cayle Harris and Staff Sgt. Benjamin Kelly from the 90th CES EOD Flight. Their focus was expeditionary Airmen and the war on terror, offering a glimpse into the life of a deployed explosive ordnance disposal expert. 

"This was incredibly informative," said 1st Lt. Jason Regester, 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "It's imperative for our troops here at Warren to know what it's really like in a deployed environment. While knowledge is key, in a deployed environment it can literally save your life." 

Airmen from across the base rallied at the Trail's End Club to hear Sergeant Harris' tales from his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He spoke about what it's like to be deployed, how it's unique for EOD and offered to answer questions. 

The presentation slides included video clips of Warren members' time in the deployed environment and the detonation of landmines and other hazards. 

"It just increases awareness to the troops, their supervisors and commanders," Sergeant Kelly said. "They need to know about the increasing personnel that are deploying to high-threat environments." 

During his service in the Air Force, Sergeant Kelly has been deployed to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. 

He believes each deployment is rewarding in its own way. The next deployment rotation for EOD is slated for August 2007. 

The safety and security measures EOD members use are used in deployed areas and also used here in Wyoming. Several Warren EOD members were in civilian clothes at the presentation for a reason: Warren EOD members left the presentation to provide Secret Service support to an area where a presidential official was about to speak. 

After the presentation, warriors networked, enjoyed karaoke and played crud. 

Next month's First Friday is Dec. 1 in the Trail's End Club. Time and speaker information will be in the Warren Sentinel as well as sent out in a base-all e-mail.