3rd AF commander recognizes Sabers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  During a trip to Spangdahlem Air Base, Lt. Gen. Rod Bishop, 3rd Air Force commander, took a moment to personally recognize three Sabers for their work during a humanitarian deployment to Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, Sept. 19.

While deployed, Master Sgt. James Swarthwood and Staff Sgt. Jason Dohn, both from the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Hudson, 52nd Security Forces Squadron, were on a mission to train local de-miners in battle area clearance and unexploded ordnance demolition.

The team, which also consisted of seven other support members, was responsible for setting up the mission and building the training plan. The goal of the team was to provide 17 locals with a battle area clearance background and additional EOD knowledge.

"The basic challenges were similar to setting up any mission for the first time," said Sergeant Dohn, an EOD craftsman. "In the beginning, we had to determine what equipment we would need to instruct the students and where we would be doing it at. We had to develop all the material to instruct them and translate it into Portuguese."

When working with a small team without a standard support structure, challenges have a tendency to creep into day-to-day operations. These obstacles included where the team would live, how much money they would need for six months, language barriers and more.

"We had to do all of our work through translators, which takes some getting used to before you get proficient," Sergeant Swarthwood said.

While in the country, the team members saw more than 100 variations of ordinances. The common presence of ordinances throughout the area creates a continuing need for the education of citizens about the hazards UXO represent.

"The city areas were scattered with munitions," Sergeant Dohn said. "There were some areas that had high concentrations of munitions because the military would dump them there, or they unsuccessfully attempted to dispose of them properly. People began moving closer to these areas and building homes. Families would use rocket motors as fence posts, projectiles to break open cashews or to hold up furniture."

The Airmen saw first hand the destruction this situation can lead to before they left the country.

"The reason we need to be doing this mission was shown to us, in the worst way possible, just before we left the country," said Sergeant Swarthwood, NCOIC of EOD support. "A 10 or 12 year old boy was injured when a projectile he was using to hold up a grill over a fire detonated. With the knowledge we gave our students, they can hopefully rid the entire country of potential hazards like that."

Before leaving the country, the teachers were often able to see their efforts pay off as the watched students put their new knowledge to work.

"We were able to watch our students use the knowledge we gave them to clear areas for houses and farming," Sergeant Swarthwood said. "They also started to clear the city of the remaining UXO scattered around it."

These Sabers took a great deal away from this experience.

"Working with the U.S. Embassy-Dakar, the local UN personnel and the other humanitarian aid agencies was enlightening," Sergeant Swarthwood said. "It was a great learning experience and showed me that all the charity money that is sent in is actually being put to good use."

This was Sergeant Dohn's first humanitarian mission, which he said was unlike than his wartime deployment to Iraq.

"This deployment was very different being a humanitarian mission," he said. "It had less stress with more direct interaction with the people that we are helping; just one-on-one working with the local population. It was very unique and different than anything I've ever done before."

During their down time the team members continued their work in the community by helping a family build a home.

"We did it to get out in the local area and show that we cared," Sergeant Dohn said. "It was fun and they really enjoyed having us out there."

According to General Bishop, these Airmen's actions are important in the war on terrorism. After meeting with the Sabers, and hearing about their experiences, General Bishop gave his coin to them.

"Stuff like that goes into winning hearts and minds," he said. "You guys are really helpint to give them their country back."

The general's pride in these Airmen was mirrored by Col. Darryl Roberson, 52nd Fighter Wing commander.

"Sabers do incredible things all over the globe and they constantly amaze me," he said.