EOD foundation benefits service members

Courtesy Photo | The Explosive Ordinance Disposal Memorial Wall was constructed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in honor of fallen EOD service members in 1999. U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force EOD technicians must attend and graduate the same school in order to be eligible for assistance. (Courtesy Photo)  

VA, UNITED STATES

03.23.2017

Story by Airman 1st Class Derek Seifert 

Joint Base Langley-Eustis

While deployed, the job of the technician is similar, as they ensure the safety of roadways to allow safe passage for friendly forces.
Whether an EOD member is deployed or in the states, their job brings every-day dangers that can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, serious injury or possibly death.
In the case that an EOD member is wounded or killed, the EOD Warrior Foundation is available to help the service member and families by using the four pillars of support they created.
“Our mission is to improve the quality of life for the EOD family by providing emergency financial relief, scholarship opportunities, and physical and mental support,” said Nicole Motsek, EOD Warrior Foundation executive director. “We need the community and businesses out there to support us in supporting them; they are very deserving.”
According to Motsek, assistance from the foundation is provided to EOD school graduates only, is handled by a case worker who works one-on-one with families to guide them through the process.
“We support families in the EOD community across all four branches of the military who may find themselves on hard times and need support.” said Motsek. “It’s an easy process compared to some and it depends on the kind of support they need.”
The foundation and its supporters host events around the nation, such as bike rides, 5K runs and golf tournaments to bring awareness to the community.
“We find that awareness is a big problem for the EOD community and the EOD Warrior Foundation,” said Motsek “I consider EOD as more of the unsung heroes because they are imbedded with every special operations team and they are doing great work without getting the recognition, but that’s the amazing thing about EOD techs, they don’t have to be in the limelight. They are putting their lives on the line every day to save lives, people and property and they don’t expect anything in return for that.”
For many EOD members, this foundation has helped fellow comrades, who were wounded or died while performing their job, and their families,.
“I know a lot of personal friends that have been helped out by the foundation,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jacob Balik, 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight chief. “[The EOD Warrior Foundation] combined a couple different foundations for our career field as a whole across the joint services and they raise money that goes out to wounded warriors in our career field across all four branches of services. In the last ten years, there have been a lot of EOD guys who have lost their lives or were hurt in the line of duty, and I think this is a very good cause.”
For more information on the EOD Warrior Foundation, visit www.eodwarriorfoundation.org.

• Date Taken: 03.23.2017
• Date Posted: 03.23.2017 09:16
• Story ID: 227825
• Location: VA, US