Weapons safety: award of distinction
On August 13, 2005, SSgt Futrell and SrA Strom were serving on standby duty for the 2nd Bomb Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight when an emergency request for assistance came in from the local police department in Tool, Texas. An Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fire Arms raid of a drug lab there had yielded one AT-4 Anti-Tank rocket. Tool, Texas, is located approximately 3 hours driving distance from Barksdale AFB, La. Demonstrating exceptional resourcefulness and quick thinking, the team implemented a new and novel idea to minimize the chance of wasting scarce tax payer dollars or damaging vital equipment by deploying unnecessarily. By carefully scrutinizing real-time photos taken by the responding officers, the team was able to determine that the rocket was not 100 percent safe for the local authorities to handle. SSgt Futrell and SrA Strom directed the local officials to stay clear of the area, checked their equipment, loaded their response vehicles, and completed a thorough Operational Risk Management (ORM) assessment to ensure they were fully prepared to deploy, perform their duties, and return safely. The team was acutely aware that many illicit drug labs raided previously had been booby-trapped to discourage intervention. They also realized that the individuals responsible for assembling this particular lab had demonstrated at least some familiarity with military ordnance. After driving to the scene, the team cautiously entered the site using integrated combat tactics. While completing their initial reconnaissance, the team encountered no other weapons other than the AT-4 launcher. After securing the immediate area, they ensured the 2,000 square-foot house and adjoining 3-acre lot were safe and turned over the crime scene to local law enforcement officers for investigation. Upon closer inspection, the AT-4 launcher was found to be empty, something which could not be determined from the photographs reviewed back at the base. This team demonstrated exceptional ORM techniques, professionalism, selfless courage in a potentially hostile environment, and an unrivalled commitment to safety, underscoring Barksdale’s strong safety partnership with the surrounding civilian communities.