Tech. Sgt. Blake Witte
Tech. Sgt. Blake Witte, the 932nd Airlift Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal team member, poses with the fire he created using the bow and drill method, also known as fire with friction. The EOD team from the 932nd AW, at Scott Air Force Base, spent a week in the mountains of California learning some basic survival skills. The bow and drill fire making lesson proved to be rather difficult the first day and became the skill that several members vowed to complete before the week was over. Witte was the first to succeed. The combination of steady sawing motion with the bow and drill to produce enough glowing ember and constant blowing to get the fire ignited was rewarded with an eruption of flames and excitement from the other team members. Challenge accepted and the challenge was met.