Combat Airlifter of the Week: Staff Sgt. Matthew Sanders

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Isabell A. Nutt
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Name and Rank: SSgt Matthew Sanders  

Unit: 19th Civil Engineer Squadron

Official Duty title: NCOIC, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Training

Hometown: Ridgecrest, California

Time in service: 12 years

Time at Little Rock: 7 months

Goals: Promote to TSgt and finish his Bachelor's degree

Hobbies: Working Out, camping and woodworking

19th Airlift Wing priority portrayed and why?

SSgt Sander’s arrived to Little Rock last fall and hit the ground running by taking over the EOD training section, organizing over 450 hours of classroom and practical training. 

He also serves as lead instructor for the Little Rock Air Force Base WAR Center. He taught Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) recognition to four classes, preparing 88 students for war with a pacing challenger. 

Finally, he helped organize the 19th Airlift Wing Aim High event, partnering with four AFSCs to showcase a joint combat training demonstration for 65 local high school students.