THE EOD CAREER FIELD

The EOD Career Program is a volunteer program designed to train Soldiers in the location, identification, evaluation, safe rendering, recovery and final disposition of both surface and underwater Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Enhanced High Explosive (CBRNE) ordnance, improvised explosive devices (IED), unexploded ordnance (UXO) and previously unknown ordnance used worldwide to protect the commander's combat power.
In addition, they also provide EOD support to the President of the United States, Vice President and others as directed in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service. Force protection threats around the world have also increased the average level of EOD support provided to the United States Secret Service for protection of the President and Vice President as directed in DOD Directive 3025.13. Recent Presidential Decision Directives have designated certain major events (Olympics, World Trade Organization (WTO), Super Bowl, etc.) as “National Security Special Events (NSSE)” and directed EOD support to these events, which again has increased EOD mission requirements.
Since World War II, EOD has been at the forefront of operations known today as Force Protection and Military Support to Civil Authorities. They are heavily committed to current operations as part of Homeland Defense and the overseas campaign against terrorism. EOD Soldiers provide force protection, against any type of explosive device, to US forces, operations and installations in CONUS and around the world, during peacetime, wartime, and during other contingencies. They make safety assessments, identify courses of action, and select procedures to defuse explosive devices built by criminals, saboteurs or terrorists. They operate in urban, desert, jungle and mountain environments and will deploy to locations throughout the world. They will work with foreign militaries on real world missions as well as training exercises.

EOD HISTORY

Bomb disposal in the United States dates back to April of 1941. The United States was not yet at war, but we were actively preparing for that eventuality. Embassy personnel and military observers were reporting on the actions of warring nations and as these reports were evaluated by the War Department, Intelligence Sections, recommendations were made concerning actions that should be taken by the United States. One area stood out. Delayed-explosion bombs were creating havoc in Europe, taking a heavy toll on lives and industry. It was expected that if the United States entered the war, we would experience bombing of our cities and industries. As a result, the need for a bomb disposal program in this country received immediate attention.
In the beginning, it was thought that bomb disposal would be under the Office of Civilian Defense. In April 1941, the School of Civilian Defense was organized at the Chemical Warfare School, Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, and part of the training was to be bomb disposal. The Commandant of the Chemical Warfare School requested assistance from the War Department to set up the Bomb Disposal School. The request was approved and forwarded to General Julian S. Hatcher, who was the Commanding General of the Ordnance Training Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. General Hatcher selected Major Thomas J. Kane to provide assistance. It was decided that both military and civilian bomb disposal personnel would be trained by the Army. All responsibility for bomb disposal was placed under the U.S. Army Ordnance Department.
In December of 1941, the Chief of Naval Personnel issued another directive for the formation of the Navy Bomb Disposal School. In 1947, the Navy was assigned Joint Service responsibility for basic EOD training and in 1971, the Navy was designated as the Single Service Manager for all common EOD training. This training continues to be provided by the Naval School, Explosive Ordnance Disposal School located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

 

EOD MEMORIAL HISTORY

On 14 February 1969, the EOD Memorial Committee was formed and consisted of the senior Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force officers of the EOD School. The Committee's intent was to design and have a memorial constructed at the Navy EOD School to honor those EOD men and women who gave their lives in the performance of duty. Drawings of the proposed memorial were made and a $1,500 construction estimate was obtained. Land on the Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Maryland, (now Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Maryland) was donated for this purpose and construction commenced immediately. The basic structure consists of four white cenotaphs, one for each branch of service. Attached to each cenotaph is a bronze tablet with the inscribed names. The Memorial became a reality through the efforts of volunteer EOD personnel. Men and women whose names are placed on the memorial must be graduates of an approved EOD School who have died on active duty as a result of an EOD mission since the declaration of World War II.

The EOD Memorial Committee uses the following criteria to establish eligibility: DEATH AS A RESULT OF HOSTILE OR COVERT ACTION WHILE ASSIGNED OR ATTACHED TO PERFORM EOD DUTIES. DEATH AS A RESULT OF PREPARING TO PERFORM OR PERFORMING A RENDER SAFE PROCEDURE DURING A DULY AUTHORIZED EOD MISSION. DEATH AS A RESULT OF DISPOSAL, TEST EVALUATION OR RANGE CLEARANCE OPERATIONS, AFTER ASSIGNMENT AS AN EOD MISSION. DEATH AS A RESULT OF TRAINING REQUIRED IN SUPPORT OF, OR IN PREPARATION FOR, AN ASSIGNED EOD MISSION. Sixty-nine names were placed on the Memorial during the 12 June 1970 dedication ceremony. 
The EOD Memorial is now located adjacent to the Kauffman EOD Training Complex, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. 
Visit the EOD Memorial Website.

 

MEANING OF THE EOD INSIGNIA

 

THE WREATH is symbolic of the achievements and laurels gained by minimizing accident potentials, through the ingenuity and devotion to duty of its members. It is in memory of the EOD personnel who have given their lives while performing EOD duties. THE BOMB was copied from the design of the World War II Bomb Disposal Badge; the bomb represents the historic and major objective of the EOD attack, the unexploded bomb. The three fins represent the major areas of nuclear, conventional, and chemical/biological warfare.

THE LIGHTNING BOLTS symbolize the potential destructive power of the bomb and the courage and professionalism of EOD personnel in their endeavors to reduce hazards as well as to render explosive ordnance harmless. THE SHIELD represents the EOD mission which is to protect personnel and property in the immediate area from an inadvertent detonation of hazardous ordnance