Training
The EOD training pipeline starts with 3 weeks of preparatory training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. The candidate will work on swim stroke development, long range swims and physical conditioning. EOD candidates will then attend an additional 51 weeks of rigorous training. Their training starts with 9 weeks of dive school held at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City, Florida. Besides learning how to dive, these candidates learn about the various kinds of equipment and dive physics. After successful completion of dive school, candidates transfer to Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. This training is broken down into specific types of ordnance:
AIR ORDNANCE DIVISION Focuses on bombs and missiles
IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Includes “homemade bombs”
NUCLEAR ORDNANCE DIVISION Covers basic nuclear physics and radiation monitoring and decontamination procedures
UNDERWATER ORDNANCE DIVISION Emphasizes torpedoes and other underwater explosives as well as underwater search techniques
Every section teaches how to render-safe or defuse ordnance.
Upon completion of basic EOD training, some graduates will attend the 3 week-long Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia where candidates qualify as a basic parachutist.
After Jump School, training continues at Gulfport, MS for an additional 4 weeks - weapons training in the use of the 9 mm handgun and the M-4 as well as combat first aid.
The final phase of EOD training is 3 weeks of EOD Tactical Training at the Naval Amphibious Base in San Diego, California. This will consist of helicopter insertion (fast-rope, rappel, cast and SPIE), small arms/weapons training, small unit tactics (weapons, self-defense, land navigation, and patrolling), and tactical communications (satellite and high frequency). Upon completion of the EOD training, graduates are assigned to EOD Mobile Units where they gain advanced on-the-job training and experience as members of Combat Expeditionary Support (CES) platoons/companies, Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Group platoons, Naval Special Warfare and SOF Companies, and Marine Mammal Companies.
Advanced training opportunities include foreign language, Advanced Improvised Explosive Device Disposal, Department of Energy training, instructor, and much more.
Read more about this topic: United States Navy EOD
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