Ok, I'm interested in joining the Army as an 89D, and all I have researched about it is that I would be researching explosives, disposing of and defusing unexploded ordinance, and researching the components of them. I have a few questions though, I know its called explosive ordinance disposal, but would I only be getting rid of the explosives? Or would I be setting up explosives as well? and also, would I be with a special EOD squad, or would I be deployed as part of an infantry unit? Sorry if these are stupid questions, but I can't find any answers on any websites.
EOD question
A Can of Man
Je suis aware
Gator would be the person to ask.
Gator
U of B and B Alumnus
Sometimes explosives are used in the RSP (Render Safe Procedure), as in a BIP (Blow in Place), or even in other RSP's, so, setting up a shot is a basic EOD function.
Range Clearance is another time when one would set up a shot to get rid of things collected, and disposal of explosives and ordnance which is deemed no longer serviceable for whatever reason.
Years ago we were in Detachments, very small, and independent on the base we were set up on, with an EODCC (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Control Center) somewhere else placed in charge of several Detachments in an area of the World.
Now days the Detachments were replaced by EOD Company's, and a few Ordnance Battalions (EOD), which are all part of the 52 Ordnance Group (EOD).
The Army makes EOD Units play army more now days, we used to just worry about EOD work years back, (I liked that better) and, the Army got a little upset.
As for being with Infantry, well that would depend on what the Infantry (or like Unit) was doing to need an EOD Tech(s) with them on an Op (which happens from time to time).
Infantry (and others) does site security for EOD Ops in Iraq and Afghan, but thats not like being farmed out to Infantry (or other Unit) for one of their Ops.
On the EOD Ops (what we called an EOD Incident) the EOD Tech is there to take care of an IED or such, after something is found (or already functioned) which calls for EOD to come in and go to work, and the Infantry (or other tasked Unit) suppy security for EOD, to help keep the Techs alive so the Techs can do the EOD Mission.
You'd have to ask yourself before going to EOD School why you would want to be with the Infantry in the first place, perhaps EOD isn't really the job you want if you would rather be with the Grunts getting shot at all the time, and killing people en masse when the crap hits the fan.
I heard talk about looking into moving EOD with the Engineers (I was a Combat Engineer before going into EOD), which makes more sense than Infantry (and more sense than Ordnance Branch in the Army, strangely enough), but, regardless, EOD Techs are harder to come by than Infantry or Engineers, so there is little want in the Army for a Tech to be on a hump looking for a Gunfight.
I hope that helps.
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iraq EOD guys
And when you deploy and other units (I am an MP Investigator now, but still an MP technically, and my squad alone called EOD 3-5 times a week, and I had a friend that was EOD escort...) call you you will be able to finish your movie, chow, or video game before coming out to us
because the IED aint going no where lol. I don't really think thats what them EOD guys do, I like to think that they are just REALLY busy. But that was our joke after we call EOD and it takes 2-3 hrs for a team to get to us and we're just 10 mins off the FOB. Although, I did see one crazy SOB one night. We found an IED and called EOD, a team comes out, one guy hopes out and walks up to my truck with a cup of coffee, I tell him the 2 chem lights are literally on the round but theres a crush wire halfway across the road, he GROUND GUIDES the buffalo up to it, they play around for about 45 mins, blow it in place, and we drive on.....can't believe that crazy man did that though, they were 2 120mm sabot rounds....
And when you deploy and other units (I am an MP Investigator now, but still an MP technically, and my squad alone called EOD 3-5 times a week, and I had a friend that was EOD escort...) call you you will be able to finish your movie, chow, or video game before coming out to us
because the IED aint going no where lol. I don't really think thats what them EOD guys do, I like to think that they are just REALLY busy. But that was our joke after we call EOD and it takes 2-3 hrs for a team to get to us and we're just 10 mins off the FOB. Although, I did see one crazy SOB one night. We found an IED and called EOD, a team comes out, one guy hopes out and walks up to my truck with a cup of coffee, I tell him the 2 chem lights are literally on the round but theres a crush wire halfway across the road, he GROUND GUIDES the buffalo up to it, they play around for about 45 mins, blow it in place, and we drive on.....can't believe that crazy man did that though, they were 2 120mm sabot rounds....