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Explosive ordnance disposal (United States Army)

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For other uses, see bomb disposal.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) in the United States Army is the specialization responsible for detecting, identifying, evaluating, rendering safe, exploiting, and disposing of conventional, improvised, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) explosive ordnance.[1][2] It is a core competency of the US Army Ordnance Corps, along with Maintenance, Ammunition, and Explosive Safety.[3]

The military occupational specialty (MOS) code is 89D for enlisted personnel. Officers have the area of concentration (AOC) of 89E, but earn the 90A AOC after the U.S. Army Captain's Career Course.[4][5]

EOD support is provided during peace and war to US forces, allies, foreign partners, and Tribal, Federal, State, and local law enforcement. Examples of missions include:

Additionally, the U.S. Army is the Lead Agent and Head of Delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Counter Improvised Explosive Device and EOD Working Groups.[1]

History

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Explosive Ordnance Disposal has existed in various forms since the invention of explosives and industrial warfare. However, modern EOD formations largely trace their lineage to World War II, most notably during the Battle of Britain. Heavy aerial bombing of the United Kingdom by the German Luftwaffe left behind hundreds of tons of unexploded ordnance (UXO), then referred to as unexploded bombs (UXB). The British formed bomb squads to address the threat. Bombs that simply failed to function as design (duds) were relatively easy to dispose of but bombs with more sophisticated fuzes posed unique threats. Those that had time-delay fuzes, fuzes with anti-tamper or anti-remove devices, or those that incorporated anti-handling features caused high casualties that required a more professionalized force.[7]

Recognizing this threat posed by UXO, the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps began sending volunteers to train on techniques at Melksham Royal Air Force (RAF) Station, Wiltshire, England, in 1940. Many of these volunteers were graduates of or would return to the US to attend the U.S. Naval Mine Disposal School at the Naval Gun Factory, Washington D.C. They would then form the first class of the newly established U.S. Bomb Disposal School at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD.[8] By 1942, the first U.S. Army Bomb Disposal Units were organized and deployed to the European and Pacific Theaters.[9] These companies, however, were deemed to be too immobile to address the workload, so they were further reconsolidated into seven-soldier squads.[10][11]

After WWII, the U.S. Army contracted, deactivating several bomb disposal units and converting a few to a reserve status. The remaining bomb disposal units were redesignated as "explosive ordnance disposal" in 1949. When the Korean War started in 1950, the U.S. Army faced an urgent need for an EOD capability. Unfortunately, there was a lack of personnel, training, and equipment that require a rapid correction and significant investment. Eventually, once training and equipment requirements were met, EOD squads were grown from seven-soldier to eight-soldier squads.[12]

The Korean War solidified the requirement for a standing U.S. Army EOD capability. The U.S. Army EOD mission was expanded in 1954 to include the mission to render-safe and dispose of nuclear weapons. Then in 1962, the mission was further expanded to include the disposal of chemical and biological munitions. However, those roles and responsibilities would diminish as many are currently shared with other U.S. military services and government agencies.[12][13][14][15]

The Vietnam War further increased demand for U.S. Army EOD Soldiers. The first EOD units were deployed in 1965 and remained through the duration of the war. The Vietnam War was considerably different than previous conflicts. The extraordinary use of munitions and the proliferation of booby traps, later called improvised explosive devices, created new challenges for EOD, requiring units to increase to 12-person detachments and ammunition battalion sections.[12] Despite this increase, there remained a shortage of available EOD personnel. At war's height in 1969, the U.S. had more than 540,000 military personnel in Vietnam, supported by less than 300 EOD personnel. However, despite this example, there was another post-war decline in EOD activity as the mission focused on peacetime emergency response calls.[12][16]

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, U.S. Army EOD units continued to provide peacetime support with moments punctuated by international conflict including Operation Desert Storm / Desert Shield, in 1990, the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1995, and the NATO intervention in the Kosovo War, in 1999.[17][18][19] These conflicts were the first real test for the reorganized U.S. Army EOD formations. The scale and saturation of UXOs and the massive demolition of ammunition stockpiles challenged the formations and led to lessons learned that helped identify additional training and equipment requirements.[17][18][19]

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq dramatically changed and increased the demand for EOD forces. During the initial invasions, the U.S. Army EOD mission required the focus to be primarily on conventional operations, such as UXO mitigation and emergency ammunition destruction.[20][21] However, the mission focus quickly transitioned to address the asymmetric threat as counter-insurgency operations (COIN) began.[22] The U.S. invested heavily counter-IED (CIED) capabilities, including EOD. EOD units were expanded and equipped with increasingly sophisticated technologies as adversaries similarly improved their tactics, techniques, and procedures.[22] Mission sets began to transform with increased support to weapons technical intelligence collection and support to special forces operations.[22][23][24] However, the increased special operations forces demand came under scrutiny as some were concerned that EOD companies were not being properly trained and equipped to meet the special operations demands.[25] The most significant transformation was to the "modularization" of U.S. Army EOD formations. Starting in 2005, EOD units were realigned with Brigade Combat Teams (BCT), grown from 21-person detachments to 41-person companies, and new headquarters were established.[26][27] This transformation coincided with a general consolidation of forces aligned with recommendations made by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.[28] As part of those recommendations, EOD forces were consolidated onto fewer bases.

U.S. Army EOD downsized as part of the 2013 sequestration, inactivating several battalions headquarters and companies through 2016.[29][30] In 2017, the U.S. Army adopted multidomain operations as its operational concept for future transformation.[31][32][33] The limited scope of counter-insurgency and CIED operations allowed EOD leaders to focus on specific tasks. The challenge for EOD leaders now is to prepare forces for missions across domains and the competition continuum.[22] There are concerns that the U.S. lacks the required EOD force structure to meet all missions.[22] To address those concerns, the TRADOC Proponent Office - Explosive Ordnance Disposal (TPO-EOD) created, and the U.S. Army approved, the largest force design update (FDU) since 2006. The EOD Multidomain FDU (EOD MDO FDU) created new EOD unit types, added created EOD companies, and realigned current EOD units.[34]

Selection and training

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Selection

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Army Regulation 611-105 Selection, Training, and Suitability for Explosive Ordnance Disposal establishes the minimum requirements for EOD training:[5]

Minimum Requirements
Non-waiverable Waiveable
Be a U.S. Citizen GM score greater than 105
Possess a valid U.S. driver's license Medical profile (PUHLES) of 111121
Normal color vision Eligible for a "secret" security clearance
Normal hearing
Not previously relieved from EOD training
Correctable vision to 20/40
Volunteer for EOD

Enlisted candidates apply through a U.S. Army recruiter or retention NCO. Officer candidates are selected during their commissioning source's branching process.[5]

Training

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US Army EOD training is completed in two phases:

EOD Phase 1 - US Army preparatory course at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. The course is approximately 7-weeks long and designed to prepare students for Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD). The training begins with a bomb suit suitability test, then is divided into five phases:[35]

Module Description
Module A Introduction, history, basic concepts
Module B Introduction to demolitions, explosive tools, disarming techniques
Module C Identification of ordnance, basic weapons functioning
Module E EOD publications, reconnaissance, and safety
Module F Tools, robotics, and the EOD challenge

EOD Phase 2 - Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) is a joint-service school at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. It is attended by EOD candidates from the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, other government agency representatives, and select international students[8]. The course is 26 academic weeks long and divided into eight phases[7]:

Division Description
Demolition Explosive effects, theory, safety, and live demolition
Tools and Methods (TMD) EOD tools, dearmers, and techniques
Core Basic EOD skill sets, safeties, essential principles
Ground Ordnance Familiarization with grenades, projectiles, and landmines
Air Ordnance Familiarization with aircraft explosive hazards, bombs, guided missiles, dispensers, and payloads
IEDs Familiarization with improvised explosive devices
Chemical/Biological (CB) Familiarization with chemical/biological weapons, effects, and decontamination
Radiological/Nuclear (RND) Familiarization with chemical/biological weapons, effects, and decontamination

Graduation

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Graduates of NAVSCOLEOD will have earned the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge. The badge is issued on a temporary status, individuals must remain in good standing for 18-months before the award becomes permanent.[5]

Additional training

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Upon completion of EOD Phase 2, EOD Officers will attend a week-long course Platoon Leader's Course to be familiarized with essential duties.[35]

EOD Soldiers may be required to attend various other courses dependent on mission requirements, examples include: airborne, air assault, defensive driving, advanced marksmanship, advanced IED defeat (AIEDDs), and various other civil or joint schools.[35]

Team leader validation

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Soldiers who lead an EOD must be validated by their leadership through a process called "Team Leader Validation." Team Leader Validation is a unit-led and administered program designed to ensure leaders have the requisite skills to operate independently.[35] Tasks vary between commands and mission sets, example tasks include: x-ray interpretation, vehicle-borne IED, CBRN incident response, and IED hand entry.[2]

Structure

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EOD units often deploy and operate independently from their higher headquarters. Platoons and companies deploy to provide EOD support while battalions and groups provide command and control or augment division, theater, or corps headquarters staff[36][37]

EOD Teams/Sections/Platoons[37]
Unit Composition Description
Team

(2-3 Soldiers)

1x Team Leader, Staff Sergeant (E6)

2x Team Sergeant, Sergeant (E5)

Base unit of EOD
Response Section

(10x Soldiers)

- 3x 2-soldier EOD teams

-1x Section Sergeant, Sergeant First Class (E7)

Provides EOD response for Operational Support and CONUS Support Companies
EOD Platoon

(11x Soldiers)

-3x 3-Soldier EOD Teams

-1x Platoon Leader, Lieutenant (O1/O2)

-1x Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant First Class (E7)

Provides EOD response for Divisional Support, Mixed Airborne, Airborne, and WMD companies
Companies[37]
Unit Type Composition Leadership Description
Operational Support Company (OSC)

(26x Soldiers)

- 2x Response Sections

- 1x Operations section

- Commander, Captain (O3)

- First Sergeant, First Sergeant (E8)

- Response Officer, Lieutenant (O1/O2)

Provides Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), support to military installations and rear areas during multidomain operations
Division Support Company (DSC)

(41x Soldiers)

- 3x EOD platoons

- 1x Operations section

- Commander, Captain (O3)

- First Sergeant, First Sergeant (E8)

- Executive Officer, Lieutenant (O1/O2)

Provides support to maneuver, special forces, other government agencies, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), military installations during multidomain operations
Mixed Airborne

(41x Soldiers)

- 3x EOD platoons

- 1x Operations section

- Commander, Captain (O3)

- First Sergeant, First Sergeant (E8)

- Executive Officer, Lieutenant (O1/O2)

Airborne capable - provides support to maneuver, special forces, other government agencies, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), military installations during multidomain operations
Airborne

(41x Soldiers)

- 3x EOD platoons

- 1x Operations section

- Commander, Major (O4)

- First Sergeant, First Sergeant (E8)

- Executive Officer, Captain (O3)

Provides direct support to 75th Ranger Regiment
WMD

(41x Soldiers)

- 2x EOD platoons

- Operations section

- Liaison team

- Commander, Major (O4)

- First Sergeant, First Sergeant (E8)

- Executive Officer, Captain (O3)

- Response Officer, Lieutenant (O1/O2)

Provides EOD support to defeat or mitigate the effects of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
CONUS Support

(30x Soldiers)

- 2x Response sections

- Operations section

- Commander, Captain (O3)

- First Sergeant, First Sergeant (E8)

- Response Officer, Lieutenant (O1/O2)

Provides EOD Support to the National Capital Region (NCR)
Battalions Groups[36]
Unit Type Composition Leadership Description
Battalion - 2-6 EOD Companies

- Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD)

- Commander, Lieutenant Colonel (O5)

- Command Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major (E9)

- Executive Officer, Major (O4)

- Operations Officer Major (O4)

Provides command and control for subordinate EOD organizations. Augments division and corps staff with subject matter experts. Facilitates all EOD tasks within assigned mission areas.
Group - 2-6 EOD Battalions

- Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD)

- Commander, Colonel (O6)

- Command Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major (E9)

- Deputy Commander, Lieutenant Colonel (O5)

- Executive Officer, Lieutenant Colonel (O5)

- Operations Officer, Lieutenant Colonel (O5)

Provides command and control for subordinate EOD organizations. Augments corps, and theater staff with subject matter experts. Facilitates all EOD tasks within assigned mission areas.

Units

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U.S. Army EOD has active duty and National Guard components. It comprises 3 EOD Groups (Brigade equivalent), 9 Battalions, and 52 Companies.

Active duty

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Active duty units are under the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM).

20th CBRNE Command subordinates

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The 20th CBRNE Command subordinates are as follows.[38]

United States Army Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)

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Units in the United States Indo-Pacific Command are as follows.

United States Army European and Africa Command (USAEUR-AF)

National Guard

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See also

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Explosive Ordnance Disposal - Overview of EOD

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (US Navy) - Sister service EOD Capability

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge - Military badge for the United States Armed Forces

20th CBRNE Command - Largest headquarters for US Army EOD

52nd Ordnance Group (EOD) - EOD Group

71st Ordnance Group (EOD) - EOD Group

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References

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  1. ^ a b United States Department of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force (17 March 2020). Inter-Service Responsibilities for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Army Regulation 75-14. Department of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b United States Department of the Army (17 December 2019). Policy for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Army Regulation 75-15. Washington D.C.: United States Department of the Army.
  3. ^ "U.S. Army Ordnance Corps | School, Fort Gregg-Adams, VA". goordnance.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  4. ^ "Army Sustainment University". alu.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  5. ^ a b c d United States Department of the Army (18 July 2017). 611-105 Selection, Training, and Suitability for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Army Regulation. Department of the Army.
  6. ^ United State Department of the Army (12 May 2022). Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Operations. Army Techniques Publication 4-32. Washington D.C.: United States Army.
  7. ^ "Royal Engineers Association (EDO) our history". Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  8. ^ "Nine from Aberdeen - Cambridge Scholars Publishing". www.cambridgescholars.com. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  9. ^ Lienendecker, Robert (2012). Bomb Disposal, The Early Years of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (An Informal History), 1940 to 1949.
  10. ^ Rubis, Karl (2012). "The Ordnance Department Bomb Disposal Squad in World War II" (PDF). Ordnance Magazine (Spring 2012): 20–25 – via U.S. Army Ordnance History Museum.
  11. ^ Hooper, Samuel J. (1980). The History of U.S. Army Bomb Disposal and Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1941 thru 1945. U.S. Army EOD.
  12. ^ a b c d "Our History EOD | National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association". 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  13. ^ "National Nuclear Security Administration". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  14. ^ "Nuclear Weapons Specialist (2W231) - U.S. Air Force". www.airforce.com. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  15. ^ "US Completes Chemical Weapons Stockpile Destruction Operations". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  16. ^ Cosmas, Graham A (23 January 2015). MACV: The Joint Command in the Years of Withdrawal 1968-1973 (The United States Army in Vietnam). Center of Military History United States Army. ISBN 978-1507678336.
  17. ^ a b Ismay, John (2019-12-04). "America's Dark History of Killing Its Own Troops With Cluster Munitions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  18. ^ a b Bauman, Robert F; Gawrych, George W.; Kretchik, Walter E. (23 May 2004). Armed Peacekeepers in Bosnia. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press (published 16 February 2012). pp. 95–106. ISBN 978-1470093754.
  19. ^ a b Kosovo Mine Action Center (18 June 2024). Kosovo Mine Action Strategy 2025-2030 (in English, Albanian, and Serbian). Mine Action Center, Ministry of Defense, Republic of Kosovo. p. 2.
  20. ^ Neumann, Brian; Mundey, Lisa; Mikolashek, Jon (6 March 2016). The United States Army in Afghanistan Operation Enduring Freedom March 2002 - April 2005. Department of the Army - Center for Military History (CMH). ISBN 978-1944961220.
  21. ^ "Counter-IED Analysis: Hidden Dangers, Hidden Answers". www.cna.org. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  22. ^ a b c d e Lamping Lewis, Jennifer (23 August 2024). Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal in Large-Scale Combat Operations. RAND Corporation.
  23. ^ "21ST Ordnance Company (EOD WMD)". Kirtland Air Force Base. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  24. ^ "NEW IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE EXHIBIT AT THE U.S. ARMY AIRBORNE AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS MUSEUM | ASOMF". www.asomf.org. 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  25. ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Ismay, John (2019-07-17). "Fighting Next to U.S. Commandos, but Without the Same Training and Gear". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  26. ^ Donnelly, Willilam (2007). Transforming an Army at War Designing the Modular Force 1991-2005. Washington D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army.
  27. ^ United States Department of the Army. Modular Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations. Field Manual Interm (FMI) 4-30.50. Washington D.C.
  28. ^ "Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC)". 2016-04-05. Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  29. ^ Brook, Tom Vanden (2015-07-07). "Army plans to cut 40,000 troops". Army Times. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  30. ^ "84th EOD Says Good Bye". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  31. ^ "STAND-TO!". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  32. ^ "Multi-Domain Battle The Advent of Twenty-First Century War". www.armyupress.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  33. ^ "Multi-domain battle has immediate applications, says Gen. Perkins". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  34. ^ "Explosive Ordnance Disposal leaders map way ahead for large scale combat operations". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  35. ^ a b c d "Become EOD | Office of the EOD Commandant | US Army Ordnance Corps". goordnance.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  36. ^ a b United States Department of the Army (January 2017). Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group and Battalion Headquarters Operations. Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 4-32.1 (Change 1 ed.). Washington D.C.: United States Department of the Army (published 17 May 2017).
  37. ^ a b c United States Department of the Army (February 2017). Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company, Platoon, and Team Operations. Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 4-32.3 (Change 1 ed.). Washington D.C.: United States Department of the Army (published 28 April 2017).
  38. ^ "20th CBRNE Command". www.20cbrne.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  39. ^ a b c d "52nd OD Group". www.20cbrne.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av "Active Duty, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD". goordnance.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i "71st OD Group". www.20cbrne.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  42. ^ a b c d e "303rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD) Activates in Hawaii". www.army.mil. 2009-09-16. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  43. ^ "702nd Ordnance Company EOD Training". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  44. ^ "720th Ordnance Company". history.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  45. ^ "Task Force Sinai Welcomes New EOD Commander". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  46. ^ "Arizona Army National Guard | Department of Emergency and Military Affairs". dema.az.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  47. ^ "New Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group activated, Arizona Army National Guard". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  48. ^ a b "501st EOD Battalion - Unit information". dmna.ny.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  49. ^ "741st Ordnance Battalion | Washington State Military Department, Citizens Serving Citizens with Pride & Tradition". mil.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
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