Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Training & Pay

EOD training schedule table
EOD core training
EOD demolition training
EOD biological training
EOD ground training
EOD air training
EOD IED training
EOD underwater training
EOD continued training

Make no mistake about it: Becoming an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician is hard work. The training is both physically and mentally grueling. But, if you complete the rigorous 51 weeks of training, you’ll be rewarded with leadership opportunities, excellent pay and the knowledge that you are part of an elite team respected throughout the world.

After two months of recruit training in Great Lakes, Illinois, your Explosive Ordnance Disposal training will begin. The typical training schedule for new recruits is divided into five distinct phases:

Phase 1: EOD Prep Course of Instruction

The EOD training pipeline starts with three weeks of preparatory training in Great Lakes, Illinois. The candidate will work on swim stroke development, long range swims and physical conditioning.

Phase 2: Diver Training

Next, EOD candidates will attend nine weeks of dive school held at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City, Florida. There, training will begin with basic concepts of scuba diving as well as dive physics, physiology and basic dive medicine. Candidates learn about the various kinds of equipment, such as the MK16 underwater rebreather.

Phase 3: Basic EOD School

At 42 weeks, Basic EOD School is the longest phase of the training process. 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 four sections, each teaching how to render-safe or defuse specific types of ordnance. These are:

Air Ordnance Division
— Focuses on bombs and missiles
Improvised Explosive Devices
— 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

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 Mobile Teams, Carrier Strike Group/Expeditionary Strike Group Companies, Naval Special Warfare Companies, and Marine Mammal Companies.

Phase 4: Basic Parachute Training

Upon completion of basic EOD training, graduates will attend three weeks of Basic Airborne Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, where candidates qualify as a basic parachutist. Also known as “jump” school, EOD techs learn the concepts of basic static line parachuting. Upon graduation, students are awarded the basic Army Airborne designation.

Phase 5: EOD Tactical Training

The final phase of EOD training is three weeks of EOD Tactical Training 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 Mobile Teams, Carrier Strike Group/Expeditionary Strike Group Companies, Naval Special Warfare Companies, and Marine Mammal Companies.

Advanced Training

EOD technicians are offered a number of advanced training options to hone and specialize their skills. These include:

  1. Helicopter insertion training
  2. Basic parachute training and parachute water insertion training
  3. Advanced Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (AIEDD)
  4. Jumpmaster training
  5. Small unit tactics
  6. Small Arms Instructor
  7. Language School (Defense Language Institute)
  8. EOD Communications (tactical radio communications)

Special Pay & Incentives

In addition to normal pay allowances, the Navy offers EOD candidates a $40,000 enlistment bonus. Once training is completed, an EOD technician can expect competitive pay as well as incentive pay that includes:

  1. Demolition pay
  2. Dive pay
  3. Parachute pay
  4. Special-duty assignment pay
  5. Foreign language pay
  6. Enlistment/selective reenlistment bonuses