Careers

Career Description

The best way to deal with an improvised explosive device or an unexploded piece of ordnance is to blow it up in a controlled fashion on our terms. As an Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist, that's just what you'll do. You'll employ tools like C4 and robots as well as classified techniques to dispose of explosives whether they be decommissioned missiles on base or roadside bombs in the field. This is a dangerous job that requires a great deal of knowledge and exacting attention to detail, but it's also an incredibly important job that only the best of the best can accomplish.

Career Tasks

• Handle live explosives on a daily basis
• Detect, identify, render safe, recover and dispose of explosives and ordnance that are unsafe, including conventional military ordnance; criminal and terrorist homemade items; and chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons
• Work on the flight line during aircraft emergencies, on bombing ranges during range clearances, in munitions storage areas, in accident areas and in any other area or climate where an explosive hazard exists
• Maintain equipment, technical data and vehicles
• Analyze unknown munitions and explosives for exploitation and use by the intelligence agencies
• Provide protection to the president, vice president and other dignitaries in support of the United States Secret Service

Relevant Interests & Skills

• Mechanics
• Electronics
• Weaponry
• Maintenance and Repair
• Problem-solving
• New Technology

Training

After eight-and-a-half weeks of Basic Military Training, every Airman goes to technical training to learn their career. Here's the basic information about Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technical training:

School locations: Sheppard AFB [TX], Eglin AFB [FL]

Length of course: 162 days

College degree earned: Explosive Ordnance Disposal

College credits earned: 52