How hard is Navy EOD training?

Travis

Nothing at all like BUDs training. BUDs is special forces, who undergo, among other things, rigorous physical stress... EOD is basically bomb squad, you get classroom instruction on how to identify and nuetralize bombs and ordnance.

It is a very challenging course, but not physically. At one point in the class, you'll have to do a short course in full chem gear, mask and all.... that course is physically draining, but nothing like what SEALs go through at BUDs. The wash out rate there is something like 60% or so, or higher.... fail a test once, and you get to retake it. Fail the retake, and you could well be off to a new MOS. Thats what gets most people in EOD school, the classroom....

Shock and Awe

Well unless you talk to an actual Navy EOD or doing some extensive research, you'll have to decide if the training below is something you can hack:

The EOD training pipeline starts with 3 weeks of preparatory training in 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 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 â€œhomemade bombsâ€

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, graduates will attend 3 weeks of Basic Airborne Training at Fort Benning, Georgia where candidates qualify as a basic parachutist.

The final phase of EOD training is 3 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 opportunities include foreign language, Advanced Improvised Explosive Device Disposal, Department of Energy training, instructor, and much more.

BUD/S is, of course, going to be more demanding physically in many aspects, but that doesn't mean that EOD training isn't any less challenging. No way. The Navy EOD guys I saw in action when I was in Ramadi, Iraq were fit and knowledgeable. They saved many lives and were awesome in action. They are two DIFFERENT career paths and you shouldn't compare the two just because both require diving and danger. Mental training can be harder than physical training some times.

Learn more here:

http://www.eod.navy.mil/training.htm
http://www.necc.navy.mil/diver/index.htm

Dylan J

not as hard, but hard.

NavyCrab

Unlike EOD in other branches, Navy EOD Tech also needs to be Jump & Dive certified. In my opinion, even though physical part of Navy EOD Pipeline isn't as challenging as Navy Seal; however, it is not a walk in a park either. If you are not properly prepared for it, you will not make it pass Dive Schl (if you even make it this far). It means that you won't go on to EOD Schl.

If you are trained physically for it, if you have a good studying habit, and have an interest in (chemical & mechanical) engineering, then Navy EOD is achievable. Good luck.

tripleplay15

not sure about the other classes but I have looked into EOD training and everyone I talked to about has told me that it's a 10 month course that takes a year to complete, very few people actually finish the course without having to repeat a section.

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