MOS 89E—Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer (MOS 89E) Description / Major Duties:

Officers must volunteer to become qualified for EOD. Only Ordnance officers are eligible to apply for EOD. There are two opportunities to enter into the EOD field: after completion of Ordnance Basic Officer Leader Course III (BOLC III) or CLC3. Procedures for volunteering are located in DA Pam 351–4 and AR 611–105.

Officers must complete an intense two-phased EOD course prior to being awarded this designation. EOD Phase I is conducted at Redstone Arsenal, AL, and EOD Phase II is at the Joint EOD course at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. EOD officers provide a unique and critical service to the Army, U.S. federal agencies, and local law enforcement and operate within the full spectrum of joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational (JIIM) operations. EOD officers plan, develop, and integrate EOD operations for all types of contingency operations. These officers advise, integrate, and execute the “render safe” operations of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive ordnance disposal (CBRNE) functions stemming from threats posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO), improvised explosive devices (IED), and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). These officers lead, manage, plan, and direct activities and organizations concerned with identification, location, rendering safe, handling, removal, and disposal of U.S. and foreign unexploded conventional, nuclear, and chemical munitions and IEDs.

Additionally, EOD officers provide support/protection to the President of the United States, senior American officials, military and foreign dignitaries, and support intelligence activities through analysis of foreign munitions, technical and biometric exploitation of IEDs, and perform the forensic analysis of post-blast explosive materials.

Article Last Modified: February 21, 2011

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