EOD field seeks qualified Marines

[SR-25]

“Everyone thinks that all we ever do is blow stuff up, when actually our main job is to stop that from happening” said Staff Sgt. Justin R. Martone, senior explosive ordnance technician.

The EOD field is one of the smallest Military Occupational Specialties in the Marine Corps.

The MOS rates just 40 officers and 338 enlisted Marines, but is currently looking to increase the numbers.

“We really do need more Marines in this field, but we are undermanned right now as it is,” said Martone.

Although the field holds a small amount of Marines, those Marines hold a lot of pride when wearing the EOD Badge on their uniforms.

“People look at our badges all of the time and ask us what they’re for,” said Martone. “And the badge itself actually explains a lot about what we do.”

The shield, the base of the badge, represents the EOD mission…to prevent detonations and protect the surrounding area and property to the utmost of their abilities.

Quantico’s EOD team works to provide safety on and around the base, serving as the local area’s bomb squad. They have responded to hostage situations, bank robberies and bomb threats in the local community.

Copied from the design of the World War II bomb disposal badge, the bomb component of the EOD badge represents the historic and major objective of the EOD attack, the unexploded bomb.

Currently, Marines in Iraq are encountering types of improvised explosive devices of which they have never seen before. EOD technicians are tasked to come up with defusing techniques, which are ways to prevent the device from detonating. They are also asked to write publications to help familiarize and educate the troops about these new IEDs, explained Martone.

“We’re getting sent some devices from Iraq,” said Martone. “Our job is to find the right techniques to disrupt the detonation of the device.”

Lightning bolts protruding from behind the bomb on the badge symbolize the potential destructive power of bombs. They also stand for the courage and professionalism of EOD technicians during their endeavors to reduce hazards.

No day is like the next for EOD Marines on Quantico.

“One day we might be teaching classes to troops waiting to deploy, the next we might be on the range training with IEDs, or we could even be on a bomb call,” said Martone.

Some EOD Marines get the opportunity to go through jump and scuba schools, and some get tasked to work with the Navy Seals or Force Reconnaissance Marines.

The wreath envelops the other components of the badge and ties them all together. It is in memory of those who gave their lives while performing EOD duties. It symbolizes the achievements gained in minimizing accident potentials through their ingenuity and devotion to duty.

Every EOD shop in the Marine Corps has its own museum containing ordnance that they have removed the explosive hazards from, and Quantico’s EOD team is no exception.

In addition to their training museum, Quantico’s EOD team often creates cutaways of devices for classroom instruction to show the inner workings of the ordnance.

“Here we have boxes upon boxes full of weapons we have inerted,” said Martone. “They’re from WWII, Iraq and even the Civil War.”

Much of their EOD knowledge is gathered from senior Marines out in the field, but they learn their basic knowledge at their MOS school at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The school is an intense seven-month program, but it takes most students nine months to complete. Due to its demanding curriculum, the school has an attrition rate of 75 to 80 percent.

The course is broken down into several main categories; core, demolition, tools and methods, ground ordnance, chemical/biological, Air I, Air II (aviation related ordnance), IEDs, and special weapons.

Besides passing the course with an 85 percent or higher, Marines have many requirements in order to have the 2336 MOS.

Marines must be the rank of corporal or sergeant with less than two years time in grade to be eligible. The EOD field is looking for Marines who run a first class physical fitness test.

Marines are also required to have at least 4.2/4.2 average conduct and proficiency markings and a general technical score of 110. Marines cannot be colored blind, and they must be able to obtain a top-secret clearance.

Any Marine interested in the EOD field who meets the above requirements should contact their career counselor for additional requirements and further information about the MOS.

[USMC Chuter]

EOD is an excellent field. It's a selective, challenging, close-knit community. I encourage any who qualify to go for it.