Navy EOD: Under the sea and in the air

0 Comments | Naval Aviation News, Nov-Dec, 2001 | by Katrin Rofkar

The threat to Sailors doesn't always come from an enemy. The danger to those working on the flight deck of aircraft carriers like John F. Kennedy (CV 67) often comes from live ordnance still attached to an aircraft, called "hung ordnance." This is when QMC (SW) Ron Ameika and the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) detachment are called to action to safely neutralize the weaponry.

An EOD technician since 1994, Ameika began his career as a quartermaster on a submarine. "All fast attack submarines have divers as a collateral duty," he said. "When I went to dive school to be a submarine scuba diver, I saw the EOD community. I knew that was what I wanted to do with my career."

EOD members, organized in 1941, were originally called mine recovery personnel. What started with a few second-class divers has grown into a community of approximately 600 men and women who are able to perform ordnance countermeasure operations. Although EOD technician is not a rating in itself, it is comprised of source ratings into which technicians are required to convert upon completion of the school--including aviation ordnanceman, storekeeper, hull maintenance technician and photographer's mate. The ratings that make up the various teams are designed to ensure each detachment is self-sufficient and flexible. Men and women from any rating can be chosen to attend the EOD dive school.

The instruction, which consists of 13 months of dive training a ad specific ordnance handling, doesn't end with graduation. It continues when the EOD technician is assigned to a mobile unit and offered military schools, including jumpmaster and parachute training, which assist in the disposal of ordnance.

Even though the training is physically and mentally challenging, Ameika says he looks forward to going to work every day. "I am given the chance to dive, jump out of airplanes and blow things up ... and the Navy pays me to do it!"