Just curious how many other Bomb Techs Civilian or Military EOD, active or retired are around here? It's a rather small community and might end up knowing each other or some of the same people.

How realistic was Hurt Locker?

HA!! I just went to recert a few months back. There was no testing or practical evolutions... we just sat around for a week and watched Hurt Locker and got our certificate! I love talking to the EOD guys about it! They get all fired up. They did shit in that movie that makes you scratch your head... but I took it for what it was... a movie. I liked it.

Never officially I did alot of demo work in 03 during OIF 1 and got drafted to go out with EOD regularly on IED missions

NIce deal! Were you .mil? Just curious as to if you were deployed to the suck, and if you have ever watched the show on the military channel about naval eod?

Just a nickname.

my son is eod.he is in chad africa now.

Was not EOD. Was Ordnance in the Navy... did a lot of work with Navy EOD. then was 11B in the Guard. I unfortunately don't have the military channel! I plan on getting it sometime soon. People text me all the time to let me know it's on though

Oh ok, I was just gonna ask how realistic that is a portrayal of your daily activities.

We on the civy side are trained by Army EOD and all the guys I know that are EOD said it was very unrealistic... not in those words

Sounds like fun!

How do you get in to if from the civie side? I've been a firefighter and hazmat tech for several years.

Good stuff!

All depends... My dept has a bomb squad. I applied and since I had a background in ordnance I got on pretty easily. Most of the agencies around here are PD's but there are a FD or two that have them in PA. The only way to get accepted to the school is to work for or be sponsored by an accredited bomb squad.

Unless there is a recert for Executive Management..  my time at HDS has been spent either on the range or in the village..  

You didn't mention the Re-cert chow..  that was fantastic food.

Yes! The food was outstanding!! Much better this re-cert than going to the Sparkman Center like Basic and last re-cert!! Is that what you went for Exec management or are you a Tech?

Not a bomb tech, but I did just blow up the third deck head.

Retired  Army SGM/E-9, 89D/55D, 27 years.  Still a small community, and you are right, we probably do know each other or at least the name.

Im an active duty army EOD tech.

Stay safe Brother!

It's funny because everybody either knows each other or knows somebody that knows somebody. Well... nice to meet you!

We've had a few report in, there is a handful around here that I know about based on posts they've made.

I like to get naked on the Demo range.

Daughter is EOD instructor in Florida. I'm very proud of her.

The wife says I lay stink bombs.  Does that count?

Umm..... I may have been a bomb tech.............in a former life.

EH, EOD guys get to fix my mistakes.

So I hear its actually pretty hard to get on a civilian bomb squad, and pretty much impossible right off the street (or post military ETS). Is this correct in your experience?

 

AD Air Force EOD tech



Hurt locker was a load of shit.

One of my customers is an " independent contractor"  He told me that and I quote " fuck hurt locker we just toss a bunch of c4 in the general direction of the offending device and detonate"   Not sure if he was all there but that is what he said.

Former AF EOD, current UXO tech.  Range clearances were a lot more fun when I was active duty, but the civilian side pays better.

Active duty Marine EOD.  About to head back out again in a few months.  I figure the fighter pilots thought the same about Top Gun the way we do with the hurt locker.

My high school baseball coach said he was retired USMC EOD. He said 22 years in and ret. as Sgt. Maj.
I know there are posers etc. out there but don't think he was a poser anything.
This was in the late 80s. He was hard as nails. Brutal. Built solid as rock as well.
Would fling bats at us and throw line drives at your knee caps it you made a stupid error.
I liked him!!!

His first name was "coach" AFAIK but his last name I remember well. "May".
Strange last name for a PR (well not really, we can have all kinds of names like anyplace else in USA).

so i take it the movie isnt worth looking at?  closest i came to EOD was on my first shore duty escorting the techs to their bunker to get the fun toys to blow shit up.

Former Army EOD, currently working in the civilian UXO industry.

I'm an Assaultman, I work with explosives. Not as much as I'd like, not NEARLY enough, but it's fun. Kinda wanted to go into EOD, but I don't think I have the head for it.

Not EOD but USAF 2W251 Nuclear Weapons Journeyman Does this count?

State Police Bomb Tech here.  Full time team.  As for the Mil to Civ question, I get asked that often.  Even on a Full Time team we spent a LARGE amount of time working general police calls, crime scenes, wrecks, ect...  We all have to be road troopers first, with five years experience before we can apply for the team.  I would love to have a Military tech on my team, but they have to be a Trooper first.

Former Army EOD

I went through school with 2 Marine assaultmen, they were baffled at how Eglin taught you to use blasting caps like they were made out of eggshells or something.  I didn't really get it until I was deployed to a dismount team and as running around with 20 blasting caps in my pocket at all times.





 

One of my closest friends is ex Airforce EOD. Fun to talk to. No souvenirs that he will admit too though :( Fun to poke and prod for info though!

lol holy shit. We didn't treat them like eggshells, but we didn't treat them like spare rounds in our pockets either! lol

It's the way demo is taught at EOD School at Eglin.



 

LOL, nothing like spending a couple of weeks on a range clearance, coming home, and later finding a half dozen non-electric caps at the bottom of the washer after doing laundry.  Bright, clean, shiny, and empty.

Not me... I have a buddy who is .mil EOD. He is starting a brand new shop from SCRATCH. With vehicles, "toys", hiring staff, and a bulding to put to the above in. I cant remember the #'s, but he has a rather large checkbook to work with.

I don't understand all the fuss. Anyone can be EOD.

Once.

I friggin hate bombs. Been a cop for a long time and have called the experts out a few times. I'm smart enough not to mess with things I do not understand.

That is how you get to be old.

God bless you guys and gals for what you do.

Its crazy how much training in EOD school is completely unlike the actual practical applications.  I think its more about making sure people can follow directions and weeding out those that can't.  I keep a minimum of 10 caps in a plastic case in my vest at all times.  At first I was a bit leary of climbing over walls and hitting the prone hard with them on me but after a few hundred times I seemed to shake it.





 

The problem is their is no gray area with caps. There is no warning that it's experienced to much shock they just fucking go off. EOD school is designed to test your ability to think and to understand information. The end state is to prepare you go to the field and then learn how apply what you know to field conditions. What you should be able to effectively do after graduation is to be in an EOD enviroment with out getting youself killed.

Former Army EOD & now DA Civ EOD Instructor (HME) out at Dugway, UT.


The following is my OPINION and OBSERVATIONS based on similar experience:

I thought it was kinda ridiculous.  I thought it would be like the Brits, an ATO is trained by the MIL and that’s it!  Once you get out as an ATO there may or may-not be a position as a cop waiting for you – open arms – “C’mon in me boy!”

Here in the States, its way different.

The smart HDS guys would love to have an EOD trained & EOD deployment experienced asset on their team, but the ignorant ones are intimidated by the awesome amount of knowledge & experience former EOD techs bring to the table.

Just like you, I was thinking along similar lines, I got out, got my BA in Criminal Justice and went through Utah Police Academy.  The academy was a joke after being in the Army!  My Academy was ALOT like the movie "Police Academy" - there were some REAL WINNERS going into Law Enforcement!  Alot like Army Basic!  Except the academy was 0700-1700....

 Anyway, graduated and got told that initial salary was about $14 an hour!  (in Utah).  Yikes!

  Then I would HAVE to spend 3-5 years on beat patrol learning to be a cop and dealing with the full measure of society: Boyscouts & stand-up citizens to dirtbags, slimeballs, drug users & wife beaters and learning to know the difference in under a minute or less.  All this before REQUESTING to go to a Bomb Squad  [IF that Dept has a FULL TIME Squad you have to wait for an opening/position to vacate.  Even if its a Part-Time (dual Hat - patrol-other duties & Bomb Squad) you will probably have to wait for a position too.]

AND THEN go on a 2-3 year wait list for HDS - which by the way MUST be attended to be "FBI certified" as a Hazardous Device First Responder to handle a PAN, MWB charge, X-Ray or even wear the Bomb Suit...(except in training).




About being a Cop:

Don’t have a criminal background & lie about it.  You’re gonna get caught and busted out – possibly even getting some convictions on legit bad folks turned over & set free!  If you ‘think’ you can beat a Polygraph, well good on you.  All lies get found out eventually though, especially in this digital day & age.

 If you think EOD Group (52d or 71st) Policy Letters are ridiculous, take a look at the PHONE BOOK of Policy Letters for a Police Department!  Everything from use of force, to car priveleges, to talking politely to suspects, to telephone calls on duty.  

 Even get into the GRAY AREA of violating one of MANY Policy Letter and Joe-Dirt-Bag is gonna SUE YOU and the Department.  Your Dept may or may NOT defend you!  If you are outside an established posted policy letter, its all on you!  The bad guys know how to mentally twist your nipples & stick it to a rookie, and have lawyers who will do anything for a dollar standing by on speed dial!

 POLITICS: you don't EVEN know the definition of that word until you go into Law Enforcement!  Everything from ‘Head Shed’ B.S. hypocrisy to 'oh you gotta let him/her go because of their parents' - to - "I've got dirt on you so you have to do this for me" - B.S.  Then there is the ‘Company Man’ label dirty cops have for straight laced cops.  It can be a nightmare in some departments (that’s what I have heard though!)

 If there is a Department that pays VERY WELL (LA, Phoenix, Dallas, etc) - talk to their patrol officers about their Departmental Policy Letters and individual officers sued...  California is CRAZY!  High turn-over and LOW morale (in some depts. – others are very good – individual results & times vary!)


 Check out your area though: There are some localities that the Full Time designated RSP authority Bomb Squad are FIREFIGHTERS.  'Arson Investigators' which are Certified law Enforcement Officers - just without SOME of the PD B.S.  Firefighters have MUCH better benefits and a stronger Union than most average P.D's do!  The NFPA mandates what firefighter coverage is mandatory for certain areas.  It is very rare to hear of Firefighters taking a cut in pay or manning – but you’ll hear of cops getting laid off!  Plus being a Firefighter for 3-5 years (maybe even longer waiting for a position to open) would be alot better than a beat cop. (IMHO)



 Now It may seem like I am bad mouthing our brothers & sisters in Blue.  I am not.  I am just saying it takes a special person to be a Cop.  I have seen ALOT of unhappy cops, from dealing with the crap they have to deal with & not being paid well, having their benefits CUT and benefit costs going up - struggling to make ends meet and MOMMA not being happy.



 Just like NOT ALL EOD are the same (Shocker!), Not all HDS folks are the same!  I have met some that I would trust my life with, but, others I want to be the HELL out of their Frag Footprint - cause they are an accident waiting to occur.  Either its compalcency or ignorance or a combination of both with a dusting of over-inflated-Ego & attitude!



 I decided to do EOD Contracts overseas until a Federal Job opened up...  The money, experience and training are much better starting out and promotions, raises continue on up.

 To each their own though - I just wasn't going to start at ZERO and work my way "UP" (! ?) to an HDS Tech and then PINNACLE (stagnate) there at the local/state level - thats it - you are done!

 The best advice I can give you: Talk to BATFE about their EEO positions, DHS about TSA-BAO positions, OR if you like VIPs talk to USSS TSD.  You can even go FBI and move into a SABT position faster than a street cop trying to go to HDS (remember: regular cops it takes 3-8 years!), and even an FBI TRAINEE starts at a GS-10 pay!  USAJOBS is your friend!  You get 5 EXTRA points for being a deployed Veteran and another 5 EXTRA points (for a max of 10 EXTRA points - Plus if you make the top % of applicants they HAVE to interview you!) if you receive a 30% disabled rating from the VA!  The Federal GOV is looking for Good EOD folks who can pass a POLY & a PSYCH screen.



Stateside Contract UXO work.  Ugh.  To each their own – but NOT FOR ME!  The pay is good, but it is MINDLESS work and will stagnate your IEDD skillset!  (it has a shelf-life after all).

 There is alot of 'chatter' about the Department of State possibly going to have some HUGE contracts for Iraq for EOD work (IEDD & UXO).  But I wouldn't touch that for $250k a year!  Itd have to be $500k for me to even CONSIDER going back to Iraq without a Large US MIL force present!



 Best of LUCK in your decisions!

 For all you Active Navy & Army EOD folks - see you at Dugway!  

~Will