Explosive Ordnance Disposal

What will your mission be as an EOD technician? You might help to clear minefields, prepare coastal areas for amphibious landings or provide intelligence about potential threats both in the U.S. and abroad. Below is a typical mission for an EOD Diver, followed by some of the high-tech equipment you may use if you become a member of the team.

Mission Spotlight: EOD Diver

As a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician, one of your most important missions is keeping the waterways clear of enemy mines.

Armed with the latest technology in diving and underwater mine hunting, the Navy EOD technician is an expert in the fight. Your primary tool for this mission is the MK16 (Mark 16), a magnetically clean, silent underwater breathing apparatus. This computer-controlled, semi-closed-circuit breathing system gives you the ability to dive silently to depths of 300 feet while breathing helium and oxygen. You will use either a neoprene “wet” suit or, for longer dives, a fully enclosed “dry” suit. You may also use an AN/PQS-2A handheld underwater sonar device to assist in finding undersea mines in near-zero visibility.

Once an explosive ordnance is found, your team must determine the best option to clear the way. As explosive experts, you would use different types of tools to dismantle the mine and learn how it works.

Your job as an EOD diver is fulfilling and rewarding. Every mission that your team completes is designed to disarm danger and clear the way. You clear the way not only to advance our fighting forces, but also to make dangerous areas safe from the threat of explosives so that the local population can live safely.

Talon 3B Robot

Used by EOD technicians to neutralize bombs from a safe distance, the remote-controlled Talon 3B Robotics System weighs about 80 pounds and has a range of 1.6 kilometers. It is capable of being fitted with seven image-relay cameras and can operate in sand or mud and even climb rocks. Small enough to be carried in the back of a Humvee, it is especially useful in destroying roadside bombs and other Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) with its built-in laser aiming system.

Rapid Response Vehicle

This multipurpose, 12-ton mine-protected armored patrol vehicle is used on missions. A bulletproof and blast-proof capsule fitted with transparent armored glass protects the driver and crew from small arms fire, IEDs and mine blasts. The vehicle can accommodate 10 passengers in a 4x4 configuration and 16 passengers in a 6x6 configuration. EOD technicians often deploy remote-controlled robots to neutralize bombs from within the safety of the vehicle.

Micro Air Vehicle (MAV)

While still in the operational test phase, the Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) will soon be employed by EOD technicians to evaluate its short-range reconnaissance capabilities. Flying overhead, it will provide unprecedented situational awareness in both urban and open terrains.

MK16 Underwater Breathing Apparatus

Combining the mobility of a free-swimming diver with the advantages of mixed-gas diving, the MK16 is used by many EOD Technicians during underwater missions. The MK16 is an electronically controlled, closed-circuit, mixed-gas underwater breathing apparatus that was developed specifically for EOD technicians. If the EOD team isn’t sure what kind of explosive device they might find, they’ll use the safest equipment they can. Because MK16s are self-contained, they don’t produce bubbles like scuba gear would. And MK16s are nonmagnetic. This feature can be especially important when faced with a particularly sensitive underwater mine, because any kind of disturbance — magnetic or acoustic — can be enough to activate an explosive device. The MK16 has improved dive duration and allows for dives of up to 190 feet.