About This Career

Explosive ordance disposal (EOD) specialists detect, locate, render safe, and dispose of explosive threats all over the world. These threats include chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, as well as improvised explosive devices (IED). These experts perform very challenging work for the cause of protecting other service members and the general public.

This career is part of the Government and Public Administration cluster National Security pathway.

A person in this career:

• Performs or supervises procedures for neutralizing and disposing of conventional, chemical, and improvised explosive devices
• Reads and interprets x-rays, diagrams, drawings, and other technical information on explosive ordnance
• Operates and maintains specialized EOD equipment, such as robotics, x-ray devices, and nuclear detection equipment
• Locates, identifies, and recovers buried and underwater ordnance
• Performs toxic chemical agent tests using chemical detector kits
• Selects disposal site and transports demolition explosives and equipment to authorized disposal areas
• Fabricates explosive demolition charges
• Performs and supervises SCUBA diving, explosive demolitions, parachuting, and tactical delivery/extraction
• Supports and conducts ordnance-related intelligence collection and counter-terrorism operations
• Manages and supervises transportation and storage of arms, ammunition and explosives

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Moving the arms, legs and torso together when the whole body is in motion
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours