eod/seal via bdcp

[johndoe]

is it a viable option to enter the eod/seal communities through the bdcp. i know the seal officer slots are almost impossible to get but if i were to apply to the bdcp through the spec. operations community could i get to eod eventually. i know you have to go to swo school and do a tour, then they would send you, but do many guys do this. i dont have a science major either so i dont know if that will effect my acceptance into the program, i do have a good gpa though.

[Navy5337]

Yes, you can get into EOD via that route, but the selection process is very competetive, like SPECWAR. Make sure you are in great shape and you smoke the screening test.

[EODDVR]

Your third choice should be SWO directly. It is not difficult to enter the SWO community and then you can request a lateral transfer after you earn your SWO pin.

This method is still competitive, ( about 6 out of 40 applicants are accepted each year) but it is important to know that even after commissioning you can enter the community. I entered the community this way on my second try.

If you go the SWO route, try to get on an ARS, MCM, MHC or another Diesel platform and get your Diesel EOOW. This will help...

Good luck!

[Bravo_One_Three]

EODDVR,
I'm not an EOD guy, SEAL/Wannbe or anything like that. I'm curious as to what would be so important about all the background in Diesel? I'm only asking out of curiousity.

[johndoe]

"If you go the SWO route, try to get on an ARS, MCM, MHC or another Diesel platform and get your Diesel EOOW"
your goanna have to spell those out for me, i'm not really familiar with navy speak.
that is good to know i can do that, whats the time requirment for a lateral transfer?
did you have a b.s. or a b.a.?, i'll have a b.a. and would hate to not be selected once im in bc of that. gotta weigh all my options though since college is so gosh darn expensive
thanks for the help

[EODDVR]

Originally posted by Bravo_One_Three
EODDVR,
I'm not an EOD guy, SEAL/Wannbe or anything like that. I'm curious as to what would be so important about all the background in Diesel? I'm only asking out of curiousity.

Spec Ops/EOD Officers often serve aboard ARS (Salvage Ships), MCM (Mine Countermeasures), and MHC (Mine Hunters). All of these use diesel engines as their main propulsion plant. It is therefore important that as a CO/XO (Commanding Officer/ Executive Officer) of one of these that you are smart on the diesel plant. Additionally, an EOOW (Engineering Officer of the Watch) is very important for Department Head and/or XO screening board which is required to progress.

Spec Ops is going through a transition and many of these traditional shipboard billets are going away....but these wickets will still help in the progression/ lateral transfer of any EOD Officer.

[Bravo_One_Three]

Thanks for the answer.

[EODDVR]

Originally posted by johndoe
"If you go the SWO route, try to get on an ARS, MCM, MHC or another Diesel platform and get your Diesel EOOW"
your goanna have to spell those out for me, i'm not really familiar with navy speak.
that is good to know i can do that, whats the time requirment for a lateral transfer?
did you have a b.s. or a b.a.?, i'll have a b.a. and would hate to not be selected once im in bc of that. gotta weigh all my options though since college is so gosh darn expensive
thanks for the help

See above...but also repeating...

SWO- Surface Warfare Officer- i.e. ship driver
ARS - Salvage Ship
MCM - Mine Countermeasures (Ship)
MHC- Mine Hunter Coastal (Ship)
EOOW- Engineering Officer of the Watch - the Officer in charge
of plant operations while underway...

- There is no time requirement. I earned my SWO pin in nine
months, EOOW in another year. As soon as you earn your
SWO pin you can apply for lateral transfer. There is no time
requirement but then you have to wait for a class. Typically
there are only two classes a year for officers. For example I
was accepted for lateral transfer Aug 96 but did not transfer
off my ship until Dec 96. I did not class up until Mar 97.

- I have a B.S., but I do not think that it matters whether you
have a B.A. or a B.S.

....I hope that I have been helpful, but the best source of information is the 1140/ Spec Ops Detailer and/ or community manger. You can contact them online ay Bupers.navy.mil. I think the Spec Ops detailer code is Pers 416. Look under Surface Warfare Placement.

[jw]

This is coming from the enlisted side, but last I heard, the 1140's are no longer doing CO/XO tours on ships. Once you get your SWO pin, you come over and stay around the EOD community.

Also know this. As an EOD officer(1140), you will not be the man going down range. You'll do some training with your det, but when/if something goes down, it's your boys that will be doing the work. You will be stuck in the CP where your Chief can tell you what decisions to make.

[EODDVR]

I agree that as an 1140 you will not go downrange as often as your fellow det members, but do not make it sound like an 1140 is in the "rear with the gear!" It depends on where you go... I just came from MU 8 where there are a lot of two man ops. There are slick-pin 1140's there that have done more real RSPs in four months than Master Techs who have spent their careers INCONUS have ever done. When I was an OIC at MU6, the chances to go downrange were fewer, but EVERYONE had a lot of P1 time in the water.

BTW, I suspect that you'll find that the same is true for SPECWAR. Once you make O-4 you are likely to spend more time behind a desk than in the field.

[tex80]

YOU CAN NOT GO SPECWAR THROUGH THE BDCP! I am sure EOD is the same. You apply for the BDCP your sophomore or junior year of college. I was told that it is too early to judge a potential BUDS candidate. This was sent to me by a community manager type. I will try to find the email, or at least contact the Chief who helped me apply for OCS/BDCP (Naval Recruiting St. Louis) to pass on some contact info about the above statement. Like all the BTDTs have said, if you want to be a SEAL enlist with a challenge contract. If you want to be an officer, and maybe...possibly...probably not...become a SEAL, try to get a commission in Surface Warfare or some other unrestricted line officer billit (except NFO, NA [they would never let you go]).

[johndoe]

thanks for clearing up the technical speak.
tex i'm trying to explore all my options and to see what i can do to balance my dreams and be practical at the same time. i always though the same thing about buds or eod candidates, and am just trying to figure out if spec ops accepts bdcp. it seems unorthodox to me too

[johndoe]

oh and tex if you could find that email it would be greatly appreciated.
as for not being the guy to go down range, yeah i guess i havent thought about that. have to chalk one up for the enlisted arguement. of course if i can be downrange until im an 0-4, well that doesnt sound too bad, i have no idea what i'll want to do by then.
completely somewhat off topic, do you guys like life as/in EOD?

[EODDVR]

The best decision I ever made in my life. Like any community, it has it's faults...but I love the people and I love the work.

I am missing it now, I just returned to civilian life after one year on recall....

[johndoe]

thats a response i'm glad to hear. thanks

[jw]

EODDVR,
How's the book coming?

[jw]

Johndoe,
Mabey I stated it badly. As an 1140 your job is not to go down range. You are there to make sure the det is running properly and as a check and balance for your LCPO. You will have one or two tours as a working Tech, (one sea guaranteed, one shore more than likely) and then off to admin land. Your men will (and should) have more practical experience as a working Tech.

I've seen a fair amount of 1140's finish their Moblie Unit tour and then bail because they couldn't stay operational. Understand up front that if you want to be an operational Tech, officer is not the way to go. If you want to be an officer and have a cool job for a few years, 1140 is a great way to go.

[EODDVR]

Originally posted by jw
EODDVR,
How's the book coming?

It has now been approved by NCIS for public release. Dialog had begun with Naval Institute...very preliminary. I've had a few outside people reveiw it since it has been released wiht positive feedback. Still, it looks to be a slow process. PM me with a email addr and I'll make sure to keep in you my distro for updates.

Hope all is well with you.....

[frogstyle]

Teamguy, not EOD.
However, I worked at EODGRU ONE for a year. Dude, the last thing you want to be is an EOD Officer. DO you wanna be EOD? Or do you wanna watch people do EOD work? EOD officers are nothing like SEAL officers. EOD officers may or may not care to do UXO work. They are driven to advance. Just like this officer above stated indirectly. Do you really wanna drive ship? EVER!? I cant think of anything shittier personaly. The enlisted guys are very smart, mature, all the things you need to have to do that job.

I dont intend to insult the officers, Im sure some of them are swell guys. But, if you motivation is to be a Bomb Guy. Officer is not the route. If you want to manage and write memos regarding your last PHONCON , RE: Range Scheduling issues as per OPNAV 12345. Etc etc. Go Officer and have a good one.

And as a direct disclaimer. I say that EOD officers are very professional and I never had a problem with any of them, except that bodybuilder at MU3 who ran MMS MK6. The rich guy with the Ferrari. Ever hear any stories about him? Cookoo period.

And always ground yourself.

[tex80]

I couldn't find the email. Call your nearest officer recruiter and ask for an email for the EOD community manager. From what I understand that would be the best person to talk to about BDCP for EOD. Like I said, you can't do this for SPECWAR Officer (SEAL) and I think SPECOPS Officer (EOD) is the same. If I wasn't engaged I would enlist with a SEAL Challenge contract. Now I am going to have to lateral transfer from restricted line officer to unrestricted line officer from AMDO to SPECWAR. Very difficult.

[johndoe]

" If you want to manage and write memos regarding your last PHONCON , RE: Range Scheduling issues as per OPNAV 12345. Etc etc. Go Officer and have a good one. "
frogstyle and jw-you make it all sound so glamorous..seriously though,that was enlightening, i never thought it would be that different. thought it was structed like the teams, but what the heck do i know.
my dream has always been to be a SEAL, not EOD. except as i mentioned, i'm in college now and its expensive and bdcp could save some money. yada yada. other problem with enlisting, had some shoulder dislocation problems in high school, surgery on one, the other was minor, i'd hate to enlist, get hurt, and they sit there going 'well crap, i coulda done X route and...' but thats another topic.
eod seems like a cool job and something i'd enjoy doing for a while, except that as an officer it doesnt sound like too much fun.
tex-navy5337 is an eod recruiter, i dont know if thats his official title, challenge programs something, but he said i can. like i said, it doesnt make any sense to me either.

[tex80]

Navy5337 is in charge of Challenge programs. He's also retiring in about three months (Thank you for the many years of protecting America!) so you need to contact him quickly. But, he could probably answer your questions, or put you in touch with the right people. Check and see if the Navy will cover your college debt with an enlistment. Also, Navy5337 has posted that one can enlist into a challenge program with a degree, then in the likely event that you get hurt or quit you can imediately drop an OCS application. Sounds like a win/win situation. I am reporting to OCS 10 July 2004, but if something happens to where I am not starting a family--ENLIST, Enlist, enlist!

[frogstyle]

JOHNDOE,
Hey man. You said "my dream was always to be a SEAL but," Then you gave some excuse for not following your dreams that I didnt bother to read.

EOD is a great place with outstanding people. The last thing they need in their pipeline is a guy who wishes he was someone else or somewhere else. Do you think EOD life is easier than Team life? Its not, just different. EOD deploys, EOD does dangerous shit. BLAH BLAH BLAH.

SEAL Team is where you go if you hope to someday close with they enemy and light his ass up with a 60.

EOD is a different beast. Everybit as dangerous but different. Problem solvers, level headed and resourceful. But, NOT gunfighters.

Are you tracking?

If you want to dive, jump and blow shit up go EOD. They do all that.

If you want to sling lead on the two way range go to BUDS.

Another question. Do you want to be an OFFICER more than a Tech or Operator? If a commision is your TRUE goal go for it and follow whatever path the Navy has for you. Drive a ship. Man the Rails. Have military bearing and all that other bullshit.

If you want something, find out how to get it and blaze a path of fire and death until you get there. Anything else my friend is a waste of testosterone.

Again, these are my opinions, if I stand corrected on any statement send it forth.

Good luck common air breather.

[johndoe]

i guess i should change that to "my dream IS to be a SEAL"
your absolutely right, and i will not make excuses for not following my dreams.
i just got to thinking about eod as an officer, cause i dont want to be so selfish as to do only what i want to do and disregard the financial burden placed on my parents.
btw, i dotn want anything easier or safer than Team or EOD life and i dont give a darn about making capt.

[jw]

Frogstyle was dead on. If you want to be a frog, go for it. The last thing we need is someone that doesn't want to be a Tech. I would, however, take a look at the program and find out what it's all about.