spec ops EOD

[Jupiter]

I heard there are EOD in Delta & ST-6? Does anyone know anything about them or how to get there?

[bmf]

Both Army and Navy EOD techs can screen to attend advanced training (it aint easy)
for their respective services unit's (ST6 now called DEVGRU or Army Delta Now called CAG I believe). What they do there is not really a good topic for a public forum. I will say there mission there has increased a good deal over the last few years.
How they get there is usually after a few years experience on an operational EOD team they volunteer. Obviously PT plays a big part but it's not unreasonable standards. The hard part is trying to convince guys to be gone that much.

[Jupiter]

how much are they gone? Don't they spend all their time on the ranges shooting?

[bmf]

No, range time isn't really a big time vacuum. These units do realistic training and deployments all over the world. The average amount gone I have heard is between 9-10 months a year. That is pretty hard on any family life. They do have some jobs within the unit that serve as "down time" but people don't screen for DEV or CAG to have down time if ya catch my drift.

[Felix]

Jupiter,
The primary focus of an EOD tech in support of Delta is not shooting, they are versed in the shooter stuff, but with a more "in extrimus" focus. What BMF said is absolutely correct, the most remarkable thing I can say about the three Delta EOD guys I've known is that in all three cases you would have never guessed they were Delta. They were all older, well experienced team leaders before they ever went up for selection.
BMF,
what's CAG stand for? I don't know any guys that have been with them in the last 2-3 years, and I've never heard the term before. (lemme guess, it doesn't stand for Commandos And Guns does it?...LOL!)

[bmf]

I believe it stands for Combat Aplications Group. The way I understand it, this is the "new and improved" name for Delta. I guess Delta Force just sounded too Chuck Norris. I could be wrong though cause I'm only a slimy squid.

[Felix]

Slimy squids aren't all bad. I've been working on an all Navy team so long that I've actually learned to tie a Mast Head's knot (thanks to Frank Heinrich)...LOL. How much longer due you have at the school house? Any idea on your next assignment?

[Jupiter]

I've looked over at the SFOD forum and not much is mentioned of the EOD group, or of other special jobs. Pretty much everyone talks about how hooah the shooters are. It seems DEVGRU has a bit more respect for their techs and how hard of a skill EOD is.

[trident86]

Please remember OPSEC, guys.

[FLTCREW1]

Originally posted by trident86:
Please remember OPSEC, guys.

Very Good Point.

NSDQ

[bmf]

FElIX,
Got about a year left at the school. Looks like I'll be attending a bit of language school at Monterey next then hopefully off to Italy. You working with Heinrich? He was one of my instructors in Indianhead. Great guy, lotso kids!

As far as OPSEC goes, the DOD has admitted to to existance of both teams (called CAG and DEVGRU) publically for a few years now. (See any of the last defense budget requests)
I will keep all other comments guarded.
Pretty bad a SEAL has to remind you about OPSEC though (see Discovery Channel, TLC, History channel, or the shelf of SEAL related books at your local bookstore!)

[trident86]

There are just certain things that don't need to be put out on the net, such as capabilities, organization, or associations between units. If you look at the SEAL stuff in print, it is mostly Vietnam-era stuff, or conjecture. We don't make any excuses for the abundance of information that is available to the public, and it will take a while for us to fade back out of the limelight a bit.

Done with the soapbox http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

[bmf]

Totally in agreement with you.

On the bright side the "press" is always good for recruitment. I've heard you guys (teams) aint hurt'n all that bad but we've (EOD) been taking a beatin for a few years.

The Community Manager site looks great by the way.

[EOD_Jumpmaster]

Jupiter,
We have had a few "recruiters" come by and talk to us about SFOD-D, or Delta, or CAG, or whatever it is now. Seems to be fairly simple to get in to (Army guys of course). The PT test is somewhat standard and the road march is a simple 18 miler. Of course, like it was said earlier, experience is a good thing to have. If you're right out of school and 19 yrs old...chances are not as good as one may hope. Anyhow, we received a good run down on all the "cool" training they do and we took a look at some of their tools. The missions sound really interesting. As far as being gone, well they claim they are not gone all the time, but you can take that for what its worth. The tools...lets just say very, very good. They have state of the art little trinkets. I wish I could give you all I know, but since I'm not an OPSEC machine I don't know whats secret and whats not. So I guess you'll have to imagine.

[sax]

Maybe someone should send some recruiting info to Jacksonville University NROTC...nobody seems to know what EOD is all about. And I'm sure you could get some good people that will otherwise become pilots, that seems to be the norm around here. Specwar and Specops get no props here for some reason.

Sax

[bmf]

Generally we don't seem to be hurting for Officers (as compared to enlisted.) Our biggest challenge seems to be recruiting the young studs out there with the maturity and physical stamina necessary to make it through the pipeline. That may be why you don't here about an active recruiting effort. If you want you can download a decent EOD power point from another site (SPECWAR.NET) and show it to any interested personnel. You still motivated toward SEAL team?

[sax]

For sure, just wanting a back up plan thats worth a damn. I want BUD/S bad, and hopefully I will get it. But I can't control everything, so if not I'll be a crab.

No offense to anyone, but regular Navy is not for me.

Sax

I'll check that power point in a minute.

[bmf]

It's been my experience that individuals coming to EOD as a "back up plan" (after their frog dreams come apart)have great trouble committing themselves- totally - to being the best operational EOD tech they can be. That is, IF they even make it through school. Our school is designed to check your maturity and dedication. If it's not there, you will fail.
I have been on a det with a guy who never cared much about being an EOD tech, (BUDS injury) he just didn't want to go to a ship.
I can honestly say he was more of a hinderance than a help, and on a 6 man team you need every body.
I only ask- please don't come to us because EOD is better than chipping paint. Save the billet for someone who really wants it. (This isn't just directed at you Sax)

Just my .02

[sax]

i have been in long enough to understand all that. And for me its not the end of my world either way. I just wanna have a great time while I'm in.

I'm confident I can handle either school (any school). Including BUD/S, Dive, Harvard, or the War College.

Sax

[bmf]

The job definately is FUN. Not many people can say their job is really enjoyable. Where ever your future finds you, good luck and stay healthy.
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/allhands/ah0197/pn-eod.gif