Army Officials Tour Explosive Ornance Disposal and Diving Learning Site to Streamline Training
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS100411-06
4/11/2010
From Naval Education and Training Command and Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- U.S. Army officials visited the Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving (CEODD) Learning Site at Naval Station Great Lakes March 23-25, in an effort to streamline their training process.
Visitors included representatives from the Department of Army Headquarters, the Army's 59th Ordnance Brigade, the Redstone Arsenal and the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NSEOD).
"By Department of Defense directive, the Navy is the single manager for EOD Technology and Training," said Capt. Adam Guziewicz, commanding officer of NSEOD. "We are responsible for all individual common-core basic and advanced EOD training for all the services. While it is a Navy-managed school, the services drive our curriculum requirements. NSEOD and our Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) chain of command determine how to deliver that curriculum using NETC-approved processes."
The visit comes in an effort to streamline Army attrition rates for prospective EOD candidates, according to Guziewicz.
"The Navy's EOD accession program has been successful preparing candidates for the rigors of EOD School," he said. "The Army is trying to gain insight on our accession process to improve their success rates. The demand for EOD Technicians from all Services has never been greater, so if Army EOD wins, we all win."
Navy recruiters from the Navy and Dive/Explosive Ordnance Disposal Supply Chain Working Group (SCWG) and CEODD staff members briefed the Army team on the Navy's "cradle-to-grave" concept of training, an effort which focuses on how the Navy integrates recruits and the step-by-step path potential EOD personnel must follow to become an EOD technician or diver.
Master Chief EOD Technician (EWS/FPJ) Tim Mendenhall, officer-in-charge of the learning site, hosted the visit and briefed attendees about CEODD's EOD/Dive Preparatory Course and provided a tour of the facilities and barracks to visiting Army personnel. Mendenhall escorted visitors to the 800 Division barracks, a facility reserved for Navy Divers, EOD personnel and Special Warfare and Aircrew recruits, which includes an area set aside to support the rigorous physical fitness training required of these rates.
Over the past five years, CEODD has made significant changes to the Navy Dive and EOD training pipelines, including establishing the Navy Diver and EOD technician ratings, shifting from fleet accessions to an "off-the-street" recruiting program, and establishing the SCWG to target and track Diver/EOD candidates, recruits and students.
"The most positive effect of CEODD's recent changes has been relief to our EOD operating forces," said Mendenhall. "Our forward-deployed operators no longer have to recruit from in-service Sailors or run informal preparatory programs. Recruiting off-the-street, with boot camp and initial training here in Great Lakes, allows the Navy to recruit and train the required number of Divers and EOD technicians our operating forces require."
To earn their basic EOD qualifications, students train extensively for 29 weeks at NSEOD at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. EOD students learn the essential skills required to combat unexploded ordnance (UXO), improvised explosive devices (IED), weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and for Navy students, underwater mine countermeasures (UMCM).
Army officials agreed the visit was successful, providing an insight into the entire recruiting and training process.
"I believe we will see great benefits from the information shared at Great Lakes," said Jan Hamilton, director of Army EOD training. "It was a very enjoyable and enlightening experience."
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
