The EOD Warrior Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help EOD warriors and their family members to include families of fallen EOD warriors.
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According to the GAO report, the Army shed 800 EOD positions — the equivalent of two EOD battalions and 13 EOD companies — since 2014 as part of a larger personnel cut driven by "force structure adjustments and the drawdown of EOD forces," the report said.
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According to the EOD officer, that cut represented somewhere between 20% and 33% of the Army's total EOD force.
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Before then, EOD soldiers could wear their brassards only while actively conducting disposal operations around non-EOD personnel in a combat zone.
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With a three-year runway to produce qualified, experienced EOD specialists, according to the GAO report, Army EOD units are constantly playing catch-up.
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That's in part because presidential candidates receive Secret Service details, which lack their own EOD teams, earlier in each election cycle, the Army EOD officer explained.
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The officer said recruiting in general for Army EOD has never been a challenge, but recruiting people who will make it through the demanding EOD school is.
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This increased strain is particularly acute for the Army, where the growing demand for EOD techs for VIP missions comes as the number of new EOD techs joining the ranks has plummeted.
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Ken Falke is a retired Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Master Chief Petty Officer and the chairman and founder of the EOD Warrior Foundation and Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness.
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I just need this before EOD because I'm OOO next week.
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"It's a huge morale hit," said the enlisted Army EOD tech.
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Specific programs include emergency financial relief, college scholarships, hope and wellness retreats, and care of the EOD Memorial located at Eglin AFB, FL. To learn more about the EOD Warrior Foundation, visit their site at: www.eodwarriorfoundation.org.
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Uncertainty aheadWhile the GAO report drew plenty of press coverage, both Army EOD techs who spoke to Task & Purpose said they were unsure the report would prompt any change in how the services calculate EOD manpower requirements.
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Certain VIP protection missions can be extremely manpower-intensive for EOD techs.
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The NSW and EOD reserve units are also on a constant deployment rotation.
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EOD teams such as Lan's have helped clear over 5,600 hectares (14,000 acres).
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And write that article I was supposed to have into my editor by EOD.
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For example, after the email's topic, you could say: "Please reply by EOD Friday."
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"When I first came in, guys fought for [VIP missions]," said the EOD officer.
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The Army declined to provide attrition rates for Army EOD school to Task & Purpose.
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In fiscal year 2019, only 250 recruits joined the Army to become EOD techs.
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The Army has also increased enlistment and retention bonuses for EOD troops, Waggoner said.
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I make a to-do list of what I'd like to accomplish by EOD.
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I asked his commander if he had been trained in EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal).
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We went to the EOD memorial, which is the first weekend in May every year.
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"It makes us want to find other career options," one active-duty enlisted EOD tech said.
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Only Kathryn Bigelow has won, for a movie about a male EOD specialist coping with PTSD.
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According to an enlisted EOD tech, VIP demand has also increased since Trump took office: Under the current administration, EOD units must also cover the Mar-a-Lago Club, the Trump Tower in New York City and the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
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Army EOD units are running at 40% to 50% capacity at the team level, the tech said.
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He was a master Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
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ARLINGTON, Va., July 5, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), in partnership with the EOD Warrior Foundation, will hold its annual Global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Symposium & Exhibition at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in North Bethesda, MD from August 2-3, 2016.
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" If your message requires a response from the recipient, it might be, "ACTION - Send weekly lineup by EOD.
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EOD officers carried out a controlled explosion Saturday morning and were expected to perform more throughout the day.
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The Army also recently changed its uniform regulations so that EOD soldiers can wear their brassards full-time.
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Pretty quick I matched with a gentleman from [city redacted], an Army EOD going by the name of [redacted].
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By contrast, Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) bots currently in operation generally work on wheels, tank-style tracks, or both.
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Narrator: As the sun begins to set on EOD, the tone from the instructors has obviously started to change.
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"The Army uses multiple homeland security scenarios in addition to war fighting scenarios to determine EOD requirements," Waggoner said.
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Between fiscal years 2009 and 2013, the Army averaged 1,125 recruits pursuing EOD annually, according to the USAREC data.
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Over the next five fiscal years, from 2014 to 2018, that average fell to 334 EOD recruits a year.
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What they think happened is there are two runners in the back of the JERRV [Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle].
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Let her know specifically what's on your agenda for the day and what you plan to turn in before EOD.
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Hernandez raised his camera, a Canon EOD 30D, and snapped a photo of the device that would change his career.
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Some acceptable ones include: "EOD" ("end of day"), TL;DR ("too long, didn't/don't read") or "FYI" ("for your information").
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Current military robots mostly serve Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) functions, or operate in the presence of radioactive or chemical material.
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Tag two friends in the comments below + phrase "MIZZ" (multiple entries allowed) Winners will be announced EOD Thursday 8/8.
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The uptick in VIP missions comes as the Army has actively reduced its EOD forces over the last five years.
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The EOD officer said there used to be enough technicians and few enough domestic civil authority missions to stay balanced.
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EOD operators are similar to their NSW brothers, with most being active duty service members before their transfer to the reserves.
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Making matters worse, military planners from each branch simply do not take those missions into account when they calculate how many EOD technicians they need for military operations in a given year, according to the GAO, resulting in personnel levels across the US armed forces that don't reflect the growing demand for non-combat EOD missions.
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It's going to be an early morning because there's a pitch that came in over the long weekend that's due EOD tomorrow.
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However, Army EOD techs themselves told Task & Purpose they feel understaffed and overworked, often without enough time to train for combat operations.
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But after fiscal year 2013, there was a steep drop in the number of recruits joining the Army to become EOD technicians.
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According to data from US Army Recruiting Command (USAREC), the service managed to persuade 1,283 fresh recruits to become EOD technicians in 2010.
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Traditionally, VIP missions requiring EOD techs have been reserved for current and former presidents, vice presidents, their family members and visiting foreign dignitaries.
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The tech added that the manpower shortage has forced Army EOD teams to operate in pairs rather than in usual three-man teams.
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"It's the largest such seizure we have ever come across in Hong Kong," said Alick Mcwhirter, superintendent of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Bureau.
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Narrator: Active trainees are allowed to observe EOD, but when an officer caught a group of them laughing and joking, they were quickly corrected.
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DSCA VIP missions, which often involve military canine teams searching for explosives or sweeping a motorcade route, are becoming a burden for EOD units.
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In one instance detailed in the GAO report, a three-city, five-day visit by a foreign dignitary required nearly 800 military EOD technicians.
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The cumulative effect of these challenges means EOD soldiers are missing out on critical training time, the techs said, resulting in serious readiness shortfalls.
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James A. Slape (who was posthumously promoted to sergeant), a 23-year-old EOD tech attached to a National Guard unit deployed to Afghanistan.
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Cover: Policemen from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit search for dangerous materials at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus in Hong Kong, Thursday, Nov.
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I had forgotten to attach an important document to my grant application, and if I didn't submit it by EOD, I'd be ineligible for funding.
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From 2002 to 403, the Department of Defense increased its EOD forces by more than 70% due to increased demand, according to the GAO report.
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"Fulfilling VIP support missions can be particularly difficult because short-notice demand for EOD teams often exceeds the planned VIP support demand," the report states.
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Besides missed training time, Army EOD techs are also running short on important down-time with family, not to mention personal pursuits like interpretive dance.
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"The Army will continue to monitor and take action to ensure its EOD forces are prepared to meet all current and future threats," Waggoner added.
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Also climbing up the north face is Chad Jukes, an EOD tech veteran who survived a roadside IED in Iraq but, like Linville, lost his leg.
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If he's not asking you for daily email updates, then he's sending you a list of what he wants you to get done before the EOD.
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There's no animal on Earth that has eyes in its hands—but modern EOD bots already have this feature, since it assists the delicate process of disassembling IEDs.
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The SUGV is a small, portable unmanned vehicle that can climb stairs and manipulate objects, as well as offer imaging services for EOD, surveillance, and remote inspection missions.
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"We are burned out, and it makes people not want to stay," said an active-duty senior enlisted Army EOD tech who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
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It was widely reported that the unit had repeatedly asked for certain training courses and equipment before its deployment which are considered standard for active-duty EOD teams.
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To fix this problem, the GAO recommends that the Defense Department update its guidelines to ensure that all EOD missions, including DSCA missions, are considered when calculating manpower requirements.
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"While it is understandable that the services prioritize combat missions when determining EOD requirements, they are not considering all available information in their decision-making process," the report wrote.
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Beginning in fiscal year 2022, he said, EOD teams will grow from two-soldier teams to three-soldier teams in order to provide promotion potential for mid-level NCOs.
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The EOD officer noted that the strain comes at a difficult time strategically, as the military prepares for possible conflicts with near-peer adversaries such as Russia and China.
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On the set of Range 15 at DC Stages & Sets in downtown Los Angeles, I met with Ross and his female star—a former Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician (a.k.a.
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This two-day event will highlight training and technology requirements for the joint service EOD force, interagency interoperability, and will include a Technology Outreach event with the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency.
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Imagine trying to go to a New York post office at 3:30pm to send out some important Friday EOD letters, and getting turned away because there's a US national game on.
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When reached for comment, Army spokesman Jason Waggoner told Task & Purpose that, contrary to the GAO report, the Army considers all missions, including DSCA missions, in determining resources for EOD force structure.
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The four soldiers were a combination of infantry and explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) forces, sent on foot to investigate a Palestinian flag placed along the border, Israel Defence Forces spokesman Lt. Col.
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Navy divers and EOD personnel conducted a number of exercises at Adak, the westernmost city in the US, including putting unmanned and remotely operated vehicles to the test in the frigid Alaskan waters.
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That means there's no requirement for services to tell the Joint Staff and combatant commands when EOD forces are stretched so thin doing VIP missions they don't have time to train for combat.
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Retraining into the 2780D EOD tech career field, for instance, can earn tier 29 bonuses if a soldier is a private first class or specialist, so long as they make it through the schoolhouse.
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FLIR Systems was recently awarded a $109 million contract to deliver Kobra robots to serve as the Army's new Common Robotic System - Heavy (CRS-H), an unmanned ground robot built to help EOD units.
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In the aftermath of the shooting and subsequent robot action, Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) robot manufacturers like Endeavor Robotics (which was not involved in this incident) reported an increase in police interest in their robots.
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Indeed, the GAO report noted that the rising workload and falling manpower numbers mean EOD units are often so busy performing DSCA missions that they miss the critical training they need to prepare for combat.
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"The workload has gone up exponentially while the people available to do that mission in the Army has gone down," said one Army EOD officer, who also spoke to Task & Purpose on the condition of anonymity.
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The bombs found Monday night contained a total of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of high explosives and shrapnel, according to Alick McWhirter, a senior bomb disposal officer with the Hong Kong Police Department's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau (EOD).
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When the officer was in EOD school, there was a 40% academic fail rate, the officer said, but that didn't include students who were dropped for conduct or clearance reasons, such as getting arrested for driving under the influence.
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It's become so bad, the tech added, that at one point Army EOD units in the US pulled senior enlisted soldiers from the battalion, group and operations level and threw them in the field to carry out DCSA missions.
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Some days, we've just got to get things done: a breakfast meeting with a client, a full day of work, happy hour with friends, and then if we're feeling extra ambitious, maybe even an EOD trip to the grocery store.
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FLIR Systems, a leader in advanced sensing technology, won a $109 million Army contract for a ground robot to help Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, the company's first big unmanned systems win since it acquired Endeavor Robotics for $382 million earlier this year.
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In this extra scene, Driver meets the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait and finds out what it's like to get suited up in one of the "bomb suits" used by the US military in 114-degree heat.
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Likewise, the Seeker grenades in Infinite Warfare—crab-legged explosives that find enemies behind cover—are just an autonomous version of what Dallas Police did this summer, when they strapped C4 to an EOD robot and ran it into a sniper holed up behind cover.
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Explosive ordnance disposal units across the Army are struggling to train for combat operations amid both a personnel shortfall and a surge of domestic protection missions, a dangerous combination some EOD techs say has compromised their overall readiness and left their comrades burned out.
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He proudly served as a member of EOD Mobile Unit 3 out of San Diego, CA, and then the Navy's elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) out of Dam Neck, VA. Josh was deployed to multiple war zones as part of the special operations groups.
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Investors: If a founder tells you that they have this amazing offer from an SV-based fund that they have to take or reject by EOD tomorrow (PDT of course), and they still might consider you for a slightly higher valuation, wish them a nice life.
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Those robots were not actually armed by the police departments which owned them, at the time of publication of that story, and those are different in purpose and construction from the robot likely used by the Dallas PD, which is likely a Marcbot-IV EOD, designed specifically for bomb defusion rather than offensive action.
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For a job application:Referred by Jane Brown for Technical Writer positionHuman Resources Assistant Application — John SmithFor an interview follow up:John Smith Following Up on Sales PositionMarketing Manager interview follow upFor a work request:Requesting Project X idea submissions — Due Jan 15Employee Survey: Please take by EOD FridayFor a meeting invitation:Meet about social media strategy Tuesday?
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Ahmad and his ramshackle unit were sent to the insurgent hotbed of Mosul, where he worked as a medic in an explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) unit and acted as an unofficial ambassador between American soldiers and the local Muslim population, defusing tension and earning sympathy for the American cause in a very unsympathetic environment.
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