Glenn Biggs

Fort Dix Basic Combat Training (BCT) has been a cornerstone of U.S. Army initial entry training since World War I. Established in 1917 in New Jersey, Fort Dix trained hundreds of thousands of soldiers for service in both world wars, Korea, and Vietnam. Through the late 20th century, the post continued to serve as a primary location for BCT, preparing new recruits with foundational soldiering skills. In 2009, Fort Dix became part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, continuing its legacy as a vital training hub for Army Reserve and National Guard units.

The 856th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit is a specialized military formation tasked with the detection, identification, neutralization, and disposal of explosive threats. Activated in response to the growing need for skilled EOD personnel, the unit has supported both domestic and overseas operations, including deployments in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The 856th EOD has played a critical role in protecting military personnel and civilians from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), unexploded ordnance, and other hazardous munitions. Through continuous training and technological innovation, the unit remains at the forefront of explosive threat mitigation and response.