About this Unit
The Eglin Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) School, officially known as the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD), is located at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Established in 1941, the school was created to train military personnel in the detection, identification, rendering safe, and disposal of explosive threats. NAVSCOLEOD serves all branches of the U.S. military and has become the premier institution for EOD training, offering instruction on conventional, chemical, biological, and nuclear ordnance. Over the decades, the school has played a crucial role in preparing EOD technicians for both combat operations and homeland security missions worldwide.
Historical Facts
• Establishment during WWII: The Eglin EOD School traces its origins to 1941, when the U.S. military recognized the need for specialized bomb disposal training following the entry into World War II.
• Tri-Service Training: The school, officially known as the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD), trains members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps together, fostering joint-service cooperation.
• Migration to Eglin: Originally at Indian Head, Maryland, the EOD school moved to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in 1999 to take advantage of better weather and expanded training facilities.
• Largest EOD Training Facility: NAVSCOLEOD at Eglin is the largest EOD training institution in the world, encompassing over 1,000 acres of training ranges and buildings.
• International Students: The school has trained EOD specialists from over 60 allied countries, enhancing global counter-IED (Improvised Explosive Device) capabilities.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: Students receive instruction in disarming conventional munitions, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, as well as IEDs.
• High Attrition Rate: The EOD school is considered one of the most challenging military training programs, with rigorous physical and academic standards resulting in a high dropout rate.
• Robot Training: Modern EOD training at Eglin includes extensive use of advanced bomb disposal robots, reflecting the increasing role of robotics in EOD operations worldwide.
• Memorial Wall: The school maintains a solemn EOD Memorial Wall, honoring the hundreds of EOD technicians who have lost their lives in the line of duty since WWII.
• Hollywood Connection: EOD School graduates have served as technical advisors for films such as "The Hurt Locker," which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2010.
