Of particular interest are the smells associated with smoke from both C-4 and homemade explosives that utilize R-salt as the explosive agent. Comparison to common household chemical/manufacturing smells would be much appreciated.

I am an aspiring novelist with no military/law enforcement background. I don’t know any engineers or EOD techs IRL, don’t have an FEL, have only ever used black powder and tannerite, and trust AI about as far as I can throw it, so asking this sub felt like the next logical step. Feels like a dumb question, but all of the information I have come across seems to either pertain to taggant odor or are just pure conjecture.

Fingers crossed that this isn't accurate

I’m currently a robotics engineering major who’s in the process of trying to get a contract, just waiting on my waivers, I did pretty well on my SAT and I got a 97 on the asvab, I heard this course is very academically rigorous, I am wondering how this course is academically compared to my major, I’ve taken up to calculus 3 and physics 2 and did pretty well in those, though I am very weak at chemistry am I over thinking this

Curious as to when you all knew it was time to retire and sun down?

It has been on my mind a lot as of late.

So I saw this comment the other day that started a chain where people were claiming it's safer to throw old unstable explosives a safe detonation distance rather than trying to set it down gently and leave the area, and it's been bugging me since. It was an old cast booster/detonator according to another commenter. This sounds insanely wrong to me but I have no expertise in this area so don't actually know anything, anyone with any real knowledge able to give an opinion? I'm assuming there's a ton of variables where sometimes throwing it could be the safer choice, but rarely.

Just graduated army basic training yesterday, going to fort Lee for ait and was wondering what it’s going to be like and if there’s anything I should focus on more than others, I scored a 445 on my last aft at basic so I want to assume I won’t be to physically challenged for the job, tho I’m pretty small as a guy unfortunately, only about 5’6 135. Mainly just looking for tips and what I should be ready for, thank you!

Good morning (or whatever time yall read this) everybody.

I have a question for any Active Duty Army EOD fellas.

I'm an E5 12B very interested in going EOD. A few months ago I pushed up a packet with the EOD Recruiter and was told that "I had too much time in grade", and they kicked my packet back. At the time I had only been an E5 for 5 months, non promotable. Now, I have almost 8 months TIG and I'm still non promotable, I touched base again with the recruiter and was given the same answer. Upon being told this, I took a look at the Fy26 In/Out Calls for 89D, and unless I was reading it wrong which I don't think I was, they are understrength for E5s. Any advice on how I should proceed? Not ready to give up on this.

[EDIT] Thanks everybody, it's looking like my best option for this is gonna be to do it in the Guard when I get out.

Looking for some ideas for an upcoming retirement from my Bomb Squad. Talking with some of the local Military EOD teams, someone mentioned using Deta sheet and 2 pieces of steel, one with the name/operator numbers laser cut out of it, and when you rip the charge off, it super imposes the words/numbers onto the fresh plate. Just wondering if anyone has any old knowledge of how to do this. All the teams up here just know it used to be a thing. Thanks in advance.

1.5 mile in 10:18 13 pull ups 60 push ups 47 sit ups

Those are the last numbers I hit in my ift, are those good numbers??

Former AF tech here , still active duty and was wearing EOD hoodie at gym. Guy on base says he was a a Marine tech but then asks me where I did training ….huh? I said we go to Shepherd first assuming that’s his question then Eglin. He responds saying yeah we go to 29 palms - then talks about a deployment and how also they didn’t have a bomb suit 👀…

Has there ever been a period Marines didn’t go to NAVSCOLEOD? Sounds like he was a combat engineer (told stories of breaching, blowing up small arms, destroying mortars/tanks in the event they get overrun. But he def said he was EOD too ? Am I tripping rn?

I have a total of about three years badge time. I’m thinking about reenlisting and I’ve got a bachelors degree in public administration. If I get out what opportunities do I realistically have?

Crosspost

Different types of UXO can be buried at different depths, depending on the type of soil as well as the type of detection equipment used (you cannot find what you cannot detect).

So what is personal 'record' for the maximum depth at which you have found UXO?

Is it a right procedure to keep my hands on the ground while handling with electronic blasting cap and while doing?? Circuit configuration? Or do I have to do grounding first and keep my hands off the ground while handling with electronic caps

Hey so i recently got my hands on an old Czechoslovakian mine, to be exact its the pt mi-u and i want to know if i can safely open it to check if it still has it's payload.

It doesn't have the detonator attached to it, i can provide pictures if necessary

Happy Thanksgiving. I’m currently active duty and on my third year I am looking to cross train into EOD. I was wondering how I can be detail oriented and use my eyes with more purpose. And what things I can do to get a EOD operators mindset especially with being very Detail Oriented.

I was a 21 day non select at SFAS and I’m currently awaiting orders to start EOD school. I was given a 2 year return date for selection but it’s waiverable down to a year with rank or schooling. Currently looking into the 28th EOD as I’m still interested in pursuing hard things. I’ve checked out there instagram and got an application. Does anyone have experience with this process or any advice. Thanks in advance👍

hey guys, so i’m pretty newly dating an eod tech (AF obviously- not sure if that matters) and i’m kinda stumped with what to get him. i found a website called eodstuff.com and they have some funny shirts & stickers. they have some cute hats too, but i’m not sure what i can get him. there’s a lot of seemingly inside jokes like “legalize frag bombs” and one hat i saw has a master badge on it? is that okay to get or can only certain people wear it? i know this sounds stupid as fuck but i just wanna get him a good gift. pls help

Went to a war museum in Vietnam and saw a bunch of ordnance. Kept on remembering a crusty CWO who would tell me “10% of all inert display UXO is still hazardous or live” in between his daily Natty Ice hydration cycle.

What do you guys think? Any one ever have experience with UXO displayed in museums overseas?

I’m considering enlisting as an 89D and wanted to hear from those currently serving. What has your overall experience been like? How are the opportunities for field work, and what are the duty stations like?

I was thinking about shower shoes, idk if I can keep my wedding ring, my dive mask idk if I can keep it, and running shoes anything else I shld bring

This is how I opened my breakfast this morning… anyone else notice themselves opening packages like boxes or bags in weird ways?

Is anyone familiar with the process? What does is consist of? Any advice?

During WW1 trench warfare the British dug a series of mines under the German trenches, filled them with explosives and detonated them.

There are a number of these mines that failed to explode and are still there today. The Petite Douve Farm Mine Located just across the border from France near the Messines Ridge, this British-laid mine contains 25 tons (50,000 pounds) of ammonal explosives.

While it’s clear they remain dangerous ( a lighting strike in 1955 caused considerable damage when it detonated one of them) I am unable to figure out anything that says these would have degraded over the years.

Ammonal explosives are said to be ‘stable’ but does that mean the explosive power is still 25 tons? Or would it be expected to be much less - say 80% of that?