EOD screening scheduled Jan 24-26 at East Miramar

19 Jan 2023 | Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – Stellar Marines who thrive under pressure and enjoy working through intense, high-octane problems may be enticed by the opportunity to laterally move into the Explosive Ordnance Disposal field and pocket a $53,500 signing bonus in the process.

The Marine Corps Air Station Miramar EOD Branch is holding a lateral move screening for Marines interested in this opportunity Jan. 24-26 at 21020 H Avenue on East Miramar.

Interested Marines should contact their Career Retention Specialists or the EOD Branch for additional details.

To qualify for screening, Marines must be the rank of corporal or sergeant, have a minimum general technical score of 110, normal color vision, and qualify for a top-secret security clearance.

Once a Marine passes the initial screening, they receive 30-90 days of on-the-job training with MCAS Miramar EOD until a seat becomes available at Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

This training pipeline prepares EOD Marines for their mission of providing a capability to neutralize the hazards associated with explosive ordnance that are beyond the normal capabilities of other specialties. This includes, but is not limited to, detecting, locating, accessing, diagnosing, rendering safe, neutralizing, recovering, exploiting, and disposing of hazards from unexploded explosive ordnance, improvised explosive devices, and weapons of mass destruction.

EOD technicians work with a wide variety of organizations from the local to federal level. They support all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, to include infantry units, bases, squadrons and even Marine Forces Special Operations Command. Outside the Marine Corps, they support local police departments, the Department of Homeland Security, special operations forces, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Secret Service. They even assist the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in recovering remains.

To be an EOD Marine, one must be physically fit, intelligent and confident in tight spaces, according to Gunnery Sgt. James Watson, an EOD technician with the Miramar EOD Branch. These traits will be tested at the screening. Marines must run a first-class Physical Fitness Test and Combat Fitness Test before they are placed in claustrophobic situations while wearing a bomb suit and evaluated on how they respond.

“If you want to make a huge difference in the Marine Corps and have exciting opportunities, come to EOD,” said Watson. “We’re looking for great Marines (who) want to do something different and contribute to the EOD mission and be part of our team.”

For more information, Marines can read MCO 3571.2H and MARADMIN 112/19.

EOD Screenings take place quarterly, with the next session taking place in March.


Marine Corps Air Station Miramar