THE PRIMER FALL 2025

Letter from RADM Andros

Teammates, It’s always great to see another edition of “The Primer,” it truly captures the amazing work our EOD and Salvage force has accomplished around the world. Our force has seen a great deal of change in the past year and will continue to do so as we align SecWar and CNO priorities – maintaining the standard, realigning our Force generation, and standardizing our configurations as a TYCOM. ---- Standardization and Ownership Our EOD force was a major player in standardizing configurations as we rolled into the 2026 Force Redesign, I know you’re seeing a lot of these changes already. While our EOD forces consistently demonstrate their expertise across the fleet, particularly in crisis situations, we often struggle to fully man teams. Our first goal was to standardize the configuration of a Mobile Unit (MU). Additionally, Force Redesign brings ownership of a MU back to the commanding officer. As a TYCOM, we want to ensure our COs have full control of the readiness of their unit. The Force Redesign allows our leaders to better assess and build teams within your OFRP cycle and be better aware of redlines within your manning, training and equipment as you advance through the phases. We are building self-sufficient teams with homogeneous force structures within our down echelon units. This includes integrating mobile diving and salvage capabilities and reintegrating ESU capabilities within our MUs. By the end of FY26, we will disestablish both ESU’s and reintegrate supply, maintenance, communications, and recompression chamber operations into each CONUS-based MU. This move brings our equipment back to the unit and allows the CO to own the assessment and readiness of their equipment. ---- Force Generation Approach Standardization is key to operational excellence. As a TYCOM, we’ve made significant progress in the last year to standardize Force Generation (FG), creating a culture where FG priorities are the Directed Readiness Tables, the NECF Response Plan and Global Force Management, in that order. We will soon release the first NECF Commander’s Force Generation Handbook. The intent is to jump-start your mastery of these concepts and optimize your unit's contributions to the Navy's overall readiness posture, because the Naval and Joint Forces need combat-ready NECF Units of Action. NECF also led the Command Assessment of Readiness and Training (CARTs) this past year. I am transitioning this responsibility to the Ech IV commanders and intend to implement TYCOM Certification Briefs during the basic phase. We will provide more guidance as we finalize the format and timeline for the TYCOM Certification Briefs. I am impressed and grateful for the critical self-assessment and growth that occurred during the CART process. ---- Combat Fitness Test Standards As part of our Navy’s combat arms team, we rely on each other’s integrity to maintain peak physical and professional demands, preparing our EOD personnel. These are foundational to our lethality and readiness. In September 2025, the Secretary of War directed all service members to execute two fitness tests annually, one will be our existing PRT, the other will be a Combat Fitness Test (CFT) for combat arms personnel. OPNAV is working on what the Navy’s CFT will entail. This test will be sex-neutral and age-normed and must be executable in any environment, at any time, with combat equipment. Leaders at every level must be both entrusted to lead and accountable for failure. Once released, these standards must be clearly communicated, starting with myself, across the force. You are expected to enforce these standards consistently and hold ourselves accountable. Our combat readiness and the EOD Force relies on our physical readiness and is a core competency to our mission. Do not just meet the standard – exceed it. ---- These initiatives represent a significant investment in our future. By embracing these changes and upholding the highest standards of readiness, we ensure the EOD and Salvage Force remains a critical asset to the Navy and the nation. I have full confidence in your ability to adapt, innovate, and excel. Let's continue to work together to maintain our position at the forefront of expeditionary operations. The future also holds change for the future of NECC, as we take on TYCOM responsibility of our Navy’s Force Protection Force. While headquarters staff is working on the details of what this entails, it also means a name change is in our future – this new responsibility is a testament to our adaptability and trust our Navy has in our expeditionary force. In closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the unwavering dedication and sacrifice you all demonstrate day in and day out. The EOD and Salvage community's contributions are invaluable to the Navy's operational success, both at home and abroad. Your expertise, courage, and commitment to protecting our nation are deeply appreciated. B. J. Andros

U.S. Navy EOD, Canadian Clearance Divers Strengthen Maritime Readiness in Halifax

EODMU-6

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia

U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit SIX (EODMU-6) and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) clearance divers conducted a weeklong bilateral training exercise in Halifax, June 2–6, focused on advancing Allied interoperability through unmanned systems, mine countermeasures diving, and underwater emergency response.

The training brought together maritime EOD professionals from both nations to conduct unmanned maritime systems operations, underwater search and locate procedures, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployment, and emergency action drills, all while operating in real-world conditions in and around Halifax Harbor.

“Every aspect of this training - from the unmanned systems to the training dives - directly feeds into warfighting readiness,” said LT Hunter Stuyvesant, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer. “When we train together in complex environments, we build the trust and technical precision needed to be better, faster, and safer.”

Emergency action procedures were a key focus area throughout the week. Canadian and U.S. forces conducted casualty response scenarios, including a simulated treatment of a U.S. dive casualty in the FDU(A)’s recompression chamber. These high-risk evolutions reinforced the importance of rapid decision-making and coordinated action under pressure - critical skills in the underwater domain.

“Working alongside the U.S. team reinforces the importance of shared procedures and mutual support in high-stakes environments,” said RCN Lt(N) Matt Hammond, Training Officer with FDU(A). “It’s about more than just sharing knowledge - it’s about developing trust that carries through to RCN and USN operational deployments.”

Unmanned Underwater Vehicle and ROV operations were conducted from Canadian platforms, with mixed crews sharing techniques for subsea navigation, hazard identification, and data collection. These remotely piloted systems augment EOD capabilities and provide an essential stand-off during high-risk reconnaissance and ordnance disposal missions.

The exercise highlighted the U.S. Navy EOD community’s maritime excellence, reinforcing its role in enabling sea control and joint force maneuver by clearing explosive hazards and ensuring safe access.

“Interoperability isn’t optional – it’s essential for operational success,” said Stuyvesant. “When we train together, we prepare to fight as one, and that cohesion is what deters threats and wins wars.”

As both nations look toward future maritime challenges, joint exercises like this solidify a shared commitment to readiness, innovation, and Allied strength in the maritime domain.

EOD Mobile Unit TWO Completes Successful Deployment

The Legends of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWO (EODMU-2) recently completed a successful deployment to U.S Central Command, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Southern Command Areas of Responsibility from April to October 2025. EODMU-2 headquarters, an Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures Company, a Mobile Diving Salvage Company and two EOD Platoons deployed to U.S. Naval Forces Central (NAVCENT) as Task Group 56.1. EODMU-2 supported multiple named operations to include visit, board, search and seizure missions to counter illicit contraband flowing in and out of Yemen as well as two subsea and seabed warfare missions.

As Iran and Israel started exchanging ballistic missiles, EODMU-2 provided continuous support to Task Force FIVE SIX and NAVCENT. Within the early days of the crisis, EODMU-2 stood up a tactical operations center at an offsite location and delivered secure communications capabilities with the Expeditionary Deployable Node, enabling NAVCENT leadership and staff to continue preparations President of the United States (POTUS) directed combat operations, bringing stability back to a volatile theater. EODMU-2's CENTCOM CBRN Assessment and Response Team, deployed to Al-Udied Air Base, Qatar, also provided critical capabilities and support to the Joint Force during the crisis.

Additionally, EODMU-2 demonstrated commitment to strengthening relationships with critical mission partners during four exercises: KHUNJAR HADD 25 with Omani Divers and EOD Units; NAUTICAL DEFENDER 25 with Royal Saudi Naval Forces EOD Unit; BRIGHT STAR 25 with National Egyptian EOD forces; and INFINITE DEFENDER 25 with Royal Jordanian Navy EOD and Divers. Also, EODMU-2 executed four Subject Matter Expertise Exchanges with Qatar, Kuwait, and Kazakhstan EOD units as well as the Dubai National Police. EODMU-2 also conducted integration with the first permanent LCS in NAVCENT, the USS Canberra. EODMU-2 utilized helicopter insertion to deliver a mission-tailored dive capability and conducted dive iterations using ship-supplied SCBA bottles, further validating NAVCENT’s Incidents at Sea concepts of operations

Outside of the U.S. Central Command theater, EODMU-2 platoons improved partner force Counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) capabilities in Colombia, Peru, and Panama. They also conducted interoperability training with Spanish Allies in the Horn of Africa and EOD response missions at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti ensuring continuity of operations in a challenging environment.

U.S. Navy EOD Joins 17 Allied Nations for Northern Challenge 2025 in Iceland

U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit EIGHT (EODMU-8) worked in tandem with 17 Allied nations during Northern Challenge 2025, a multinational counter-IED exercise from Sept. 9-18 across multiple training sites in Iceland.

Hosted by the Icelandic Coast Guard, Northern Challenge (NOCH) is NATO’s premier exercise for countering improvised explosive devices and strengthening interoperability between Allied forces. The exercise brings together more than 500 participants from Europe and North America focusing on realistic, complex scenarios including vehicle-borne IEDs, remote-detonated devices, and post-blast analysis.

“This is the highest level of multinational EOD training available, and it allows us to work out the friction points before we face a real-world mission,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Bianchi, a senior EOD officer. “Exercises like Northern Challenge strengthen our ability to deter aggression, respond decisively, and defend shared security interests with our Allies.”

During the exercise, U.S. Navy EOD teams employed advanced tools including the Man Transportable PackBot System, bomb suits, digital x-ray systems, and remotely operated aerial drones to locate, identify, and neutralize explosive threats. The scenarios replicate real-world environments, forcing teams to integrate intelligence exploitation, technical procedures, and rapid decision-making under operationally relevant timelines.

Participants emphasized that Northern Challenge is about more than just technology - it’s about people and trust.

“By exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures with our partners, we ensure readiness and lethality across the Allied force,” said Explosive Ordnance Disposal Senior Chief Jake Ferguson. “Together, we sharpen our skills and tackle complex challenges so that when the mission comes, we can rely on each other to protect personnel and assets - and decisively eliminate enemy threats.”

Northern Challenge has been held annually in Iceland since 2004 and has grown in scale and complexity over two decades. The exercise remains a critical venue for NATO and partner forces to validate tactics, techniques and procedures, strengthen combined readiness, and demonstrate a united commitment to security in the North Atlantic region

MDSU-1 USS Arizona

U.S. Navy Divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE (MDSU-1) completed work on the USS Arizona in October 2025 as part of a combined effort to preserve and protect the memorial and war grave.

The platforms had served as stable mooring points for ferries and salvage vessels in the aftermath of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. During a routine inspection in October 2023, the platforms were discovered to have partially collapsed. In response, MDSU-1 quickly mobilized a dive team to assess damage to both the historic site and the surrounding environment.

Tasked as a Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) priority mission to prevent possible damage to the memorial site, MDSU-1 led the recovery effort, with a focused mission to ensure the protection of the memorial, its hull, and the sanctity of the site. MDSU-1, in collaboration with the National Park Service, COMPACFLT, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, and industry experts, initiated a detailed salvage planning process. The primary objective was to prevent further damage and ensure the long-term stability of the hull of the Arizona, which serves as the final resting place for over 900 Sailors and Marines.

Bi-weekly monitoring dives by MDSU-1 and National Park Service divers revealed no significant movement in the platforms leading up to the removal operation.

The mission’s guiding principle, “preserve the structural integrity of the hull and protect the sanctity of those interred,” was central to the planning and execution of the operation. MDSU-1 worked closely with a task force that included the Environmental Protection Agency, Naval History and Heritage Command, NAVFAC, NAVSEA, and other entities. This cross-functional team developed a methodical, multi-phased approach to safely remove the platforms while mitigating environmental risks.

Training for the operation was intensive, with MDSU-1 personnel using mock-ups and simulated conditions to ensure readiness. Five 10-ton anchor blocks were deployed to secure an oil containment boom, mitigating the risk of contaminant discharge.

With all authorities and plans in place, the operation began on September 3, 2025. The first phase involved mobilizing necessary equipment, including Shark Marine diver-held systems, to precisely image the site for barge placement.

By September 10, MDSU-1 began cutting operations on platform 1, using a Diamond Wire Saw to remove large sections of concrete. The discovery of native Hawaiian lava rock as aggregate in the platform’s construction added an unexpected challenge, but the team adapted by deploying hydraulic and handheld tools to manage the material.

As operations continued, the team shifted to platform 2, located to the north of the memorial. Though the risk of collapse was lower, the cutting strategy remained meticulous to ensure safety and structural integrity.

Throughout the operation, LCDR Nic Twisselman, MDSU ONE’s Salvage Officer, worked closely with COMPACFLT to ensure platform stability and safe working conditions for the team.

After 31 days of continuous operations, both platforms were successfully disassembled without further risk to the Arizona hull or the environment. More than 160 tons of concrete were removed, and the operation garnered attention from senior Navy leadership for its successful execution and the skill demonstrated by MDSU-1 personnel.

The operation was completed, and the site was returned to the National Park Service, allowing it to continue its role as a sacred memorial. The Navy successfully executed a mission that preserved the legacy of the USS Arizona, ensuring its future as a symbol of national pride and remembrance.

MDSU-1’s participation in the operation has rich historical ties to the legacy of the USS Arizona. In the aftermath of the Dec. 7 strikes on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Navy divers played a pivotal role in the expeditious salvage and recovery of several Navy ships, including Arizona.

The USS Arizona Memorial is located at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu and marks the resting place of more than 900 Sailors and Marines killed aboard the ship during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, as well as survivors of the attack who were later interred. The memorial, built in 1962, is accessible only by boat. It rests above the sunken remains of the battleship without touching it. Since 1980, the National Park Service has managed the memorial.

Mobile Unit Eleven Air Mobility Week

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit ELEVEN (EODMU-11) conducted a comprehensive air mobility week in October 2025, including five units of action and several other external assets, improving unit adaptability, readiness and expertise.

Traditional air mobility training focuses on one to two units of action at a time with limited scope beyond meeting basic parachute and HRST/CAST proficiency. EODCS Eppie Silva recognized an opportunity to expand air mobility training in the wake of force alignment.

“With the current limited resources dedicated to air training, I re-engineered my thought process beyond air mobility alone,” Silva explains. “With careful planning and the coordination of available assets from EODGRU-1, we could create opportunities to incorporate air mobility into dynamic EOD scenarios at training sites across Southern California.”

Five EODMU-11 units of action including an ExMCM company, three EOD platoons, and a mobile diving salvage company participated in the October training.

Teams utilized combat equipment, CRRCs, small bundles with low-cost, low altitude (LCLA) parachutes, rotary hoist and short haul methods, and surface ship mobility to hone mobility skills. EOD platoons inserted safely into an unknown drop zone with combat equipment. The MCM platoon inserted SCUBA and ROV equipment via small LCLA bundle and the MDS company demonstrated the ability to deliver personnel and equipment via HRST/CAST to provide BDA and other MDS services at sea.

A Model for Force Generation

This dynamic air mobility training week expanded the entire mobile unit’s skillsets and even prompted other units to match the scale of the event for their upcoming OFRPs.

"Often, people tell me ‘You just love jumping, and that’s why you like air so much,’" shares Silva. “I am passionate about air mobility for two reasons. First, operational experience shows us that mobility is critical to getting us to the EOD problem. Air mobility is specific to Navy EOD, and sets us apart from other service’s EOD forces, especially as unmanned systems technology improves. Second, when you exit that door, only you can save yourself. Only you can get yourself to the ground safely through the exit and canopy skills you learn. The ability to keep your bearing and perform procedures in a stressful environment builds your own confidence. It builds your superiors’, subordinates’, and peers’ confidence in your performance in a high stress environment.”

The air mobility week has not only improved the operational readiness of EODMU-11 but also fostered a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the next generation of EOD technicians.

Silva emphasized the importance of collaboration and mentorship to push teammates beyond their comfort zones and seek a deeper understanding of air mobility principles.

“This program wouldn’t be possible without the dedication, expertise, and collaboration with EODGRU-1, EOD technicians, logisticians, and air mobility experts,” he states. “My goal is to empower the next generation of EOD professionals to become masters of our EOD craft with mobility, ensuring they are ready to face any challenge, anywhere in the world.”

The success of the event is a testament to the power of leadership innovation and a commitment to equipping the men and women of the EOD community with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the most challenging and dangerous environments.