TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Message from EODGRU 2 CMC - CMDCM Stocker
- Around the Force
- Rim of the Pacific
- Baltic Operations
- King Crab Competition
- UNITAS
- Sea Breeze
- Northern Challenge
- DET China Lake Demolition
- Navy Special Operation Memorial Dedication Ceremony
- Community Outreach 2024
- STRIKE Update - GRU 2
- STRIKE Update - GRU 1
Messege from eodgru 2 cmc - cdmcm stocker
In an era marked by rapidly shifting and unpredictable security threats, the Navy is taking decisive steps to enhance its capabilities and maintain a global strategic edge. The redesign of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) force is a critical move toward improving readiness and strengthening our ability to respond to an increasingly volatile global security environment.
This redesign isn’t merely an organizational change; it’s a comprehensive overhaul of how we conduct force generation, develop professionals, and provide agility to unit commanders, ensuring they have the tools and training necessary to succeed in modern warfare. The update ensures that our EOD, diving, and salvage teams can respond faster and more effectively to both maritime and joint force demands. With the Chief of Naval Operation's newly published NAVPLAN emphasizing distributed lethality, fleet readiness, and cross-domain collaboration, these changes are designed to ensure our teams remain resilient and adaptable, capable of deterring emerging threats.
This redesign not only enhances the Navy’s readiness today but also positions our EOD forces to meet the challenges of tomorrow. By adapting to the evolving security landscape, we ensure that our teams remain a critical component of our nation’s defense strategy, capable of confronting and overcoming the threats of the future.
I ask each of you to reflect on your role in this transformation and ensure that you are contributing to the success of this critical change!
RIMPAC 2024 - MDSU 1 & EODMU 11
Personnel from EODGRU-1, MDSU-1, and EODMU-11 wrapped up participation in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC), Aug. 1, 2024.
Twenty-nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participated in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 27 to Aug. 1. RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise and provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.
EOD forces from Mexico, Germany, The Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, and Japan came together to exchange tactics techniques and procedures for land navigation, HRST Cast, dealing with vehicle borne IED and surface threats.
During the tactical phase, the multinational EOD forces closed out the exercise with a full-mission profile incorporating everything they learned during in Hawaii.
Meanwhile, on the dive side Navy and Army divers worked closely with partner forces from Peru, Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands on various salvage and recovery techniques and tools challenges in a variety of challenging dives in the Hawaii operations area.
U.S. and partner nations conducted a sidescan sonar assessment of the USS Utah, a ship that sunk during the December 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Group One staff was on hand providing command and control support for CTF 171, a combined task force comprised of dive, EOD, engineering, port security and mine warfare, throughout the exercise.
RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
EODMU 6 Field Training Exercise
EOD Technicians from EODMU 6 spent a week at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia, for a field training exercise where they executed a range of EOD drills as part of their training cycle.
BALTOPS 2024
EODMU 2, 8, & 12; MDSU 2
By LT Chelsea Cannaday, EODGRU 2 PAO
Elements of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Units (EODMU) 2, 8, and 12 operated with NATO allies and partners in one of the largest Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercises to date, June 7-20, 2024. This collaborative exercise aims to hone the skills necessary to operate seamlessly in a joint maritime environment and provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen the combined response capability critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea.
Exercise scenarios for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units included clearing mines, eliminating explosive threats, operating unmanned vehicles and conducting diving and salvage.
BALTOPS 24 brought the largest assembled coalition of amphibious and mine countermeasure forces in BALTOPS history.
Participating nations included Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“We are privileged to integrate with the Belgian, Dutch, French, and Norwegian navies at BALTOPS 24,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kristen Fekete, executive officer of EODMU 12. “With our shared mission of neutralizing explosive threats, multinational operations such as these convey regional reassurance and adversarial deterrence.”
BALTOPS remains an alliance proving ground and is vital for honing the leading edge of combined interoperability, with Navy EOD playing a key role in mine countermeasures, unmanned surface vehicle operations, and integrated maritime and air operations.
For U.S. Navy EOD’s role in the exercise, EODMU 12 ran a dedicated command and control (C2) element headquartered in Putlos, Germany, where EOD teams communicated with the tactical operation center before, during, and after each mission.
While EODMU 12 had tactical control of the EOD components for the U.S., Belgian, Dutch, French, and Norwegian navies, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) Mine Countermeasure Technical Division (MCMTD) leads the overall MCM combined task group and directs seven subordinate task units, including EOD’s operations, in support of BALTOPS.
As an exercise, BALTOPS continually adapts to the dynamic security environment. EOD’s involvement this year highlights an increased focus on expeditionary mine countermeasures and command and control.
“While mine countermeasures has been a central part of the BALTOPS exercise for decades, we are continuously looking for opportunities to increase its involvement and to experiment with different capabilities,” said Capt. Scott Hattaway, vice commander, mine warfare battle staff. “This year’s expeditionary mine countermeasures (ExMCM) contingent is the largest so far, combining the typical EOD/diver and unmanned underwater vehicle personnel with a command task unit to better support command and control over a complex water space.”
Aviation and surface assets worked together with EOD for a robust, multiplatform mine countermeasure approach.
“This is the first time we’ve brought the full detect-to-engage package for a BALTOPS exercise. We are flexing this capability by incorporating new technologies, as well as an MCM capable MH-60S detachment, to support their operations,” continued Hattaway.
In addition to refining tactical proficiency, BALTOPS provides an excellent platform for enhancing existing partnerships and fostering new ones. Naval personnel from different countries get the opportunity to work together, exchange knowledge, and build close relationships that are crucial for future collaboration.
“Working together with EOD allies is valuable because we all have the same tasks, but we accomplish it in different ways. Our main goal is the same – the threat has to be gone. Seeing how different teams approach the same problem with different solutions, you learn small things that you can take back to your own teams to be stronger,” said Sgt. Maj. Ben Coolen, team leader for the Netherlands Maritime EOD.
Coolen elaborated on the training opportunities shared by the U.S. and Dutch EOD teams at BALTOPS 24.
“In the Netherlands, we never use a helicopter for a drifting mine procedure. Tomorrow, we are going to do that together; that will be a unique learning experience. Next week, we are moving into the tactical phase of the exercise, and we hope to approach some tasks together with the new knowledge we’ve gained,” said Coolen.
Naval strength is vital to achieving maritime security, which is an essential component for regional stability and a thriving economy. The Baltic Sea remains a critical artery of commerce, with up to 15% of the world’s cargo transiting the region.
U.S. Navy EOD clears explosive hazards to provide access to denied areas, employs advanced tactics and technologies to exploit and secure the undersea domain for freedom of maneuver, builds and fosters relationships with trusted partners, and protects the nation. As Navy EOD develops new capabilities, force structure, and tactics, our force remains dedicated to sharing capabilities and information on combating explosive threats with our allies and partners to ensure regional stability.
Navy Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU 2), a subordinate command of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 (EODGRU 2), also participated in BALTOPS 2024. Operating out of Liepaja, Latvia, they conducted underwater cutting and welding training, as well as diving and salvage operations, with Latvian Navy Divers.
Navy Divers can perform underwater salvage, repair and maintenance, submarine rescue and support operations for Navy special warfare teams and explosive ordnance disposal teams. Because of their similar skill sets and mission areas, Navy EOD use expeditionary divers attached to our mobile units and our mobile diving and salvage units to conduct underwater search and salvage, port clearance, and hyperbaric chamber operations.
Other Navy Expeditionary Combat Command units participating in BALTOPS included: EOD Expeditionary Support Unit (EODESU) 2, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Commander Task Force (CTF) 68, headquartered in Rota, Spain; and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi.
BALTOPS 24 is the premier maritime focused military exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea.
navy eod KING CRAB competition 2024
By LT Chelsea Cannaday, EODGRU 2 PAO
The winners of the first Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) King Crab Competition are Lt. Mike O’Neil and Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Troy Padmore, assigned to EOD Mobile Unit 2, making history as the first team to win the newly established competition hosted by Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2.
The 2024 King Crab Competition consisted of 18 EOD technicians working in nine two-person teams. By the end of the four-day competition, competitors traveled roughly 45 miles on foot wearing around 60 pounds of gear while being tested on 24 tactical tasks, performing 3 major physical training events, and swimming over 2,000 meters.
Taking second place this year was the team from EOD Training Evaluation Unit 2, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Luke Ostrowski and Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Connor MacGillivray.
Third place went to Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Jake Ferguson and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 2nd Class Kieran Murphy from EOD Mobile Unit 8 out of Rota, Spain.
The winning duo was named during an awards ceremony Aug. 16, 2024, at EODGRU 2’s annual family day event in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Capt. Karl Haywood, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2, spoke at the ceremony.
“Across this group of 18 [competitors], there have been a total of over 45 deployments to every theatre we operate in. Every single mission area that we do, these guys have been put to the test, and all of them excelled. Outstanding job,” said Haywood.
The competition's concept is not only to determine the best Navy EOD team, but to challenge and test the service members' knowledge, physical prowess, teamwork, and mental fortitude.
The nine Navy EOD teams took on a wide variety of physical, technical, and tactical scenarios during the competition, from responding to chemical ordnance, clearing improvised explosive devices, conducting live demolition, responding to a floating mine at sea, to completing an all-night, 7-mile land navigation challenge followed by a full day of mentally and physically taxing EOD drills.
“Every team here displayed grit, determination, tenacity, strength, and EOD expertise. That’s why the event was so competitive,” said Haywood.
The final day of King Crab started with a 3-mile ruck run in full kit in the morning heat, with each EOD technician wearing roughly 60 lbs. of gear. Then, they completed a grueling manual beached mine scenario. Finally, they rucked to the EODGRU 2 headquarters, where they were met by family, friends, and unit members at EODGRU 2’s family day event. The final event scores were tallied, and the winning teams were announced.
The competition had 27 graded events. By the end, three teams were tied for first in point values. The tiebreaker came down to counting up which team had the most first place rankings in individual events. The level of fierce competition and the 3-way tie were demonstrative of the level of excellence across the ranks in the Navy EOD community.
A 200 lb. trophy was presented to the winners. Their names will be engraved on it, and it will be passed around to the winning unit year after year. The trophy has 90 blank placards surrounding it, waiting to be claimed by future King Crab champions.
The competition’s intent was to build ‘espirit de corps’ and healthy competition within the Navy EOD force.
EODGRU2 and seven subordinate commands contributed to the planning and execution of the event, which took place at 13 training sites in Virginia and North Carolina. 37 evaluators, most of them EOD technicians, as well as more than 80 support staff, assisted in the execution of the 4-day event.
In real world operations, Navy EOD teams are routinely tasked with some of the most dangerous and demanding missions, including the neutralization of explosive devices and chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological materials, while operating in hostile environments.
Because of their thorough training, Navy EOD is fully capable of detecting, identifying, stabilizing, rendering safe, exploiting and disposing of a wide-range of weapons and explosives including conventional munitions, CBRN munitions, unexploded explosive ordnance, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), homemade explosives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and nuclear weapons.
The tightknit community, teamwork, and comradery within the special operations community are a few of the traits that set Navy EOD apart.
“The traits that are unique to EOD operators are character, resilience, ability to complete the mission, critical thinking, and problem solving. If something is wrong, we get to work—we solve the problem, then talk about it later,” said retired Master Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Tommy Rebis.
Rebis, who was the 26th ‘Master Blaster of the Navy’, continued, “We are enablers. What affects our platoons, affects the unit we are supporting. We are averse to failure.”
Mentorship within the Navy EOD community is a huge contributing factor to their success.
Master Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Joe Maloney, assigned to EODGRU2, explained, “We teach the newer operators how to navigate their career path; we give them objective guidance and help them set goals they didn’t know were attainable. We help them divest themselves of bad habits so they can push the boundaries and limits of what they never knew they were capable of.”
The King Crab competition was designed to push the boundaries and limits of the EOD technicians and draw on their ability to persevere through adversity and lean into teamwork to solve complex problems. While simulated in this exercise, these skills are paramount to success when conducting real missions.
When asked how events like this build unity and comradery among the EOD force, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Jacob Dowden, a King Crab competitor, said, “At the end of day, it’s about your brothers to your left and your right.”
Besides being physically fit and confident in EOD knowledge, the winning team said their mindset during the competition helped them to excel.
“Doing tough things with friends makes good memories,” said O’Neil. “We both think this competition is a good idea. If you put some culture and some fun behind it, it creates a good atmosphere,” said O’Neil.
When asked if they plan to compete in the King Crab Competition again next year, Padmore and O’Neil said, “Yeah, absolutely. We have to defend [the title].”
UNITAS 2024 - EODMU 2 & MDSU 2
EODMU 2 and MDSU 2 participated in UNITAS LXV from Sept. 2-12, 2024, in Concon and Valparaiso, Chile. Participating units worked alongside Chilean, Peruvian, and Argentinian EOD and diving and salvage forces during the exercise.
UNITAS is the longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world, focused on enhanced interoperability in maritime and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and to create new relationships that will promote peace, stability, and prosperity. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet is the maritime component of U.S. Southern Command and the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity, security and stability.
SEA BREEZE 2024 - EODMU 8 & MDSU 2
By LT Chelsea Cannaday, EODGRU 2 PAO
VARNA, Bulgaria – EODMU 8 and Mobile Diving and Salvage Company (MDS) 2-3 operated alongside NATO Allies and partners at Exercise Sea 24-3, Sept. 9-20, 2024. This collaborative exercise aims to address the current maritime mine threat, collective demining capabilities, and effective means of enhancing Black Sea regional maritime security.
In its 23rd iteration, Sea Breeze is an annual, multinational maritime exercise, originally co-hosted by Ukraine and U.S. 6th Fleet to enhance interoperability and capabilities among participating forces.
For Sea Breeze 24.3, U.S. 6th Fleet led the pre-planning and coordinated logistics, and EODMU 8, a subordinate command of Commander Task Force (CTF) 68 headquartered in Rota, Spain, led the planning and execution, sharing extensive expeditionary mine countermeasure (exMCM) knowledge and capabilities with NATO Allies and partners. Countries participating, observing, or mentoring during Sea Breeze 24-3 included Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Japan, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine, and U.S.
U.S. Navy expeditionary forces such as EODMU 8 have had a consistent presence in the Black Sea and have a longstanding history of training alongside partner nations on tactics, techniques, and procedures for mine threat operations in order to enhance our shared lethality and support freedom of navigation.
“EOD Mobile Unit 8 operates consistently with outstanding professionalism, and every member of the Thunderstealer team plays a critical role in ensuring mission success,” said Cmdr. John Kennedy, commander, EOD Mobile Unit 8. “Exercises like Sea Breeze allow us to share our knowledge, techniques, and best practices with our NATO Allies and partners for enhanced agility and interoperability in future mine countermeasure operations and demining the Black Sea.”
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Allied and partner nations have counter charged over 100 floating mines. As this threat increases, EOD forces have a responsibility to prepare for a large-scale post-conflict demining effort.
“Our goal for this year’s Sea Breeze is to improve freedom of navigation in the Black Sea region for the security and stability of the Black Sea nations,” said Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. “We’ll do this through continued training and by enhancing interoperability to counter the floating mine threat in the Black Sea.”
The mines in the Black Sea region pose a significant danger to civilian ships, disrupt exports, and threaten freedom of navigation.
“Due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, there is currently a mine concern in international waters, and our job is to mitigate that,” said Kennedy. “We’ve shown our standards to our partners and allies, we’ve practiced our techniques shoulder-to-shoulder, and that builds confidence when we are called to mitigate explosive threats in the Black Sea. Our support to Ukraine has never been stronger.”
In response to the current mine threat, NATO members Bulgaria, Romania, and Türkiye joined forces to tackle this issue through the Mine Countermeasures Task Group Black Sea (MCM Black Sea).
Collaboration between NATO members in support of MCM Task Group Black Sea underscores the importance of collective security efforts to restore safety and stability in the region.
Multinational exercises like Sea Breeze are a tangible representation of the agility and cooperation made possible through partnership in the dynamic security environment of the Black Sea.
“The greatest value we’ve gained from Sea Breeze is an understanding how each unit of action operates, and then learning to operate together in order to be the most lethal combined force in a future conflict,” said Lt. Jon Miller, EOD company commander, EODMU 8. “We’re able to enhance the tactics, techniques, and procedures of all participating units at the exercise, and then flex those capabilities in the event of real-world operations.”
Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, a subordinate command of EODGRU 2, is also participating in Sea Breeze 24-3, with a focus on diving and salvage training. MDS Company 2-3, currently deployed to U.S. 6th Fleet, trained alongside partners and Allies from Ukraine and Romania on surface supplied diving, underwater cutting and welding, and other skills to enhance harbor clearance and battle damage repair capabilities.
“Operating and exchanging knowledge on battle damage repair in this area of operations is our unit’s first opportunity to train the techniques and capabilities in a region with real world implications,” said Chief Navy Diver Michael Christensen, company master diver, MDSU 2. “We are in the Black Sea, doing this with the Ukrainian salvage divers, and their military is currently engaged in conflict. After Sea Breeze, they can return to the fight and utilize these skills for harbor clearance.”
Navy EOD is the only community with mine warfare as a core competency, and our capabilities directly support deterrence of aggression, promote freedom of navigation and stability, and contribute directly to the fight for sea control. Our unique ability to conduct explosive ordnance disposal operations and clear hazards underwater make Navy EOD crucial in a future fight for sea control – protecting our own and our partners’ bases, harbors and sea lanes, sea transport capabilities, mobility and combat strength.
CTF 68 provides explosive ordnance disposal operations, naval construction, expeditionary security, and theater security efforts in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility.
EODGRU 2 operates as part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and provides skilled, capable, and combat-ready deployable Navy EOD and Navy Diver forces around the globe to support a range of operations.
NORTHERN CHALLENGE 2024 - EODMU 8
By LT Chelsea Cannaday, EODGRU 2 PAO
KEFLAVIK, Iceland – Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 operated alongside 17 NATO Ally and partner nations at Exercise Northern Challenge 2024, Sept. 26-Oct. 9, 2024. Northern Challenge demonstrates the United States’ commitment to NATO Allies and partners by integrating efforts to plan and execute complex EOD detection, neutralization, and exploitation capabilities within a multinational framework.
Northern Challenge is an annual, joint-funded multinational exercise hosted by the Icelandic Coast Guard aimed at preparing NATO Allies and partners for international deployments to clear the way for lethal, resilient forces to operate in contested environments and disrupt our adversaries in conflict.
EODMU 8, assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, trained alongside tactical units from U.S. Marine Corps’ 8th Engineer Support Battalion and U.S. Army’s 702nd and 720th Ordnance Companies. Additional participating NATO Allies and partners included Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and United Kingdom.
Northern Challenge 2024 included roughly 330 participants, 500+ improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 380 land tasks, and 120 maritime tasks. Throughout the exercise, two teams from EODMU 8 completed 50 training serials and provided four exercise control members who assessed and mentored other nations’ teams. During the exercise, EOD technicians responded to simulated IEDs threats of increasing complexity over a two-week period.
“At Northern Challenge 2024, we’re working with our NATO Allies and partners learning different tools for the toolbox and increasing our lethality on the battlefield,” said Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Jake Ferguson, platoon 8-2-2 Leading Chief Petty Officer, EODMU 8. “We’ve had some awesome training put on by our Icelandic and British partners; we’ve done a lot of both maritime and land-based IED serials that we’ve been able to defeat. We’re also turning in evidence, working with the exploitation cell to develop counter-IED tactics and reporting procedures.”
In addition to conducting complex training scenarios, EOD technicians from across participating countries collaborated within a multinational exploitation center to enhance interoperability at the operational level. These cells ensured that EOD teams were organized to effectively counter IED threats while ensuring the intelligence analysis and information sharing is in accordance with NATO standards and procedures.
The exploitation cell was comprised of the Technical Exploitation Coordination Cell (TECC) and the Combined Exploitation Laboratory (CEL). The TECC and CEL fuse capacities and capabilities across a joint interagency multinational structure. This multinational effort provided high-level analysis of collected exploitable material (CEM), refining fidelity of the operating area and providing critical information to the operator on the ground or in the water.
CEM in the lab consisted of a full scope of exploitation methods such as triage, x-ray, chemical analysis, biometrics, forensics, electronics engineering exploitation, and document and media exploitation.
The end state of the analysis is to inform the command, provide enhanced operator threat assessment on the battlefield, and ultimately deny the adversary anonymity.
U.S. Navy EOD technicians from Expeditionary Exploitation Unit One (EXU 1) led the CEL in coordination with personnel from U.S. Army Force Europe (USAREUR) and other Allies and partners. Their mission throughout the exercise was to assist in processing and analyzing exploitable material collected from simulated explosive threats, analyze and consolidate the findings, then brief the overall threat environment and an assessment of next 24-48 hours, providing a tactical picture for stronger decision-making on the ground and better situational awareness.
Lt. Ryan DuTot, an EOD officer assigned to EXU-1, served as the exercise’s Combined Exploitation Laboratory office in charge.
“Northern Challenge 2024 is not just about defusing bombs; it’s about harnessing cutting-edge technology to outsmart adversaries and strengthen global security alliances,” said DuTot. “The integration of technical exploitation into this exercise ensures we don’t just neutralize threats, but also gain critical intelligence from them. Any time we are working with partner nations in an environment like this, it’s a force multiplier that provides long-term strategic benefits.”
Operating in a range of environments and exchanging knowledge with regional NATO Allies and partners enhances every participating unit’s readiness and relationships with international and interagency counterparts.
“Exercises like Northern Challenge provide an excellent opportunity to rehearse our IED defeat tactics in austere environments,” said Cmdr. John Kennedy, commander, EOD Mobile Unit 8. “The unique value of Northern Challenge is the exploitation piece. For our operational platoons, the drills didn’t end at ‘defeating the device’; they concluded after ‘exploiting the device’ so we could gain an appreciation of how the device works, and who employed it.”
Northern Challenge provided practical training to operators across the joint force, with the integration of the exploitation cell to enhance the intelligence picture driving the threat assessment. As a result, the United States military is better prepared to deploy EOD forces throughout the U.S. European Command’s area of responsibility in support of the collective defense of NATO Allies.
“We’ve worked with the Canadians, Swedes, Icelanders, Polish, Lithuanians, and others; these guys are so good at their craft. Everybody here is a warrior, and they all volunteered to do the same job. Exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures with them is making every single one of us better so that the enemy doesn’t get a leg up on us,” said Ferguson.
U.S. military participation in Northern Challenge 2024 demonstrates that U.S. and NATO joint forces are ready and postured with combat-credible capability to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.
Foreign Surface-to-Air (SAM) Missile Rocket Booster Motor Disposal
EODMU 3, EODTEU 1 - Det. China Lake, EODMU 1, EODMU 11, and NAWCWD China Lake Ground Operations conducted ordnance disposal training utilizing 27 foreign surface-to-air missile (SAM) rocket booster motors, Aug. 13-14 2024, at NAWS China Lake Burro Canyon and Airport Lake Ranges.
EODTEU 1 coordinated to receive 27 Russian SAM rocket booster motors from the Missile & Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) to be utilized for EOD training. Participation for this training opportunity was solicited to all EODGRU-1 Ech V units.
This was an incredibly rare training opportunity where EOD Techs from across EODGRU 1 were able to get hands on disposal experience with massive pieces of foreign ordnance.
In addition to the large net explosive weights, our EOD Techs gained knowledge on other, just as deadly hazards that ordnance items like these present, specifically fuels and oxidizers (A-1-1-10).
A special thank you goes to EODMU 3 Det. Ventura for overall range coordination; especially EOD1 James Harris, who masterfully built, implemented, and supervised the disposal plans at both Burro Canyon and Airport Lake ranges. His meticulous attention to detail truly made this event successful.
EOD Group 2 Holds Dedication Ceremony for Navy Special Operations Memorial
By LT Chelsea Cannaday, EODGRU 2 PAO
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2 held a dedication ceremony for the newly constructed Navy Special Operations Memorial at the EODGRU 2 compound on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Nov. 7.
Mounted on the granite arch in the focal point of the memorial are two bronze plaques bearing the names of 55 fallen Navy EOD Technicians and 28 fallen Navy Divers who died in the line of duty from 1942 to present.
The ceremony served as a moment of pause for the Navy Special Operations (NSO) community to honor the 83 EOD Technicians and Navy Divers who have given their lives in the line of duty.
During the memorial ceremony, Rear Admiral (ret.) Frank Morneau, a former EOD Officer and current chairman of the board of directors for Navy Special Operations Foundation (NSOF), made a vow to the Gold Star families of the fallen that the Special Operations community would never forget the Sailors named on the memorial who paid the ultimate price.
“Those 83 Sailors are not only a part of our history; they are a part of America's history,” said Morneau. “These are people who we love and we will always remember. We will always say their names and we will continue to move forward with their names written on our hearts.”
Morneau also thanked the service members who are currently serving.
“It takes a lot to sign up for something that could make you leave everything on Earth, but you all do it willingly every time you wear that uniform,” said Morneau.
Many local commands came together to make the dedication ceremony a meaningful event for the community.
The ceremony featured a flyover by the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron 106, followed by speeches by key leaders from the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal community, then a reading of the 83 names on the memorial, a wreath laying, and a 21-gun salute by the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic honor guard, as well as music by the U.S. Fleet Forces Band.
Members of the NSO community conceptualized the memorial almost a decade ago. Since then, four successive EODGRU 2 commodores have carried the planning forward from original concept to the dedication.
The memorial was funded and constructed in coordination with NSOF, and the organization played a large role in the ceremony. Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (ret.) Patrick Flanigan, a member of NSOF who served 11 years active duty completing five deployments to the Middle East, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, played a critical role in the development and construction of the memorial, and spoke about the significance of it.
He described the symbolism of the design elements, from the healing garden to the brick walkway and the granite structures.
“The pathway, lined with inscribed stones, snakes through a garden of plants, flowers, trees that will bloom throughout the year with colors of red, white and blue. They also are hardy against the harsh Virginia summer, to ensure to their survival and longevity. At the end of the pathway, there is brick labyrinth and a granite archway, to represent the twist and turns of the paths we travel. Archways have been used throughout history to represent a gateway from this life to the next. The memorial was constructed in this specific location because the setting sun in the afternoon highlights the names on the plaques and accentuates the archway that they're on.”
“This memorial was designed pay homage to all of the warriors that came before us. Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice were more than technical experts and leaders within the EOD and Diver communities; they were fathers, teammates, husbands, sons and friends,” said Flanigan.
More than 600 members of the NSO community attended the ceremony, including Sailors, retirees, friends, and family.
The keynote speaker, Rear Adm. Bradley Andros, commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, expressed gratitude to the Gold Star families in attendance as well as those watching virtually and in spirit.
“These families carry a burden no one should bear; a grief that never truly fades. Yet they endure with strength and resilience, and they inspire all of us,” said Andros. “They are a testament to the enduring power of love, even in the face of unimaginable loss.”
“The groundbreaking and construction of this memorial began in 2022, but the spirit and heart of this memorial predates all of us,” said Andros. “Today marks a solemn yet hopeful occasion in dedicating this memorial. It is a testament to the courage sacrifice and unwavering service to our nation's men and women, and thankfully, it formally and permanently expands recognition beyond only those who died in combat.”
The NSO Memorial not only honors fallen Navy Special Operations (NSO) warriors, but its design, thoughtfully created with symbolism throughout, promotes healing and wellness for current service members.
The archway symbolizes strength & support, lightness & openness within density, as well as a threshold through which one passes to enter another kind of time and space, and includes the names of fallen Navy EOD operators and Navy Divers.
The innermost pillars feature bronzed relief statues created by Josh King, the brother of a Navy EOD veteran. The outer pillars include the EOD master technician badge and the master diver badge.
The plinths along the walking path will contain plaques detailing the history and evolution of Navy Special Operations, spanning from WWII to present.
“This memorial stands as a perpetual reminder of the debt that we owe to our teammates,” said Andros. “It will inspire future generations to embrace the spirit of service and sacrifice, and it will always serve as a beacon of hope, a testament to the enduring power of patriotism, and a symbol of our unwavering gratitude to those who have served and sacrificed sacrifice for our nation.”
The ceremony closed with a reading of the names of the fallen, followed by a wreath laying, playing of taps, and a 21-gun salute, in honor of their ultimate sacrifice and the continued sacrifices of the families they left behind.
Lieutenant Commander (ret.) Henry Thrift, a retired EOD officer who attended the ceremony, spoke after the ceremony about the importance of the memorial to the Special Operations community.
“The memorial is the anchor that keeps us steady. It allows us to remember our brothers who carried us, and helps us prepare for what comes next,” said Thrift. “In this tight knit community, almost all of us knew so many of the warriors on that wall. I remember their smiles, their jokes, how tough they were, how vulnerable they were, and how much it hurt to lose them. It grounds you. We’re humans. Our job is inherently dangerous.”
Thift continued, “No matter the conflict, the end state is to keep everyone safe. As special operators, we are putting a blanket of safety over the community and the world. We have learned lessons in blood, and we move forward by keeping everyone safer.”
Thrift is the president of the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association (NEODA). NEODA sponsored the reception after the ceremony, where past and present special operations members, friends, and family gathered to share stories and memories of those on the wall.
“Heroes never die if we speak their names,” said Flanigan. “If you knew them, tell their stories. If you didn't know them, talk to people who did. Let their memory live on, especially when you come to this place. I hope that everyone in this community will use this memorial for retirement ceremonies, for award ceremonies, for promotions. Make good memories here, and those named on the wall will be here with us.”
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
NAS OCEANA AIR SHOW 2024
AUG 20-22, 2024 - EODTEU 2 and MDSU 2 supported the 3-day event with a static line jump and dive tank display. A record number 340,000 people attended the event from Aug. 20-22, 2024.
FLEET WEEK NEW YORK 2024
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - U.S. Navy EOD technicians from EODMU 2 and 6 interact with local students from the Mount Loretto area during a community outreach event at the Mount Loretto Aviation Event in Staten Island, May 21, 2024.
FWNY
MANHATTAN, N.Y. - U.S. Navy Divers from MDSU 2 dive in the dive tank and interact with the public in Times Square during Fleet Week New York 2024, May 23, 2024.
STRIKE Updates:
eodgru 1 Psychological Health Team
Welcome Aboard, CDR Miranda!
CDR Rebecca Miranda (LCSW, BCD) is a U.S. Navy Clinical Social Worker, and currently serves as the Psychological Health Team (PHT) Lead at EODGRU 1. CDR Miranda checked onboard in August and comes to us from Commander, Naval Surface Group Western Pacific inYokosuka, Japan, where she provided mental health support to 12 FDNF ships.
Previously, she served as the Medical Department Head and Embedded Mental Health Team Lead in Rota, Spain, providing mental health support to four FDNF Europe ships. Prior positions include Social Work Department Head at Naval Medical Center San Diego, Region Suicide Prevention Program Manager at Navy Region Hawaii, and Division Officer at the Fleet and Family Support Center in Yokosuka.
Miranda has worked heavily in the field of suicide prevention in the Navy, and participated in various BUMED working groups and resiliency initiatives over the years. Prior to the Navy, she worked as a social worker for 14 years, primarily in the field of child welfare.
East Coast STRIKE AT KING CRAB COMPETITION
East-Coast based STRIKE, a human performance-based program for Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, played a huge role in the physical readiness portions and provided on-scene support for all high risk evolutions during EODGRU 2’s first-ever King Crab competition.
The masterminds behind the first competition evolution, the physical fitness test, were Kyle Morris and John Meyer, both strength and conditioning coaches at STRIKE. They devised a grueling three-hour long physical fitness assessment involving individual and team exercises and testing each team's overall performance in a series of grueling workouts.
“We included workouts and exercises that we deemed important after being here for four years,” said Kyle. “...seeing what is important and pertains to operators' resiliency and longevity.”
Some of the workouts King Crabbers participated in were shuttle runs, chin-holds, assault bikes, a 500-yard bay swim, cadence push-ups, pull-ups, farmer walks, and more. Events were scored based on different criteria, such as: time to complete an evolution, total repetitions, or in certain cases, such as the assault bike evolution, beating a matched opponent in a knock-out style competition.
“Team events took very different implements into consideration of things like work strength, work capacity, and endurance, and tied it all into one,” said Kyle. “It was kind of cool seeing how each team identified what their strengths and weaknesses were.”
Work capacity, core strength, general strength and endurance were some key focuses when designing the event. The event also contained individual and team exercises, some focusing on endurance such as the chin hold, and some focusing on work capacity such as the last exercise, which was a timed row for 200 calories where teammates could switch off on rowing as often or as little as desired.
“We knew the fitness levels of some of the competitors, and that there were really some who would separate from the others in certain things,” said Kyle. “But we also wanted to create events where some of the guys could take advantage of working as a team.”
STRIKE supported many evolutions throughout King Crab beyond just the first fitness event. Strength and conditioning coaches and medical corpsmen were on standby to aid any competitors in the event of a medical emergency or even a minor injury.
"I think it went extremely well. I think that we had the weather in our favor, which was huge,” said Brandi Anderson, a certified athletic trainer at EODGRU 2 STRIKE. “We didn't have the heat and humidity that we typically see in August, so that was really beneficial to the competitors and to the medical staff because we didn't have to deal with any heat related events.”
Competitors also wore fitness trackers that were being trialed during the physical fitness portion and throughout the remainder of King Crab. The device, which strapped around competitors' chests, collected data on each competitor's heart rate, location, body temperature, and had a signaling device in case of an emergency. The competition command post could monitor real-time data on each competitor to ensure safety during high risk evolutions, and to keep a GPS location on teams as they navigated miles of terrain.
“It’s about supporting the community. I want to make sure everyone is as healthy as they can be,” said Brandi. “Once they are done here, they should still be functioning with their family and in their next career. Taking care of the members of this community is our mission at STRIKE.”
STRIKE offers a variety of services, from strength and conditioning to sports medicine services.
“You don’t have to be in middle of a OFRP cycle to come see strike. You can come in if you're getting ready for training or school and want to make sure you are functioning optimally. Come in to be assessed for symmetry and movement. Pain isn't the only indicator of when you should come into STRIKE.”