So I'm 17 yrs old, and I plan on joining the military. I've always wanted to serve my country. But i need to know, which branch to join. I have good grades, and am physically fit. I want to do something combat related, and I am really interested in explosive ordnance disposal. I've always wanted to join the marines but I would need to attain the rank of e-4 before lat moving into EOD. The army on the other hand allows recruits to join EOD right after joining and even throws in a nice bonus. So I guess my question is should I join the army or marines. If I join the USMC what mos should I try for before EOD? feedback is greatly appreciated.
2012-05-16T12:59:06Z
The reason I want to do EOD is because I feel its a job that would help out our military. Ieds being the greatest killers of our troops and I feel if I can do something to help I should.
NavyCrab2012-05-16T15:15:32Z
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Have you researched into EOD in the Navy or the USAF? When I was a teenager, I thought of going to the Army or USMC EOD too, since I did not like the idea of being stuck on the ships for a long period of time. But after I did extensive research into the job, I chose the Navy, since it offers me to do more than just working with explosives (and on average, you would make more money through incentive pays such as SDAP, Jump, Dive, & Demolition Pays). But keep in mind that Navy EOD has a lot longer and physically tougher pipeline (and higher attrition rate, because of longer pipeline and more training) than Army or USMC.
But if you are set on going to either Army or USMC, then I would rather go with the Army, since I would not have to be stuck doing something else for 3-4 years before going EOD. Additionally, Army EOD has a bigger budget than USMC EOD (Navy EOD has the biggest), and more money = more and better equipment (USMC gets a lot of hand-me-down from the Navy); however in my opinion, USMC EOD tends to be more discipline and mature though (since the techs. tend to be older). I am not trying to talk $hit about the Marines, but it is what it is.
If you want to go with USMC, you may want to do something in Ground Ordnance (don't go Aviation Ordnance). Or you can go Engineers, but they tend to not like EOD Techs. that much for some reasons; but Crab over Castle any day (I can talk $hit too).
Well wether you join the Army or Marines depends on you. However you need to look at a back up plan in case you don't make it through training for some reason. As for what to join before doing EOD if you make it, well combat engineers work with explosives and such so that would be my guess.
I too was considering EOD and honestly if I was going to do that it would be with the navy they work with the SEALs and idk but I've decided I want to go army and my mom isn't happy with the whole EOD thing so I told her I wouldn't so army airborne infantry is where I'm off to still considering EOD though