Ch. 8: NSW & EOD

Know the shifting role of NSW and SOF within the Great Power Competition

• shift from counterterrorism and counterinsurgency toward strategic competition against peer adversaries

• emphasis on irregular warfare

Know the USNA EOD Accessions Pipeline and EOD Initial Training Pipeline

1. EOD screener

2. 1/c cruise at TEU1/TEU2

3. EOD selection

Know EOD Initial Training Pipeline

1. EOD Diver and JDO COI, Naval Diving & Salvage Training Center (NDSTC)

2. Naval School, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD)

3. Jump School

4. Expeditionary Combat Skills

5. EOD Tactical Training

Know mission sets, capabilities, limitations of NSW

• conduct special operations in any environment, especially maritime and riverine areas

• ability to conduct high-risk missions and provide real-time intelligence

• Primary core tasks: direct action, special recon, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, SECFOR assistance, foreign internal defense

• Secondary Core tasks: Information Operations, Unconventional warfare, prep of environment

• Limitations: conservation of forces, sustained engagement, timing, support

Know the historical reasons for creation of Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs)

• specifically created to train personnel for European operations in WWII

• utilized to destroy an array of barriers and underwater obstacles

Know the historical reasons for creation of Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs)

• founded in Nov 1943 in response to challenges faced by USMC in amphibious landing on Tarawa

• Navy needed a unit that could provide hydrographic reconnaissance and underwater demolition of obstacles prior to an amphibious landing

• performed mine clearing and demolition raids during Korean War and canal clearance ops in Vietnam War

Know the historical reasons for creation of modern SEAL teams

• Beginning in 1961, the CNO stressed the need for a naval unit with unconventional warfare capabilities

• President JFK recognized importance of such a unit and in 1962 established SEAL teams 1 and 2

Know the role LCDR Draper Kauffman played during WWII and his significance to development of NSW

• known as the “father of naval combat demolition”

• established NCDU training school in Fort Peirce, FL to train personnel specifically for European operations in WWII

Understand organization of SEAL teams

• NAVSPECWARCOM is two-star admiral HQ in Coronado, CA

• echelon II command under combatant command of USSOCOM

• Deployable NSW forces are assigned to one of six NSW groups

• NSWGs 1 and 2 command 8 active duty SEAL teams

• NSWG 3 is responsible for NSW forces conducting undersea special operations worldwide

• NSWG 4 organizes personnel to deploy combat-ready forces and maritime mobility systems

• NSWG 10 is responsible for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance

• NSWG 11 is responsible for NSW Reserve components

Understand composition of SEAL teams

• three troops with 2 platoons each, C2 element, and mobile support element that is deployable overseas

• SEAL officer’s progress is squad leader (LTJG/LT) → Platoon Commander (LT) → Troop Commander (LCDR) of 3 SEAL platoons

• approx. 300 personnel in each SEAL team

Know purpose and mission areas of Navy EOD: Special Operation Forces (NAVSOF & SOF) Support

• Navy EOD techs lead their expertise to SOF units to ensure they achieve mission success

• Navy EOD techs participate in advanced training with SOF unit to include close quarters combat, advanced freefall parachuting, and other specialized techniques

Know purpose and mission areas of Navy EOD: Expeditionary Mine Counter Measures (ExMCM)

• EOD units are able to deploy as an Expeditionary MCM package comprised of UUVs and EOD technicians

• expeditionary MCM package is able to provide additional options for fleet commanders around the world

• EOD personnel are specifically tasked with diving, detecting, rendering safe, disposal of armed underwater ordnance, and rendering safe dud-fired mines, torpedoes, limpet mines, and depth charges

Know purpose and mission areas of Navy EOD: EOD MOB/CES Platoons

• standard mission area for Navy EOD platoons

• MOB platoons are standard operating force in Navy EOD

• MOB platoons support conventional Army units in Counter IED operations

Know purpose and mission areas of Navy EOD: Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell (CEXC) Platoons

• conduct weapons technical exploitation operations on recovered IEDs, ordnance, and other captured enemy materials

• platoons normally operate in combat and high threat environments where enemy use of IEDs is prevalent

• technical intel produced by CEXC supports decision making at all levels of warfare, primarily tactical commanders

Know purpose and mission areas of Navy EOD: Mobile Diving and Salvage (MDS) Companies

• All Navy EOD techs are Navy divers and are trained in open-circuit SCUBA and Mk-16 Mod 1

• Navy EOD officers also serve at Mobile Diving and Salvage Units (MDSU) with Navy divers in order to conduct salvage, recovery, ship’s husbandry, deep submergence, and saturation operations

Know purpose and mission areas of Navy EOD: U.S. Secret Service Support (USSS)

• EOD techs regularly perform USSS support in order to mitigate and eliminate explosive hazards, allowing for travel all over the planet

• provide direct support ISO POTUS, VPOTUS, FLOTUS, SECSTATE and foreign heads of state

Know what drove need for ordnance disposal skills and creation of EOD community

• need recognized during WW2, as German and Japanese military operations left behind large quantities of dud-fired ordnance

• Mine Disposal school was founded in 1941 and bomb disposal school was founded in 1942

Understand the organization of Navy EOD

• comprised of approx. 425 officers and 1200 enlisted personnel

• all 4 services have EOD techs

• The TYPCOM for Navy EOD is NECC → divided into two groups → each group contains EOD mobile units comprised of companies and platoons

• Each EOD platoon consists of 1 officer and 3-11 enlisted EOD techs

Know the visual identification, mission, and capabilities of the Naval Special Warfare Craft: Mark VIII SEAL Delivery Vehicle

• Mission: electrically powered, designed to deliver up to 6 combat swimmers + equipment. When it submerges the hull is completely flooded and swimmers are wearing underwater breathing apparatus.

• Speed: 6kts

• Range: 70mi

• Crew: 6

Know the visual identification, mission, and capabilities of the Naval Special Warfare Craft: Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP)

• Mission: ground mobility vehicle used to carry SEALs in variety of terrain, designed to protect crew from explosive events

• Speed: 60+ mph

• Range: 420mi

• Payload: varies significantly

Know the visual identification, mission, and capabilities of the Naval Special Warfare Craft: Rotary Wing and Tilt Rotor Aircraft

• Mission: provide precision overland and overwater insertion and extraction, ISR, fire support, and used by SEAL snipers as overwatch platforms

• Speed: RW 110-170kts / TR 250kts

• Range: varies significantly

• Range: varies significantly

Know the visual identification, mission, and capabilities of the Naval Special Warfare Craft: Combatant Craft: Assault (CCA) / Medium (CCM) / Heavy (CCH)

Mission: insertion and extraction of Navy SEALs in medium-to-high threat level environments

Know the visual identification, mission, and capabilities of the Naval Special Warfare Craft: Lightweight Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (LT-ATV)

• Mission: move operators and equipment in technical terrain

• Speed: varies significantly

• Range: varies significantly

• Payload: 2-4 operators w/ various modifications

Know tools and equipment Navy EOD Technicians use: Foster-Miller TALON Bomb Robot

• weight: 115-156lbs

• payload capacity: 100lbs

• arm lift: 10lbs at full extension, 20lbs total lift

• cameras: 3 IR-illuminated

Know tools and equipment Navy EOD Technicians use: iRobot EOD Packbot Bomb Robot

• weight: 68lbs

• payload capacity: 46lbs

• arm lift: 10lbs at full extension, 30lbs total lift

• cameras: 4 total: 2 color, 1 drive, 1 surveillance

Know tools and equipment Navy EOD Technicians use: MK-16 Mod 1 Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA)

• produces no bubbles, instead CO2 is recycled with low acoustic and magnetic properties

• electronically driven, uses 3 oxygen sensors

• capable of diving to 300 feet of sea water

Know tools and equipment Navy EOD Technicians use: MED-ENG EOD IX Bomb Suit

• provides extensive blast and fragmentation protection

• multiple layers: trousers, groin protector, torso, helmet

• fan and full body cooling system

• weighs over 85 lbs

Know difference and relationship between EOD Technicians and Officers

• enlisted EOD techs must spend 2 years before taking a board to become a senior EOD tech → 30-day board process to earn Master EOD badge

• EOD officers graduate NAVSCOLEOD as basic EOD techs → 18-24 months demonstrating proficiency to earn qualification as EOD officer