Bomb Squad
Researched by Kevin H. 2003-04	RESEARCH REPORT  MY INTERVIEW  BIBLIOGRAPHY  ABOUT THE AUTHOR  DEDICATION  WHY I CHOSE THIS TOPIC  SELF-EVALUATION  THANK YOU

EOD officers defuse and dispose of bombs. Actually their main purpose is to find and dispose of bombs. Bomb technicians often use special tools. Bomb officers have a wide variety of tools that they use. Bomb tech’s work schedule unpredictable. Sometimes they leave for up to six months. There are main types of EOD, which are medical, SWAT, and technician. EOD officers use remotes for robots. Remotes usually have antennas, movement pads, and mirror controls (buttons). 

EOD officers use special tools like the hawk-eye mirror. The hawk- eye mirror is a long stick with a mirror on the end. It is used for looking under cars & benches. Two more are the tiger claw and the panther set. The tiger claw is a grappling device. The panther set is a kit that has almost every thing an EOD officer needs. If you have a special EOD job you can meet the president! If you choose this job you choose to protect the country. But remember this job is very dangerous.

To become a bomb squad officer you must have special schooling. Bomb officers must score an 80% or higher on their test to get a good section of EOD. I’m pretty sure you need a certificate to become a bomb squad officer. People who want to become an EOD officer need to know a lot about math, electronics, physics, and chemistry. Personal skills are needed such as bravery and a very good memory! An average pay for new solders is just over $11,000 a year. But in 1998, the bottom pay after the first four years of duty reached as much as $16,550 per year. 

Each country will always need a military, for both defense and protection around the world. The opinion, chances for a career are plentiful. According to the person I interviewed, Derek Harper, the bomb squad started in the British military. The US thought they needed a bomb squad therefore adopted the British tools & and methods. There are other jobs such as food and transport. Food is more important than you think. Cooks have to make sure the officers are healthfully fed. They must have the food ready the deadline. Transporters have a very special job. They transport weapons and soldiers. To get an exciting part of EOD you must get an 80% or higher on the test.
 
 

An Interview of Derek Harper For my interview I talked to Derek Harper, who is a bomb squads Derek’s full name is Derek Allen Harper. He lives at 346 Ray Symmonds Road, Yakima, WA. His email address is Grizz_EOD@hotmail.com.  Derek has been a bomb tech for 17 years. He got interested in the bomb squad for the thrill of blowing up objects and disassembling explosives. He recently retired from the Army & now does Civilian contract EOD work. Derek says E.O.D. School is approx. twenty weeks long. It is an inter service school. That means that all branches of the military attend classes together. He thinks the number of people have changed the most in E.O.D. There have also been vast changes in equipment they use.   Derek enjoys the camaraderie and working with ordinance. EOD came about originally through the British in the mid 1940’s and the US felt they needed an EOD and therefore adopted many of the British tools and methods. Since then US EOD has come a long way with modern technology. There are many fallen heroes over the years that saved many lives doing their jobs and in some cases giving their own lives to protect others. Derek started in EOD in 1986.Weapons have changed and become more dangerous. Deployments are becoming more important. Derek thinks remotes are becoming a major problem. He predicts better technology for jamming frequencies. Hopefully pay will increase. An advantage is really how your troops have your back. A reward is really just being able to work on a job like this (after all you have to go through.) I think that this was a wonderful interview because I knew Derek very well. This is what happened with my interview with Derek.

Bibliography Cosgrove, Holli R. “Military Careers” Career Discovery Encyclopedia, 2000 p. 104-105 Dick, Jean. “Bomb Squad.” Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe. 2001. CD-ROM Microsoft Corporation Greenberg, Keith E. “Bomb Squad Officer.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2002. Harper Derek. Personal interview. December 21, 2003.

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