| 1940 |
Training began for USA, USMC, and USN at Melksham RAF Station,
Wiltshire, England. |
| 1941 |
School of Civilian Defense organized at Chemical Warfare
School, Edgewood Arsenal, MD. Major Thomas J. Kane selected as Commandant. |
| 1941 |
U.S. Naval Mine Disposal School established at Naval Gun
Factory (NGF), Washington, DC. Eight volunteer graduates of Naval Mine Warfare
School at Yorktown, VA transferred to NGF. |
| 8/1941 |
First class of U.S. Naval Mine Disposal School graduates. |
| 1942 |
U.S. Mine School moved to Receiving Station, Anacostia, MD. |
| 1942 |
U.S. Army Bomb Disposal School organized at Ordnance Training
Center, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. |
| 1942 |
MAJ Kane, Commandant of Bomb Disposal School at Aberdeen, with
eight other officers and EM traveled to UK for training and familiarization. |
| 1942 |
UK Bomb Disposal team brought a complete set of Bomb Disposal
equipment to Aberdeen for demonstration and training. |
| 1942 |
first U.S. Army Bomb Disposal unit, the 231st Ordnance Bomb
Disposal Company, was organized and deployed. |
| 1942 |
the pocket or sleeve insignia, red bomb on a black background,
was approved for U.S. Army wear by all Bomb Disposal officers and those Bomb
Disposal EM actually assigned to Bomb Disposal units. |
| 1942 |
the distinctive badge for the Ordnance Bomb Disposal School was
approved by the Army and authorized for wear by all Bomb Disposal officers and
Bomb Disposal EM assigned to the school. |
| 1/1942 |
U.S. Navy Bomb Disposal School formulated at American
University Campus, Washington, DC. |
| 1942 |
U.S. Bomb Disposal officers were assigned to the Pacific
Theater. The 232nd Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company was the first U.S. Army bomb
disposal unit in the Pacific Theater of Operations. |
| 1942 |
British bomb disposal units accomplished bomb disposal
operations in first European allied operation involving U.S. Army. |
| 1942 |
Ensign Howard, USNR, was the first U.S. casualty in mine
disposal. He attempted to render safe a booby trapped German magnetic
submarine-laid moored mine. |
| 1943 |
Army Bomb Disposal Division set up in England for support of
U.S. bomb disposal operations in Europe. |
| 1943 |
LT Rodger, USA and T/SGT Rap, (5th ORD Bomb Disposal Squad) USA
were the first Army Bomb Disposal Technicians to be killed (carrying out bomb
disposal operations on Attu Island). |
| 1943 |
a number of U.S. Army bomb disposal units experienced
casualties while working on sea mines and other underwater ordnance for which
they had received no training. |
| 1943 |
U.S. Marine Corps began training at American University. |
| 1945 |
U.S. Army Bomb Disposal Center at Aberdeen deactivated;
training transferred to the Ordnance School, Aberdeen. |
| 1946 |
U.S. Navy Mine and Bomb Disposal Schools combined at Bellevue
Annex of Naval Gun Factory, then moved to Naval Powder Factory, Indian Head, MD,
on Jackson Road. Training course designated as Explosive Ordnance Disposal,
giving birth to "EOD." |
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| 1947 |
U.S. Army Officer and Senior Enlisted started attending U.S.
Navy EOD School. Junior Enlisted Army personnel continued training at Aberdeen,
MD. |
| 1947 |
U.S. Air Force became a separate service and began EOD
training. |
| 1947 |
Bureau of Naval Weapons designated the first Naval unit for the
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation of EOD equipment at the U.S. Naval
Powder Factory. It was an integral part of the EOD School and later became the
EOD Technology Center. |
| 1949 |
All USA and USAR bomb disposal squads were redesignated as EOD
squads. |
| 1950 |
98th EOD Squad arrived in Korea, joined seven days later by the
19th EOD Squad. |
| 1951 |
U.S. Navy assigned Joint-service EOD responsibilities for basic
training and research and development. |
| 1953 |
Research and Development tasks were established as a separate
organization, and redesignated the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical
Center. The training function was renamed the Naval School, Explosive Ordnance
Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD). |
| 1954 |
U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Center was established by
General Order 181. |
| 1955 |
U.S. Army EOD School at Aberdeen, MD officially closed. From
this date on, all Joint Service EOD training was provided at Indian Head, MD,
until the school moved to Eglin AFB, beginning 1988. |
| 1956 |
Dept. of the Army approved the design of the basic EOD badge,
which became available for wear in 1957. |
| 1958 |
NAVSCOLEOD moved to its location on Strauss Ave. from the
original site on Jackson Rd. |
| 1960 |
Aberdeen Proving Ground Center (U.S. Army EOD Center) was moved
to Picatinney Arsenal, Dover, NJ to be the focal point of munition development. |
| 1962 |
Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Center redesignated
the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Facility (NAVEODFAC), and placed under
direction of a Commanding Officer. |
| 1965 |
EOD units arrive in Vietnam. |
| 1969 |
Master EOD Badge approved for wear by qualified personnel. |
| 1969 |
14 Feb - EOD Memorial Committee was formed and consisted of
Senior Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force officers of NAVSCOLEOD. |
| 1969 |
First EOD Memorial Ball held at NAVSCOLEOD, Indian Head, MD. |
| 1970 |
the EOD Memorial was dedicated to the men and women who have
died on active duty as a result of an EOD mission since the declaration of World
War II. |
| 1971 |
EOD Memorial Scholarship Fund established. |
| 1971 |
DoD Directive assigned the Secretary of the Navy as Single
Manager for EOD Technology and Training |
| 1972 |
Patricia E. Brown, daughter of 1LT Gilbert L. Brown, USMC
(deceased), was awarded first EOD Memorial scholarship. |
| 1972 |
Procedural guidelines were established for the DOD EOD Program
Board. |
| 1977 |
Deputy Managers for EOD Technology and EOD Training established
(concurrent duty, respectively, for CO, NAVEODFAC and CO, NAVSCOLEOD). |
| 1980 |
NAVEODFAC redesignated the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Technology Center (NAVEODTECHCEN). |
| 1985 |
U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Center was renamed the
EOD Office. |
| 1985 |
NAVSCOLEOD Detachment Eglin AFB, FL established. |
| 1986 |
Construction began at NAVSCOLEOD Detachment Eglin. |
| 1988 |
NAVSCOLEOD Detachment, Eglin AFB officially opened. |
| 1993 |
NAVSCOLEOD command relocated to Eglin AFB; NAVSCOLEOD Indian
Head designated as detachment. |
| 1993 |
NAVEODTECHCEN redesignated NAVEODTECHDIV, a division of the
newly established Naval Ordnance Center. |
| 1994 |
CO and HQ NAVSCOLEOD return to Indian Head due to MILCON delays
at Eglin AFB FL. EOD School at Eglin redesignated as detachment. |
| 1999 |
NAVSCOLEOD consolidation at Eglin AFB completed with a Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony dedicating the facilities as the Kauffman EOD Training Complex
in memory of RADM Draper L. Kauffman, USN, the first OIC of the Navy Bomb
Disposal School in January 1942. Advanced EOD Course and Advanced Access and
Disablement Courses remained at NAVSCOLEODDET Indian Head. |
| 1999 |
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new EOD Memorial and Troop
Formation Area in front of HQ Building NAVSCOLEOD Eglin AFB. |
| 2000 |
EOD Memorial and Troop Formation Area dedication ceremony. |