Stewart Smith - The Balance

Stewart Smith - The BalanceStewart Smith - The Balance

Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Specialist 89D

Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Specialist 89DArmy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Specialist 89DExplosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) soldiers have a dangerous but critically important job in the Army. Theyre tasked with what the job title suggests handling and safely disposing of unexploded ordnance. This can include a range of weapons improvised explosive devices (IEDs), to chemical, biological or nuclear ordnance, weapons of mass destruction. These soldiers are highly trained and skilled. This is Army military occupational specialty (MOS) 89D. MOS 89D Duties In addition to safely disposing of foreign and domestic ordnance and bombs, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists gather intelligence on ordnance and IEDs in preparation of VIP missions for the Secret Service, State Department, and other federal agencies. These soldiers also are trained to identify the presence of chemical agents, frequently with little advance warning time. They assist with setup and operati on of emergency contamination control stations and emergency personnel decontamination stations in such situations. EOD specialists are also highly skilled at detecting buried ordnance, and as part of their job, they prepare and maintain all the tools, equipment and vehicles theyll use. Another part of the job of an explosive ordnance disposal specialist is to monitor for the presence of radiation. Theyre trained to read and interpret X-rays and diagrams, as well as other technical documents, and prepare technical intelligence and incident reports. These soldiers also provide formal instruction about unexploded ordnance to both military and civilian audiences. Specialist Training EODs spend the standard ten weeks in boot camp,formally known as Basic Combat Training (or just Basic) and 39 weeks in Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Lee in Virginia. Their AIT is longer than a lot of other Army jobssince the work these soldiers do requires such a high level of skill and exp ertise. They learn the fundamentals of electronics and electricity how to identify the hazards of both domestic and foreign munitionsdemolition materials, procedures, and operations and how to handle chemical and biological ordnance and operations. Qualifying for MOS 89D To be eligible for this Army job, youll need at least a 110 in the skilled technical area of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the work these soldiers do, a top secret clearance from the Department of Defense is required. This is the highest level of security clearance and involves an extensive background check, including interviews with family, friends and past employers. Prior drug use may be disqualifying for this job. In addition, you have to be eligible for assignments both to a critical nuclear duty position and to a presidential support assignment. Soldiers in MOS 89D must be U.S. citizens.You must have normal color vision and a valid state drivers license. You should not be allergic to explosives (which would certainly make performing this job a challenge). Comparable Civilian Occupations Obviously, a lot of the work youll do in this job will be specific to the Army, and there wont be a civilian equivalent. But the skills youll learn will qualify you for work handling explosives and blasters, such as on demolition or construction sites. You should also be qualified to work as an occupational health and safety specialists or technician.

3 Secrets of People Who Love Their Jobs

3 Secrets of People Who Love Their Jobs3 Secrets of People Who Love Their JobsUnicorns, leprechauns, Minotaur, jackalope, and people who love their jobs. If your first thought is, things that dont exist, I wouldnt blame you. The idea of loving your job may seem like lore pulled from an ancient book of mythology. The truth is, though, people who love their jobs arent unicorns. But they do share some traits that make them special- and help them love what they do. If youre ready to make your career the stuff legends are made of, here are a few things career heroes have in common that you can start working into your own professional story now.1. Theyre Comfortable With FailureEmbracing failure is a popular concept for good reason. Every person who has made their mark professionally- and loves what they do- has failed epically somewhere along the way. Why? Because, when theyre looking for change or growth in their career, or when somethings not working, they dont stick with the status quo . They try new things And, as expected, while some of those things work out great others not so much.But thats absolutely OK. Happy and successful people know that, with each failure along the way, the sting lessens just a bit and you begin to realize the importance each failure has for your learning experience. Over time, each failure becomes less of a tragedy and more of a tool in your toolbox. Understanding how youve missed the mark just makes it easier for you to calibrate for the next shot. How to Make it a RealityTime is the best teacher when it comes to failure, but you can speed up the process with some practice. With every failure, no matter how big or small, embrace your mistakes and do everything you can to understand what can be learned from the experience. If, for example, you bombed a presentation, suck it up and ask your boss to give you honest feedback about where you missed the mark and how you could improve. Then, bite your lip and brace for impact (and maybe read this article on taking feedback seriously- not personally). Hearing the cold hard truth wont be easy, but I promise it will help you fast track your acceptance of failure and open your eyes to the lessons you can learn from each. 2. Theyre ConfidentBeing confident in who you are and what you do goes a long way in helping you feel great about the work you do. When you believe in your own abilities, youre more likely to put your all into a stretch assignment, go after projects that excite you, and forge friendships with others in the office- all of which can provide a big boost to your on-the-job happiness. Plus, showing youre sure of your work and at ease with whatever obstacles may come your way give others the comfort they need to let you operate in your own way. If youve ever had a boss who micromanaged you, youll understand how liberating and rewarding working on your own terms can be. How to Make it a RealityConfidence comes with experience, but thats not the only place it comes from. Even if youre new to a role and have zero experience, you can still exude the confidence that your colleagues need to see to trust you to work with minimal supervision. Start with something you know youre great at- no matter what it is- and find ways to work that into your daily routine in the office. If youre a great writer, for example, take pride in crafting awesome emails or reports. Put your heart into the things you know youll nail. You will feel great about the work youre doing, and your colleagues will recognize you have a special skill and give you the freedom to pursue your other talents as well. 3. They Dont Always Love Their JobsI think the only true unicorn in this story is someone whos loved every job shes ever had. No one loves what they do all the time, and unless youre actually sitting on a pot of gold with a leprechaun by your side, Im willing to bet youll have bad days at work. It happens to all of us. The difference is, people who love what they do know th at days, weeks, and months come with ebbs and flows. Accepting that things wont be perfect all the time gives you the optimism and emotional space to accept a bad day for what it is and look forward to tomorrow, rather than let it fester and turn into something bigger.How to Make it a RealityMany years ago, a colleague tried to calm me down after a horrifically bad day by telling me, Its not as bad as you feel like it is now. Go home, get some sleep and look at the situation with fresh eyes tomorrow. Itll be better. Guess what? He was right. Bad days happen, but they dont happen every day- if you dont let them. When crummy things happen to us on the job, we can choose to let those things affect us, or we can accept that its just part of the game and look forward to a new day tomorrow. Finding your passion, making loads of money, or working from a laptop from a beach in Thailand all sound like keys to loving what you do, but I guarantee theyll have little effect if you dont have thes e three traits mastered. Myths and legends may be fiction, but loving your career doesnt have to be a fairytale. Keep these three tips in mind, and youll be on your way to a happily ever after career.Photo of bubbles courtesy of Shutterstock.