I've asked this question several times because I am also interested in becoming a DIVER or going into EOD. This website has been pretty helpful for DIVER as well as being an EOD DIVER https://www.npdc.navy.mil/ceneoddive/ndstc/default.cfm
As far as I know you can be just a DIVER (ND) is the rating for it. I have a guy on one of my flag football leagues who is in the Command DSU which is Deep Submergence Unit and he's an ND.
Also try doing a search for EOD and DIVER and see what others have said. I have read a lot in here and it has helped me a great deal.
Gatory28 is always a great help for EOD since he is going through the motions right now. You can find his name and look through his posts. He's been a great help to a lot of us here. (As well as many others) Hope this helped kick start your search!!
Navy Diver training is a lot different than EOD. Diver training starts with 6 weeks (I think) of training in GL. You go through the BECC course (Basic Engineering Common Core), but you'll have ND's in charge of you. Then you do 12 weeks of training at NDSTC in Panama City. I can't give you very specific info because I didn't go through 2C training. The 2C (second class diver) class did go through MK 16 class with us. EOD diver classes have officers in them. ND (2C) classes don't. Divers have their pool week in the tenth week now. We had it in our 4th week. Divers get a little MK 16 training, but don't dive the rig in the open ocean. They also get qualled on the Draeger rebreather. One thing that I thought was strange is that divers are no longer getting a pin for graduating. They have to complete a PQS for their Second Class Diver qual and pin after they show up to their MDSU or wherever they go. The diver re-enlistment bonus had a $45000 ceiling when I was at school. This info is over 3 months old, so it may have changed. My roommate was a 2C. Divers are getting to come and get some demo training as well. I don't know how much of the demo portion of this school that they get. I think it's only a week. I don't know. I've never done any surface supply diving so I can't tell you what that's like. All of the ND instructors at dive school are great. One of them is HILARIOUS! He gave some of us pretty funny nicknames. Plus, there's the obvious difference that EOD school is ten months of hair-thinningly (not a word, I think) stressful training. Good luck. There's quite a few posts here about the physical stuff. You can find a lot of that info anywhere. Look up Navy Diver Warning Order or EOD Warning Order and you'll find the workout that you need. Good old fashioned running, swimming, and lots of calisthenics. Take care.
Thanks guys. This might have been answered and I missed it, but, are Navy Divers just divers. What I mean by that is Ive read that ND's must also get other ratings. Does this mean that they do their other rating most of the time, and just dive when they need a diver?
Also, what is the primary job of a Navy Diver?
Gator, have any info on the attrition rate of Navy Diver training?
Navy Diver is it's own rate now, ND. That's your job. I'm not a ND so I don't know what they do out in the fleet. I'm sure it depends on where you get assigned. Divers, EOD techs, SEALs, and SWCC's are all their own rate now...ND, EOD, SO, SB. A couple of years ago you had things called source ratings for these programs. So, say I made it through EOD training a couple of years ago. I'm a Machinist Mate Third Class with my surface warfare qual so I would have been and MM3(EOD/SW). Now, when/if I graduate I'll be converted to the EOD rate so I'll be an EOD3(SW), hopefully an EOD2 with the STAR re-enlistment. I'm sure that's clear as mud. Hope that helps. I have no idea on the attrition rate. Supposedly since they moved pool week to the tenth week, the attrition rate has dropped. I don't know. Good luck. You'll learn all of this stuff when/if you join. But, Divers do more than dive. We all have other stuff to do.
Originally posted by Gator28: Navy Diver is it's own rate now, ND. That's your job. I'm not a ND so I don't know what they do out in the fleet. I'm sure it depends on where you get assigned. Divers, EOD techs, SEALs, and SWCC's are all their own rate now...ND, EOD, SO, SB. A couple of years ago you had things called source ratings for these programs. So, say I made it through EOD training a couple of years ago. I'm a Machinist Mate Third Class with my surface warfare qual so I would have been and MM3(EOD/SW). Now, when/if I graduate I'll be converted to the EOD rate so I'll be an EOD3(SW), hopefully an EOD2 with the STAR re-enlistment. I'm sure that's clear as mud. Hope that helps. I have no idea on the attrition rate. Supposedly since they moved pool week to the tenth week, the attrition rate has dropped. I don't know. Good luck. You'll learn all of this stuff when/if you join. But, Divers do more than dive. We all have other stuff to do.
Gator
Are you training to be a diver EOD or a land EOD - or do Navy EOD's do both? I know youre not a fleet diver, but what do you think would be the hardest part of diver training and what could one do to prepare? Would getting scuba certified and getting some deep sea dive experience be beneficial? Thanks again.
Navy EOD does both underwater and land. I think that the hardest part of dive training was the underwater stuff. That's why I didn't make it through the first time. But, every other guy in my class had no trouble, so take that for what it's worth. I took a PADI scuba diving course after that to get more comfortable underwater and I made it through dive school the second time. But, you will definitely get all the instruction you need at NDSTC. It helped me, but it may make no difference to you. Good luck.
Originally posted by Gator28: Navy EOD does both underwater and land. I think that the hardest part of dive training was the underwater stuff. That's why I didn't make it through the first time. But, every other guy in my class had no trouble, so take that for what it's worth. I took a PADI scuba diving course after that to get more comfortable underwater and I made it through dive school the second time. But, you will definitely get all the instruction you need at NDSTC. It helped me, but it may make no difference to you. Good luck.
Gator
Do you happen to know the sevice committment for Divers - whether it is 4 or 6 years?
Greetings, Navy divers are classified as ND now but in old days had a primary rating usually in engineering,etc. But now are crossed trained to specialty C schools for a variety of jobs. I spent 10 yrs in Fleet before coming Navy Diver 1st class,there is 2nd class divers(hard hat)but limited to air diving,1st class traine din mixed gas and deeper dives, then you have special projects divers and then Master divers (God)you also have Navy divers assigned to Seal Teams as diving specialists with dive equipment,etc. Divers due salvage,recovery,search & rescue,underwater cutting and welding and learn some explosives. Believe me its a hard course but worth the time and effort. Would not give back a moment of time even with my injuries from a rare case of the bends. Good Luck if joining or get a hold of me again. RTK
