Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operational Support Unit (EODOSU) 7 held a disestablishment ceremony at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Aug. 25.
EODOSU 7, located at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, began its service as EOD Mobile Unit 7 in October 1986.
After its commissioning in June 2010 as EODOSU 7, the unit supported Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 1 operations with deployable support for explosive ordnance disposal, ordnance clearance and area search platoons, as well as individual augmentees to local commands and overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) combat operations.
“One of the most significant accomplishments was this unit’s ability to augment and support brigades, battalions, and task elements to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bahrain including Task Force Troy, Task Force Paladin, and Task Group 56.1,” said Capt. Robert Baughman, commander, EODGRU 1. “The efforts of those augmentees, and capabilities they brought to the fight were the cornerstone of the success of those missions in a time of decreased manning and declining resources.”
Since 2008, EODOSU 7 Reservists have provided more than 53,000 man hours of stateside support to active duty EOD commands, participated in three fleet level exercises, completed 11 platoon deployments conducting force protection diving missions and counter-IED operations with Combined Task Forces Troy in Iraq and Paladin in Afghanistan, as well as support two carrier strike groups. In addition to platoon-sized support, individuals and small teams have completed eight active duty mobilizations to OIF, OEF and directly supported active duty EOD units for forward deployed naval forces in the U.S. 7th Fleet.
“But even more significantly in my opinion was your ability to source critical requirements in 5th Fleet, deploying reserve component units of action in support of anti-terrorism and force protection missions, ultimately reducing the stress on active component forces that were already significantly over tasked,” said Baughman. “As primarily a reserve component force, I would argue that none has been more relevant, capable, or timely in execution since the beginnings of OIF and OEF, and has lived by and superbly and successfully executed the CNO’s tenets of ‘Warfighting First, Operate Forward, and Be Ready.”
The unit, comprised of 92 active and Reserve EOD technicians, divers, support personnel and staff billets, will shift primarily to various NECC Reserve units and Naval EOD Technology Division where the main focus is developing new counter-improvised explosive device strategies and tactics from the battlefield and gathering actionable intelligence from the devices.
Sailors who lose their billet due to the disestablishment will be able to apply for a new billet through the Career management System-Interactive Detailing system. Personnel not immediately assigned to a billet will be assigned to an “in assignment processing” status for an extended period at a local Navy Operational Support Center. These Sailors will be given every opportunity to find a new billet or convert to an undermanned rating.
The disestablishment of EODOSU 7 will be effective Oct. 1.
EODGRU-1 provides operational EOD capability as required for the location, identification, rendering safe, recovery, field evaluation and disposal of all explosive ordnance including chemical and nuclear weapons, up to the high water mark of coastal and inland water areas and within the boundaries of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th Fleets.
[mappress] Press Release, August 30, 2013