What are the daily duties and opportunities for an Ordnance Officer? What is it like Munitions Management and EOD side?

1LT Saul S. — Thu, 14 May 2020 20:00:19 -0400

Hi, I am going into my MS4 year in Army ROTC and soon we will input our final branch preferences. I'm still trying to gather information about branches in the Army in order to make my final decision. I want to know what it is like being in the Ordnance Branch. What are you daily duties and opportunities? What is it like being an EOD Officer and what is the process in competing for an EOD position? Also, if anyone has done a branch detail, what was it like serving in your recipient branch (Infantry, Armor, etc.) and then transitioning to your donor branch (Ordnance).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2020 8:09 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 May 2020 20:09:26 -0400

The 3 arms of logistics are truly one now. I went to the integrated logistics BOLC where we learned QM and TC doctrine. I'm on my way out of a Transportation CO as an OD guy. Be prepared to take any job in Logistics.

Your daily duties will vary widely depending on your first assignment. Heavy, light, aviation, etc. Supporting them is as unique as the division you're assigned to.

Ordnance/logistics is rewarding and gives you an incredible skill set after your Army career is over. Please let me know if you have specific questions.

Response by TSgt David L. made May 14 at 2020 8:51 PM

TSgt David L. — Thu, 14 May 2020 20:51:06 -0400

CPT Paul Whitmer - Do you have any words of wisdom for this young man?

Response by CPT Paul Whitmer made May 14 at 2020 9:37 PM

CPT Paul Whitmer — Thu, 14 May 2020 21:37:24 -0400

I was commissioned IN - branch detailed OD (prior enlisted IN). When I made 1LT I was moved into OD (I honestly fought to stay IN - but no love). I requested EOD and was given the opportunity to attend EOD School. I did write something to OD Branch as to why I felt EOD would be a good fit for me - something along the lines of how my IN experience would benefit me. EOD is unique - ever changing. Message me if I can assist further.

Response by 1LT Christopher Gonzales made May 14 at 2020 10:32 PM

1LT Christopher Gonzales — Thu, 14 May 2020 22:32:36 -0400

When I went through EOD, we had a board, you had to be selected, and then attend EOD Phase I at Ft. Lee and then Phase II at Eglin AFB.

Day to day, it's mostly the same as other Officers except the culture is much more relaxed and you'll have a much closer relationship with your Soldiers. An EOD platoon was 11 people when I was in. You'll do normal Officer stuff, train for your Team Leader Certification, go on some VIPs, and homeland response.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made May 15 at 2020 12:09 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 15 May 2020 00:09:50 -0400

A retired EOD Officer and cousin told of once “clearing a grenade detonator”.

An old steel tube outside his office in Europe was often used to clear weapons, etc.

Cousin Marvin delayed too long in dropping the hand grenade detonator into the tube!

Fortunately a neighbor was a medical doctor and removed several pieces of shrapnel at home without filing any paperwork!

Be careful!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 15 at 2020 1:11 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 15 May 2020 01:11:47 -0400

1LT Saul S. As a 91A you are a Munitions and Maintenance Management Officer. Depending on which unit you are assigned to, you have a chance of working a munitions management slot like as a Magazine Platoon Leader or a Maintenance slot as a Maintenance Platoon Leader or Maintenance Control Officer (Shop Officer). The vast Majority of OD Lieutenants work Maintenance.

If you pursue 91E, EOD Officer, then you pipeline in that direction. It is a deliberate selection Process and not some luck of the draw slotting thing. You may be called on later to return to Log Corps to work a 90A slot.

I started as a 91B/91A Ordnance Officer and was rolled up in the Log Corps when that started in 2007. At the time I branched OD had gone from five different AOCs down to two, 91B Materiel Maintenance and 91D Ammunition. Then they folded that tent and made everyone 91A Munitions and Materiel Maintenance. Through out EOD remaineda separate thing because you had to to be selected.

The push has been going hard to make you a multi-functional logistician from the start, especially if you are assigned to an FSC or a BSB. If you are in a CSSB/DSSB you are more likely to work a pure functional assignment. Your branch specific time may vary. But if you start OD, you will become LG by the time you graduate from CCC.

As a OD LT, you'll lead a Platoon. You are an apprentice officer. You'll spend months learning your craft from your Commander, Warrants, NCOs, and even your Joes. The biggest opportunities are to have a big impact in combat readiness. Ensuring systems are up and available for training and missions. You'll learn an ERP (GCSS-A). You learn to manage from information and data. You'll learn how to track and manage very technical things while leading people.

Daily duties? Mile wide and a mile deep. Unit training plans. Org Maintenance. Mission support. Taskings. Plannng. Executing. Training. Tracking property. Taking care of soldiers. GP Platoon Leader stuff. If you become a Shop Officer you'll run field Maintenance for a BDE, what used to be Direct Support. You'll manage Maintenance and repair parts for all the open work in your shops that could be armament, communications, electronics, Missile, automotive, utility equipment, heavy junk, TMDE (in a CSSB), service and recovery.

As a Mag PL, much of the same, except your Platoon may be running an ASP (home or deployed). You'd be managing the receipt, storage, issue, surveillance, preservatives maintenance, and even emergency destruction of ammunition. Lots of 581s in and out. Watching for problems so you can head off 15-6 investigations before they start.

LTs, regardless of branch all get saddled with additional duties. My first Troop Commander assigned ALL additional duties in the Troop to the new LT. You came in, fixed it all and got It inspection ready. I hated it. Best thing that ever happened. I learned people in the unit, who does what, key people at Squadron, how Company/Troop Command works, all the systems and processes. When I left that assignment, I had a far shot of commanding a Company without doing a face plant. This is your main goal of LT time.

Being a Maintenance PL is what you make it.