Foreign attaches from 22 partner nations visited the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) May 7 for a familiarization tour of the International EOD Courses.

John Atela, director, Office of Partner Engagement, escorted the officers as part of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Spring 2015 Foreign Attaches Operations Orientation Program. The attaches included officers from Australia, Burma, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lithuania, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nigeria, Slovakia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

The visit provided the attaches with the opportunity to observe U.S. military installations and facilities. It also provided the attaches direct interaction with senior DoD officials, helping to build relationships.

The EOD Memorial was the first stop on the tour where Capt. William Noel, commanding officer, NAVSCOLEOD welcomed the attaches. International military students (IMS) currently training at NAVSCOLEOD met their respective attaches. The visitors received a brief history and purpose of EOD as well as an overview of the International EOD Courses taught at NAVSCOLEOD from the school's International Military Student Officer (IMSO), Billy Martin. The tour allowed members to observe how the school staff prepares joint service and partner nation EOD students for success across the full range of military operations.

They also visited the demolition range where they had the opportunity to witness operations, and a few members of the group were given the opportunity to detonate charges and try on a bomb suite worn by EOD technicians.

"The IMS receive training to the exact same standards and objectives as U.S. students; this includes the same rigorous academic standards as well as medical prerequisites," Martin told the group. "This EOD school has a very difficult and demanding academic environment. We support 95 partner nations who send their students here because they know they will receive the best EOD training in the world. "

NAVSCOLEOD receives annual allocations for 125 IMS to attend International EOD Courses.

NAVSCOLEOD is the sole activity within the DOD responsible for training and qualifying Basic EOD Technicians. Jointly-staffed by Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, the school provides specialized EOD training to officer and enlisted personnel of all services, both U.S. and international, and to select civilian officials, in the best methods and procedures for the recovery, evaluation, rendering safe, and disposal of ordnance, surface and underwater, conventional and nuclear, employed by the U.S. and other nations.

For more information about NAVSCOLEOD, visit their website at http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ceneoddive/eods/ .

For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.