3rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company activated on Okinawa

Photo By Cpl. Jovane Holland | Chief Warrant Officer 2 William Volz, left, the commander of 3rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and a Seymour, Ind., native, and Master Sgt. Steven Williams, right, 3rd EOD Company's company chief and a Montrose, Colo., native, unfold the new 3rd EOD Co. guidon Oct. 1 at a ceremony activating the company at Camp Hansen.  

10.09.2009

Story by Pfc. Jovane Holland 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

There's an explosive new company on Camp Hansen. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Platoon with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, became 3rd EOD Company during a ceremony on Camp Hansen, Oct. 1.

Marines with the EOD military occupational specialty are responsible for disarming improvised explosive devices, clearing live-fire ranges of explosives and destroying unused explosives.

The 1st EOD Co., 7th ESB, 1st MLG, I MEF, was activated at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and 2nd EOD Co., 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, II MEF, was activated at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The new companies were mandated by Marine Corps Bulletin 5400.

"We are being upgraded to a company as part of a Marine Corps-wide reorganization to facilitate more personnel," said Gunnery Sgt. Peter Scarlett, company gunnery sergeant, 3rd EOD Co. "Thanks to the Marine Corps' 202K plus-up initiative, we have been able to increase our numbers."

Other EOD members said the increase in manpower will result in additional support elements such as administrative and operations personnel.

"I am eager to see all the privileges and entitlements afforded to a company-sized unit now become available to EOD," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 William Volz, 3rd EOD Co.'s commander.

"We are already receiving more equipment materials to help us better accomplish our mission," Volz said.

Scarlett said the activation will bring other benefits as well.

"We are looking at less time on deployments for our Marines, which will ultimately give them a better quality of life," said Scarlett.

• Date Taken: 10.09.2009
• Date Posted: 10.13.2009 01:23
• Story ID: 40003