At a glance
- Soldier
- engineering
Learn how to find and make safe unexploded devices at home and abroad as part of a highly trained Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search Team.
- £18,687The minimum amount you’ll earn during training
- £23,496Your pay after completing basic trade training
- AgeFrom 16 years & 6 months to 35 years & 6 months
- QualificationsGCSEs

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Search operators are the Royal Engineers' bomb disposal and high-risk search experts. Whether helping to make safe a World War II bomb found in a back garden, or locating and destroying improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on operations, you'll be working as part of a highly skilled team. We'll teach you everything you need to know to help you start your specialism in this field. You'll also be part of a friendly Sapper family, enjoying sports, Adventurous Training and more.
EOD and Search is part of the Trade Roles of the Royal Engineers. All the Royal Engineer soldier job roles are divided into 5 groups. When you apply to the Engineers, you will apply to the trade group rather than the specific trade.
The Corps of Royal Engineers allows the Army to work all over the world, whether it's involved in active combat or disaster relief. The Corps are ‘first in’, setting up bases ready for the rest of the Army to arrive and ‘last out’, closing down patrol bases and military camps. The Corps is at the forefront in disaster-relief operations, effecting rapid repairs to damaged infrastructure in stricken areas.
Key Responsibilities
Study explosives and their properties
Learn how to locate and safely dispose of IEDs and manufactured munitions
Learn how to use specialised equipment including bomb disposal robots
Have any questions? Talk with us
Regular (full time)
Entry requirements
Age:
From 16 years & 6 months to 35 years & 6 months
Qualifications:
Qualifications: GCSE Grade A–D/9-3 in at least English Language, Maths and one other subject
Basic physical fitness assessment:
Mid Thigh Pull 50kg
Medicine Ball Throw 3m
MSFT (beep test) level 7.5
Training for the role
Step 1
Your initial military training teaches you how to be a soldier, covering everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle.
If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do a 23-week basic military training course at Harrogate.
If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular 14-week adult basic training.
Step 2
Then it's off to the Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment near Camberley, Surrey, for 12 weeks. Here, you learn military engineering skills, such as field fortifications, demolition, mine warfare and bridge building. Finally, you go to the Defence EOD, Munitions and Search Training Regiment, Bicester, for seven weeks. Here you will specialise in EOD and Search.
Qualifications you could get after training
Level 2 and 3 City and Guilds working in High Risk confined spaces (water)
Level 3 City and Guilds in emergency rescue and recovery of casualties from confined spaces (water)
Pay & benefits
Earn £18,687 a year during training. When you have completed 26 weeks' service or finished basic trade training – whichever comes first – your pay will rise to £23,496.
How to Apply
Once your online application has been approved, you'll meet with a local recruiter. This is your chance to tell us about the role that you're interested in. When you go to the Assessment Centre, you'll take tests - the results will show whether you'd be suitable for this role, or should consider a different role.