KM Issues with Retiring and Transient Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Airmen and Their Impact on Air Force EOD Response Capabilities

Recent rapid decreases in Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel manning has raised questions of how to stabilize this essential emergency response capability. The amount of knowledge lost every year is shown in increasing retirements, voluntary separations, and battlefield losses. This has driven a corresponding fading of conventional ordnance handling skills due to personnel being primarily exposed to Improvised Explosive Devices seen over the past ten years in Iraq and Afghanistan. This research proposes capturing the knowledge of individuals before they leave the Air Force through introducing federal government civilians into explosive ordnance disposal units to foster knowledge continuity. Further, adopting a personalization strategy, with the supporting use of codification would provide a clear direction for KM in the future. Finally, the continued funding and support of the EOD community of practice would allow for the quick and easy spread of knowledge for an organization that operates worldwide.