Ep 461: Initial Success or Total Failure- Air Force EOD Deep Dive

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Welcome back to another episode where Peaches, Aaron, and a walking EOD war story—Charles Howell—drag you down memory lane... kicking and screaming. From nearly tattooing a crab on his chest before basic training to blowing up more IEDs than most people blow up relationships, Charles spills the entire chaotic tea of his two-decade detonation tour.

We talk about how EODs were treated like the “red-headed stepchildren of CE,” the comedic incompetence of leadership during actual combat deployments, and the golden age of malicious compliance (spoiler: his commander got too many phone calls). Oh—and apparently, if you failed your first test at the schoolhouse? Congrats, there’s a selfie of you somewhere making rounds at the EOD bar circuit.

This episode has everything:

• A Marine getting trolled into oblivion over a lost fuse
• Xbox Kinect motion sensors used to kill helicopters
• PJ and EOD instructors emotionally scarring students (who definitely still remember)
• Sunlight on Peaches’ nose ruining the episode’s aesthetic

If you’re one of those parents asking questions for your kid at the recruiter’s office—buckle up. Charles has thoughts. And no, you’re not going to Deloitte, Karen. You’re joining the military. Maybe.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

• Charles Howell joined because 9/11 happened… and because Keanu Reeves in Speed sounded cool.
• The Air Force recruiter wore a tank top. The Marine wore dress blues. Guess who won.
• EOD school used to be chaos, now it’s structured chaos.
• Instructors didn’t remember you. That emotional scar? That’s all you, buddy.
• Iraq vs. Afghanistan: different wars, different trauma, same unprepared leadership.
• Some commanders were more worried about awards ceremonies than knowing where their deployed teams were.
• The Air Force still sometimes doesn’t know what EOD does—and that’s terrifying.
• Charles took the scout job voluntarily… because he’s broken and done deploying.

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