Interview with a member of an EOS

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Today we bring you an interview with a Marine Infantry colleague who is a member of an Operational Security Team (EOS). We hope you enjoy it: 

1- How can you join the EOS? How many are there? How many members make them up?

At present, it depends on whether there is a vacancy and on the criteria the commanders use to decide who gets in. An EOS is made up of 11 people: 1 SGTO, 2 CB1, and the rest soldiers/corporals.

2- Do you have to complete a course or training period to belong to an EOS?

Officially no, but it is said that soon a kind of training will be required and the course will be required to apply for a position in an EOS. Apart from that, as always, it depends on whether the commanders want to carry out a selection process.

3- How often do you go out for maneuvers and what do you do?

It depends on the Tercio, how many EOS it has and how much independence the company gives them. Personally, I have been on more VIGMAR (maritime surveillance) deployments than maneuvers.

4-Do they allow a lot of freedom in personal equipment or does all equipment have to be issued?

Although it depends on the command, in general yes, quite a bit of freedom is usually given. Some items of equipment cannot be replaced; if you are injured while using equipment other than what the Navy issued, this could be a problem.

5-What equipment is used in the EOS?

Equipment for working at height (for transferring equipment, abseiling, Fast Rope...) G36KV rifle (short version), FN P9 pistol, Browning and Minimi machine guns of both calibers, and a shotgun that is mainly used for breaking locks.

6-How often do you go on a mission, what do you do on a mission? What type of missions do EOS usually undertake?

Missions are assigned to the EOS of all Tercios and other formations, and you go on a mission roughly every 2 or 4 years.

There are several types of operations; when you go on a mission, you can encounter anything, although depending on the area of operations and the itinerary to follow, you can get an idea.

The tasks are: maritime surveillance, protection of maritime traffic routes, protection of infrastructures, anti-piracy, interception of weapons of mass destruction. Included in other procedures are assistance at sea and MIO operations that are usually carried out where there is some type of embargo against country X, performing a task similar to that of the Civil Guard, prohibiting or limiting the traffic of goods/people in a specific area.

7- What is a normal day like in an EOS?

Sport first thing in the morning and then... anything, from theory classes to going on a Navy ship to simulate a boarding.

8- What courses can you take while in the EOS?

You can request any courses you want, but the most valued ones, if I'm not mistaken, are the precision shooting, medical, and naval police courses.

9- When on a mission, on a frigate, what is usually done?

When there are no orders from the officers, you depend on your Sergeant. You are always doing some form of training, but normally an FPL (force protection level) is set. This is a series of measures to protect the ship in an area where conflict may arise. You take up posts to protect the ship, and your post may change according to the FPL.

10- Do you consider that the EOS are an operational unit?

Of course. It obviously depends on whether we go on a mission and what we are ordered to do during it. We have a high level of training and knowledge to deal with any situation we have been trained for.

11- As an EOS, do you spend more time in barracks or away on maneuvers and missions?

It depends on the year, there are some years when you only do 3 VIGMAR deployments (about 15 days each) and other years you spend 270 days away on board...

We look forward to your comments.

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