Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit 2 (EODESU 2) was presented the Battle Efficiency, or Battle “E”, Award for fiscal year 2023 during a ceremony held at EODESU 2 on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. The battle “E” award is awarded annually to a select number of commands within Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) that display outstanding readiness and efficiency throughout the previous year. (Jackson Adkins/U.S. Navy)

An explosive ordnance disposal unit based in Virginia is the latest recipient of the Navy’s Battle Efficiency, or “E” award.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit 2 (EODESU 2) was presented the award for fiscal year 2023 during a ceremony held Monday at the unit’s headquarters at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. The award is given annually to a number of commands within Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) for displaying outstanding readiness and efficiency, a Navy news release said.

“The sailors of EODESU 2 regularly distinguish themselves through the daily management, maintenance and accountability of 11 distinct materiel and service commodities in support of EODGRU 2 [Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2] and six adjacent echelon V commands,” Cmdr. Brendan Casey, commanding officer of EODESU 2, said. “The dedication to duty, devotion, phenomenal teamwork and selflessness of each EODESU 2 sailor is critical to the mission success of EODGRU 2 units of action and make them most deserving of the recognition afforded by awarding of the Battle ‘E’.”

EODESU 2 “provides optimized logistics support to United States Fleet Forces Command, Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and diving and salvage forces through operational planning, maintenance, transportation, communication, dive, medical, financial, supply and global force support,” according to the release. The unit supported missions and exercises in 2023 including:

Other Virginia Beach-based Naval Expeditionary Combat Commands that will receive their Battle “E” include Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, (NMCB 133), Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14(NMCB 14), Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 3 (MSRON 3), Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 8 (MSRON 8), and Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 8 (NCHB 8).