@Yetanotheruser That sounds familiar! Fortunately for me, I still had a “basketball” on my shoulder after being de-nuked, which gave me a free ticket to E-division. Unfortunately, due to “the needs of the Navy”, it turned out to be a one-way ticket, and I couldn’t cross-rate.
First off, the requirements for EOD are pretty steep; the ASVAB requirements are easy enough (above average, but not as steep as Nukes) but the physical requirements are a bit of a bitch.
Now, the real answer to your question is Mu
You REALLY REALLY REALLY do NOT want to go AT. If you can’t get a guaranteed A-school, don’t walk away, RUN! Otherwise you’ll most likely wind up as either a brass-polishing barnacle scraper or a bilge-crawling snipe, depending on the color of the stripes on your shoulder.
You are not always stuck with the first job you get, but if you happen to get into one that needs the manpower and/or are trying to get into a job that is full-up, then you are pretty much stuck where you are until either manning levels change or your enlistment runs out. Little hint; the recruiter likes to fill the ratings that are such tar-pits (where teh manpower is needed) so do a bit of research before you go in.
As for EOD, I think that there is enough demand for them that you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting in if you qualify. Don’t quote me on that though since I don’t have recent figures on their manning levels.