Hey there, all. Been lurking for a bit, but figured I'd go ahead and post some.

I've had an interest in things that go boom for as long as I can remember, starting back with firecrackers. I've been looking into making things a bit larger, but haven't started anything yet, and don't plan to simply by reading recipes on the internet. The last time I took a Chemistry class was back in High School, so it's been a while, and I don't recall exactly being the top of the class even when I showed up.

My next semester is coming up and I was wondering what advice you all would have for taking some courses. Should I start with taking some basic Chemistry again? And do you know anything about pyrotechnic certification and whether that has anything to do with actual explosives (as opposed to gouts of flame and sparklers on a stage)?

I'm taking Criminology courses, and plan on entering the Police force. Was thinking about bomb squad sort of work, though I've done zilch research on the matter. I have an Uncle that loads old RPG rounds and I've had plenty of experience with grenades and launchers, but have never crafted anything myself.

Thanks ahead of time.

Doing alot of explosive shit A.K.A. demolition, or like the guys who blow up stuff for Mythbusters. Engineering Degree mostly is needed for a blasting liscense. But for a bomb squad, not sure. Police training w/ the exrea stuff for the big guy cops like SWAT etc and Bomb Squads. I can imagine those guys are more Army then cop, due to the way they work. Most devices they use like robots are military based. So I say get your degree and join the Army and after basic say "I want to blow shit up, and dismantle explosives to save America!" they should put you into an area like that? (Or Iraq) but its your call Or ask Ghost what he did, cause hes a genius in this shit Seems to do it alot also.

Chem courses are a great idea, look at your local community colleges and that sort of thing for lab tech qualifications. Something I found extremely useful is your shotfirer's ticket, it'll teach, and give you experience in professional blasting (mostly for mines) with the common commercial compounds like AN emulsion and gello.

I myself plan to start college in the spring. I have a super high GED score since I dropped out (Fuck Arkansas school systems). I plan on Taking the ACT within the next 3 months and start getting scholarships. Mostly going to study Engineering (So i have to get great ass math scores and take Chemistry, Algebra, Calculus probably) and the basics. Get out, get 3 years in experience and get a blasting license. Possibly a shotfires also like Ghost said, Looked into it and that's pretty cool. There is so much legal shit you do before an explosive is set off its crazy sometimes lol. But i really would like a job in the area too. ACT is gonna choose if I do or not but meh. I say if I am gonna do this job for the rest of my life, i want to have fun doing it.
Any idea what types of studies I should look into for this? (If I missed something) Like i dunno, but maybe you need some first aid courses also IDK. Making things for the US Army seems like it would be the most fun, just not gonna join in to do it.

i'm at about the same place as you, XGP0001, i'm takin my ACT's this year and dont know exactly what kind of degree to look into. i only got high B's in chem last year so my teacher wuldnt put me in AP Chem this year. and i agree w/ u, that if i'm gonna do somethin for the rest of my life, its gotta b fun, and this shit is fun. so i'm not totally sure what to do next to help me.