71st Ordnance Group

The 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), commonly identified by the nickname Raptors, is one of the United States Army's three explosive ordnance disposal groups. It functions primarily as a command-and-control headquarters rather than as a consumer-facing commercial brand. Its area of responsibility covers Army explosive ordnance disposal battalions and companies located west of the Mississippi River in the continental United States. The group oversees subordinate EOD organizations whose specialists assess explosive hazards, render munitions safe, and dispose of or otherwise neutralize ordnance. Their technical remit includes conventional ammunition, chemical and biological hazards, nuclear-related ordnance, and improvised explosive devices. Although these units are trained and equipped to operate in combat environments, their work also extends to domestic and peacetime missions. Such activities include clearing unexploded ordnance and other explosive hazards from active Army training ranges, assisting civilian law-enforcement organizations, and supporting the United States Secret Service during protective missions involving high-profile government officials. The group's stated operational purpose is to deploy, when ordered, in support of combatant commanders or other government agencies responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats, including weapons-of-mass-destruction risks. This places the organization within the Army's broader force-protection, counter-improvised-device, and consequence-management structure. The unit has a long and interrupted lineage. It was first constituted in July 1944 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Group, and activated in France during the Second World War. It was inactivated in Germany in 1946, redesignated as the 361st Ordnance Group in 1947, and later reorganized as a headquarters and headquarters company. The lineage returned to the 71st designation in 1955, followed by additional activations and inactivations in Germany, Atlanta, and Korea. The present EOD headquarters was activated at Fort Carson, Colorado, in October 2005. The group's historical honors include campaign participation credit for Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe during the Second World War, as well as credit associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Its listed decorations include an Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, a European Theater streamer, and Joint Meritorious Unit Awards. The command team identified in the supplied reference material consists of Colonel Aaron Teller and Command Sergeant Major Jason Topping.

The 71st Ordnance Group traces its lineage to the Second World War. It was constituted on 17 July 1944 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 71st Ordnance Group and activated in France on 23 July of that year. During the European campaign, the organization received campaign participation credit for Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. It was inactivated in Germany on 30 June 1946 after the end of the war. The lineage was subsequently reconfigured several times. On 17 February 1947, the organization was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 361st Ordnance Group, and it was activated in Atlanta, Georgia, on 1 March 1947. It was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 361st Ordnance Group, on 27 April 1949. That organization was inactivated in Atlanta on 30 April 1954. The 71st designation was restored on 19 April 1955, when the organization was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 71st Ordnance Group. It was activated in Germany on 13 May 1955. On 20 November 1958, it was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Group, before being inactivated in Germany on 24 June 1959. The organization was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 71st Ordnance Group, on 17 November 1962 and activated in Korea on 15 December of that year. It was later inactivated in Korea on 1 January 1966. The current headquarters lineage was activated on 16 October 2005 at Fort Carson, Colorado, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). Today, the group is one of three Army EOD groups and provides command and control for Army EOD battalions and companies west of the Mississippi River in the continental United States. Its subordinate units maintain specialized response teams capable of evaluating, rendering safe, and disposing of conventional, chemical, biological, and nuclear ordnance, as well as improvised explosive devices. The organization supports both military operations and domestic missions, including Army range clearance, assistance to civilian law enforcement, and protective support for the United States Secret Service. The group's mission is to deploy on order in support of combatant commanders or other government agencies confronting CBRNE and weapons-of-mass-destruction threats. Its listed post-2005 campaign participation includes Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Recognized decorations include an Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, a European Theater streamer, and Joint Meritorious Unit Awards.

• 2005

  Modern EOD headquarters activated

  [1]71st Ordnance Group (EOD)en.wikipedia.org

  The present 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) headquarters was activated at Fort Carson, Colorado, on 16 October.

• 1962

  Activation in Korea

  [1]71st Ordnance Group (EOD)en.wikipedia.org

  The headquarters was redesignated and activated in Korea, where it remained until its inactivation in 1966.

• 1955

  Return of the 71st designation

  [1]71st Ordnance Group (EOD)en.wikipedia.org

  The organization resumed the 71st Ordnance Group designation and was activated in Germany.

• 1947

  Redesignation as the 361st Ordnance Group

  [1]71st Ordnance Group (EOD)en.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 361st Ordnance Group, and activated in Atlanta, Georgia.

• 1946

  Postwar inactivation

  [1]71st Ordnance Group (EOD)en.wikipedia.org

  The wartime organization was inactivated in Germany on 30 June after receiving campaign credit for major operations in the European Theater.

• 1944

  Constitution and activation in Europe

  [1]71st Ordnance Group (EOD)en.wikipedia.org

  The organization was constituted as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Group, on 17 July and activated in France on 23 July during the Second World War.

A United States Army explosive ordnance disposal headquarters positioned as a specialized command for coordinating hazardous-device response, combat support, domestic contingency assistance, and CBRNE threat mitigation across the western continental United States.

• Military hazardous-device response

  Explosive Ordnance Disposal Response Teams

  Subordinate EOD units provide teams trained to identify, assess, render safe, and dispose of explosive hazards. Their responsibilities cover conventional munitions, improvised explosive devices, and specialized chemical, biological, or nuclear ordnance. These teams may operate in combat zones, on Army installations, or in support of other government agencies.

• Defense and emergency response

  CBRNE and Weapons-of-Mass-Destruction Response

  The group's operational mission includes responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. It supplies command and control for specialized forces that support combatant commanders and government agencies during high-consequence incidents.

• Ordnance remediation

  Military Range Clearance

  EOD elements support peacetime clearance of unexploded ordnance and other explosive hazards from active United States Army training ranges. This work helps maintain the safety and usability of military installation training areas.

1. 171st Ordnance Group (EOD)en.wikipedia.org