Explosive ordnance battalion goes out with a boom

Photo By Sgt. Dana Moen | Soldiers with 84th Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) march past the unit’s leaders for review during an inactivation ceremony Sept. 30 at Fort Riley, Kansas. The four remaining EOD companies well remain at their current stations and fall under new battalions in the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD). (Sgt. Dana Moen, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs)  

FORT RILEY, KS, UNITED STATES

09.30.2016

Story by Sgt. Dana Moen 

19th Public Affairs Detachment

The firing of “Old Thunder,” Fort Riley's ceremonial canon, signaled the beginning of the inactivation ceremony for 84th Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 71st Ordnance Group, Sept. 30 at Fort Riley.

"When the colors and the guidon go back to the Army for storage after today's events," Col. Heidi J. Boyle, commander of 71st Ordnance Group, said, "I want every one of you in this formation to know that you're sending them back with an even greater history and lineage than when they were given … just over nine years ago."

The official inactivation was accomplished with the casing of the unit colors that are a symbol of combat readiness and esprit-de-corps of the unit, according to the master of ceremonies.

Sgt. 1st Class Eliot Bray carried the unit's colors onto the field to be uncased during the 84th EOD Bn.'s activation ceremony at Fort Riley June 16, 2007. Bray was present with the 84th EOD Bn. and given the honor of carrying the units cased colors off the field during the inactivation ceremony.

"We have a new legacy to learn," said Bray, operations sergeant with 630th EOD Company, 84th EOD Bn. "Our new battalions will have their own history and honors that we get to partake in and add to."

The six enduring 84th EOD Bn. companies will be split between the 71st Ordnance Group's 242nd Ordnance Battalion (EOD) and 3rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD). All of the companies will remain at their present duty stations at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Fort Riley will lose two companies due to the inactivation; Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and 162nd Ordnance Company (EOD). Remaining Soldiers will be assigned to other companies in the 71st Ordnance Group.

The two companies staying at Fort Riley are the 630th Ordnance Company (EOD) and the 774th Ordnance Company (EOD). The units provide their expertise to military and civilian agencies in the region and no impact to their mission is expected from the inactivation.

Thomas Gonzales, the 84th EOD's first command sergeant major at Fort Riley, was among the distinguished guests attending the ceremony.
"From the day I was a young Soldier to the day I retired," Gonzales said, "what I learned (with) the team was essential to my success."

• Date Taken: 09.30.2016
• Date Posted: 10.14.2016 12:15
• Story ID: 212021
• Location: FORT RILEY, KS, US