The 71st Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) “Raptors” is one of two explosive ordnance disposal groups in the United States Army. On order, the group deploys and conducts operations in support of the combative commanders or other government agencies to counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) and weapon of mass destruction threats.

The 71st OD GP (EOD) was activated and redesignated as an EOD group at Fort Carson Oct. 16, 2005, at which time the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment was swiftly positioned to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Combined Joint Task Force Troy; earning the organization two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards for combating counter improvised explosive devices and proving resoluteness in defeating the enemy’s primary weapon of choice throughout the operation. The 71st Ordnance Group recently returned from deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom serving as Combined Joint Task Force Paladin. Its mission was to train the force, defeat the device, attack the network and enable justice. CJTF Paladin managed the U.S. EOD assets and coordinated with multinational EOD assets throughout Afghanistan.

The official lineage of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) was firmly planted on the European battlefront of World War II. The Group was constituted in the U.S. Army on July 17, 1944, and formally activated July 23, 1944, in France. The unit saw service in the European theater of operations earning campaign streamers for Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe before its deactivation in June 1946 in Germany. From there, the unit was transferred to the Reserves and underwent several reorganizations and redesignations, ending as the 361st Ordnance Group. In March 1947 the unit activated in the Ready Reserves until April 1954 when it once again inactivated. One year later, the group returned to the regular Army and activated May 13, 1955, in Germany as the 71st Ordnance Group until it inactivated June 1959. The 71st Ordnance Group remained inactive until it was reactivated December 1962 in Korea and inactivated Jan. 1, 1966, in the Republic of Korea.

The 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) is one of two active-duty EOD groups in the U.S. Army and has an additional responsibility to support U.S. Northern Command as a homeland defense asset. With the largest concentration of EOD Soldiers in the Army, the group consists of the headquarters, three subordinate battalions, and a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) company. The group’s subordinate units are positioned strategically across the area of operations to provide timely EOD support.

Lineage

July 17, 1944 - Constituted as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 71st Ordnance Group

July 23, 1944 - Activated in France

June 30, 1946 - Inactivated in Germany

Feb. 17, 1947 - Redesignated as HHD, 361st Ordnance Group

March 1, 1947 - Activated at Atlanta, Georgia

April 27, 1949 - Reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 361st Ordnance Group

April 30, 1954 - Inactivated at Atlanta, Georgia

April 19, 1955 - Redesignated as HHC, 71st Ordnance Group

May 13, 1955 - Activated in Germany

Nov. 20, 1958 - Reorganized and redesignated as HHD, 71st Ordnance Group

June 24, 1959 - Inactivated in Germany

Nov. 17, 1962 - Redesignated as HHC, 71st Ordnance Group

Dec. 15, 1962 - Activated in Korea

Jan. 1, 1966 - Inactivated in Korea

Oct. 16, 2005 - Activated as HHD, 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) at Fort Carson, Colorado