First Army EOD Training Battalion is Activated
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009
by Ryan Stroud
Wet weather and soggy grass could not hold back the excitement and anticipation of the U.S. Army Soldiers stationed Eglin Air Force Base during the Activation and Assumption of Command Ceremony of the U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Battalion (Provisional).
The dark skies cleared up just as Sgt. Maj. Randy Hefner, Lt. Col. William Fisk and Col. Thomas Keegan made their way to the EOD Memorial site outside Eglin to unravel the new battalion flag, thus activating the new battalion.
The U.S. Army EOD Training Battalion (Provisional) is the very first EOD training battalion to be activated in the Army. Though being activated in a provisional stage, it is safe to say the Army is taking large steps towards training the future EOD Soldiers into combat-ready fighting machines.
"The Army is greatly increasing the number of EOD Soldiers going to this Navy course," said Hefner about his Soldiers enrolled in the Navel School Explosive Ordnance Disposal. "We are increasing from 495 currently going through the course to 1,075 going through next year.
"In 2002, only about 150 Soldiers went through this course," continued the sergeant major of the new battalion. "With having 1,075 for next year, this increases our on-hand population. Because of the number of Soldiers we will be getting down here, a more formal Army structure needed to be here. That is why we are standing the U.S. Army EOD Training Battalion (Provisional). While the battalion is in provisional status, we are authorized certain things to help us get going but not everything like a normal Army battalion."
Hefner feels the new battalion will drop the provisional status within the next few years, but for the time being, he's ready to accept the challenges ahead of him and his Soldiers.
"There is a demand for well trained EOD Soldiers," Hefner said. "All you have to do is read the newspaper to see the enemy's weapon of choice is the improvised explosive device. EOD Soldiers are the only ones who are trained and equipped to respond to IEDs."
Since the early stages of battle in Iraq, EOD has gone through many changes. The number of robots and bomb suits has dramatically increased, as well as the number of highly trained professional EOD Soldiers ready to take to the fight, Hefner said. These Soldiers are making a difference on the battlefield and having the new provisional battalion will help better prepare these Soldiers for other obstacles they may face.
"This is a significant event, not only for the Army or me but for the Navy EOD School," added Fisk, the new battalion commander. "With the Army wanting a battalion here, we will have the command presence that we've always wanted to help the EOD students succeed through this challenging school."
And it's this new command presence Hefner and Fisk agree will help focus extra individual attention and training for each Soldier entering the battalion and school.
"We need to establish a battle rhythm, send and receive reports and focus on the best EOD training we can provide," said Fisk. "With everything that's going on around us, I'm excited and looking forward to great accomplishments in our future as a new battalion."
For Pfc. Brandon Septor, a Soldier in training at Eglin and a new member of the battalion, he saw the day's occasions in a different light.
"It makes me feel good to be here and to see this new battalion stood up," he said. "I'm getting to be a part of Army history and learn how to help people and possibly save some lives.
"That's why I joined the Army; I wanted to save people's lives and be a part of something bigger than me," Septor continued. "I wanted to be a part of EOD and now it will be nice to say I was there when history took place during the standing up of the battalion. This is really something to be proud of."
With the activation ceremony concluded, the members of the battalion head back into everyday life of training a shaping of Soldiers. Hefner feels with the motivation of the new battalion comes better trained Soldiers ready to take on the fight.
"Over some time, the tramline of the IED is down now, which is attributed to many things, but in my opinion, you cannot overlook the effects EOD has had with stopping IEDs," he said. "With this new battalion, even more efficiently trained Soldiers will help save lives and make a difference in today's Army. "
Ryan Stroud is a military trained journalist who has served in Iraq with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, US Army. Prior to his military experiences, Stroud grew up playing, coaching, and refereeing soccer. Also, Stroud focused many years of his life playing, touring, and recording/producing local music acts. He has a wonderful wife of 4 years, a 2 year old son and a newborn daughter.
Stroud's biggest writing influences are Jim Butcher, Chuck Palahniuk, Edward Lee, Jack Ketchum, Christopher Moore and Ben Fox.
He currently resides in Huntsville, Al, with the 59th Ordnance Brigade at Redstone Arsenal.
Stroud would also like to take a moment to thank his friends who are currently in battle over in Iraq. God bless all of you.
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