71st Ordnance Group (EOD)
| 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) | |
|---|---|
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia | |
| Active | 23 Jul 1944 – 30 Jun 1946 1 Mar 1947 – 30 Apr 1954 13 May 1955 – 24 Jun 1959 15 Dec 1962 – 1 Jan 1966 16 Oct 2005 – present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Support |
| Role | Explosive Ordnance Disposal |
| Part of | 20th CBRNE Command |
| HQ | Fort Carson, Colorado |
| Nickname(s) | Raptors (Special Designation) |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | COL Brennan Fitzgerald |
| Deputy Commander | LTC Chad Huggins |
| Command Sergeant Major | CSM Randall Markgraf |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
The 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) ("Raptors" is one of three explosive ordnance disposal groups of the United States Army. It is the command and control headquarters for all U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) battalions and companies located west of the Mississippi River in the Continental United States (CONUS).
Subordinate units maintain EOD response teams, which evaluate, render safe, and dispose of conventional, chemical/biological, or nuclear ordnance, or improvised explosive devices (IEDs). While subordinate units are trained and equipped for combat operations, they also support peacetime missions, including range surface clearance operations of active U.S. Army installations, support of civilian law enforcement agencies, and support to the U.S. Secret Service for protection of VIPs.
The current command team consists of Colonel Brennan Fitzgerald and Command Sergeant Major Randall Markgraf.