WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Representative Roger Marshall (KS-01) today applauded the decision by the U.S. Army to make Fort Riley the future home of an Explosive Ordinance Detection (EOD) battalion headquarters.

“I’m glad to see Fort Riley will be the home of an Explosive Ordnance Detection (EOD) battalion headquarters in the near future,” said Sen. Moran. “The headquarters expands the EOD mission on Fort Riley and highlights the contributions that Big Red One units will make to the future of Army readiness and lethality. This kind of growth of mission enablers reflects the Big Red One’s standing as the longest serving division in the U. S. Army. I am proud of the Army’s confidence and commitment in the Big Red One and will continue to work to make certain our soldiers are fully equipped and ready to face any mission.”

“I look forward to welcoming the EOD battalion headquarters at Fort Riley,” said Rep. Marshall. “Fort Riley continually lives up to its saying of the ‘best place to live, train, deploy from and come home to’ and it’s always good to see that recognized by the Army. Fort Riley’s loss of a Brigade Combat Team in 2012 is still felt, and this addition is a step in the right direction.”  

"The Secretary of the Army made the decision to re-station the 79th Explosive Ordinance Disposal Battalion Headquarters to Fort Riley, Kansas,” said General Mark Milley, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. “This move will improve the overall EOD readiness of the U.S. Army.  We know the Soldiers and Families will be in good hands as they transition to Kansas."

The consolidated EOD headquarters and additional battalion at Fort Riley will bring approximately 54 soldiers to the Greater Flint Hills region. The battalion will provide mission command for three companies that do not currently have a co-located EOD, and the realignment is one of the outcomes of the Total Army Analysis process that is soon to be released.

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