111th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (United States)

The 111th Ordnance Group (EOD) is a group sized unit of the Alabama Army National Guard.

History
The 111th Ordnance Group were federally organized on 2 January 1930 as part of the Alabama National Guard at Opelika. The group's first title was Medical Department Detachment, 167th Infantry. As the medical detachment the unit was part of the 31st Infantry Division. On November 25 1940 the unit was inducted into Federal Service. During world war two the unit served in New Guidea as part of the New Guinea Campaign. As part of their participation the unit gained their first battle honour "New Guinea" the unit was also given the arrowhead as part of their badge. Later the unit participated in the Southern Philippines Campaign. Again gaining their second battle honour "Southern Philippines". Following the end of the war the unit was inactivated on 20 December 1945.

On 13 February 1947 A Company, 200th Infantry Regiment was formed as an element of the 31st Infantry Division. On April 7 1953 Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment was organized at Opelika. On 15 June 1954 the company was released from federal service and given back to the state's control. As a result of the change the company was retitled as Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment. Eventually on 2 May 1959 following increased tensions in South Vietnam the company was redesignated as Headquarters Company, 2nd Battle Group, 167th Infantry Regiment. In April 1963 the company became Headquarters Company, 231st Armour Group and moved out of the 31st Infantry Division. On 11 June 1963 the regiment was ordered into federal service and reverted back to state control just five days later.

Again on 10 September 1963 the regiment moved into federal service again being released just two days later. On 15 January 1968 the regiment was consolidated with C Company, 2nd Battalion, 152nd Armoured Regiment consilidated to form Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 231st Military Police Battalion. Eventually on 1 September 1981 the unit was redesigated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 111th Ordnance Group thus creating that well known modern unit. As the United States got closer and closer to war the unit was mobilized and moved into federal service on 4 February 1991 for service in the Gulf War. Following their return on 23 September 1991 the unit was released from federal service gaining two battle honours "Liberation and Defense of Kuwait" and "Cease-Fire". Later the group was ordered into federal service on 27 November 2002 being removed on 21 January 2004 for service in Afghanistan. Finally on 24 January 2010 the group was ordered into federal service for another deployment to Afghanistan and removed on 27 February 2011. As a result of their commitments the group was awarded their last and latest battle honour "War on Terrorism".

Today the group is part of the 167th Theater Sustainment Command.

Modern Organization
Today the group's structure is as follows:
 * Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment at Opelika Armory, Alabama
 * 441st (EOD) Ordnance Battalion
 * Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment at Green Cove Armory, Huntsville
 * 641st (EOD) Ordnance Company at Fort William A. Hornsby Armory
 * 666th (EOD) Ordnance Company at Jacksonville Armory
 * 1307th Engineer Detachment (EHCC) (Added from recent reforms)

Decorations
The group contains the following decorations:
 * Campaign Participation Credit
 * World War II
 * New Guinea (with arrowhead)
 * Southern Philippines
 * Southwest Asia
 * Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
 * Cease-Fire
 * War on Terrorism
 * Campaigns to be determined
 * Decorations
 * Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered - Southwest Asia 1991
 * Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 to 4 JULY 1945