Lt. Col. Marty Muchow, commander of the 63rd Ordnance Battalion EOD relinquished command of CJTF Troy in MND-S to Lt. Col. Marty Weber, 84th EOD commander.
Muchow said the EOD mission in Iraq is one of transformation. In addition to identification and disposal of improvised explosive devices, and counteracting insurgent IED production, service members of TF Troy train Iraqi security forces to take the lead in protecting Iraqi citizens from explosive threats.
“When we got here about a year ago we had one official partnership (with ISF),” explained Muchow, a Hartford, S.D. native. “At last count, we’re up to 21 partnerships with various Iraqi Army, police, civil defense force and defense border enforcement agencies.”
To put the 63rd EOD’s accomplishments into perspective, Col. Patrick J. Kelly, CJTF Troy commander, decided numbers could speak volumes.
“They operated over 64,000 square miles of battle space,” said Kelly. “They complete over 4,000 missions to conduct post-blast assessments. They supported 10 brigade combat teams, two non-standing brigades and 21 battalions on over 400 preplanned missions.”
“The 63rd distinguished themselves by executing dangerous missions to defeat the device and defeat the (insurgent IED) network,” Kelly continued. “The torch of responsibility has now been passed to Lt. Col. Marty Weber and the brave men and women of the 84th.”
Muchow welcomed Weber and the 84th EOD, based out of Fort Riley, Kan., and encouraged them to embrace their mission during this “critical time in Iraq”.
“The 63rd has done a great job of getting (ISF partnerships) established,” answered Weber, a native of Salina, Kan. “We just want to take it to the next level.”
The 84th EOD is now responsible for all EOD operations in MND-S, explained Weber, who is on his sixth deployment. The responsibility to ensure the safety and education of service members against IEDs is not one he or his Soldiers take lightly.
“I just want to take care of my Soldiers, my Sailors and my Airmen,” continued Weber. “The Iraqis are making very good progress. I don’t think that gets out enough.”
“If there is one word that describes Iraq today, it is ‘Hope’,” said Muchow in parting. “You are all playing a vital role in giving Iraq the opportunity to succeed as a nation.”
