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16th Ordnance Battalion

The mission of the 16th Ordnance Battalion is to exercise command and control, and train technically and tactically proficient, highly motivated noncommissioned officers, warrant officers, officers, and international students. The unit is also tasked with enhancing the morale, professional development, and capability of the cadre and staff.

It provides support technical training in the following military occupational specialties: Metal Worker; Machinist; Small Arms/Artillery Repairer; Field Artillery Systems Repairer; Fire Control Repairer; Armament Repair; Utilities Equipment Repairer; Power Generation Equipment Repairer; Turbine Power Generation Equipment Repair; Quartermaster and Chemical Equipment Repairer; Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; and Ordnance Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.

The 16th Ordnance Battalion was originally constituted on January 9, 1942 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 16th Ordnance Battalion. It activated on January 10, 1942 in Hawaii and inactivated on April 19, 1945 on Iwo Jima.

Allotted on March 24, 1954 to the Regular Army, it activated on April 26, 1954 at Fort Dix, NJ. The unit inactivated on January 21, 1956, at Fort Wadsworth, NY.

Headquarters transferred on November 14, 1956 to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and organized at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

The distinctive unit insignia was authorized on 13 November 1986, consisting of a gold disc encircled by a red scroll folded back upon itself in base and inscribed 'WE TRAIN TO" on the left and "MAINTAIN" on the right in gold letters, overall a black bomb emitting gold flames to top and two lightning bolts, one on either side, arcing to base, all superimposed by a gold right hand gauntlet grasping an upright gold sword with a white blade. Crimson (red) and yellow (gold) are the colors associated with the Ordnance Branch. The flaming bomb suggests the unit's mission. The two lightning bolts represent the unit's World War II combat action: the campaign streamer for Air Offensive, Japan and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for the Pacific Theater. The red color of the lightning bolts also refers to the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Rising Sun on the Japanese flag. The gauntlet grasping the sword symbolizes the unit's readiness and its determination to accomplish its military mission.