During a Dec. 16 ceremony held at King Field House on Fort Riley, soldiers representing the 5th Engineer Battalion “patched over” to the 1st Infantry Division. Patching ceremonies are held to welcome units to a new headquarters. The changing of patches symbolizes acknowledgement and acceptance into the new chain of command.
In compliance with the Army 2030 Design, the Army is restructuring to meet force requirements which necessitated the realignment of 5th Engineer Battalion from 36th Engineer Brigade to 1st Infantry Division. The addition of the “Fightin’ Fifth” to the “Big Red One” family adds combat power and lethality to the First Division.
The shoulder sleeve insignia, or unit patch, dates to World War I when units wanted to easily identify their members and show pride in their division. The 5th Engineer Battalion changed from the red and white of the engineer corps to the green and red of the 1st Infantry Division.
The 5th Engineer Battalion traces its history back to 1861, with the establishment of "Battalion of Engineer Troops" supporting the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. Their lineage is inlaid in the history of the U.S. Army, serving in World War I, World War II, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve.