130th Engineer Battalion

The 130th Engineer Battalion (130th EN BN) is a combat engineer battalion of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard allocated to the 101st Troop Command. The 130th is one of the most decorated battalions of the Puerto Rico National Guard with two Presidential Unit Citations, one Meritorious Unit Commendation, thirty five Purple Hearts, one Silver Star Medal, twenty six Bronze Star Medals, and four hundred and sixty nine Army Commendation Medals.^[1]

130th Engineer Battalion
coat of arms
Founded	6 February 1959; 66 years ago (1959-02-06)
Country	United States
Allegiance	Constitution of the United States
Branch	United States Army National Guard
Type	light infantry
Role	combat engineering
Size	battalion
Part of	101st Troop Command
Garrison/HQ	Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Motto(s)	Skill And Strength
Engagements	World War II Afghanistan War Iraq War
Commanders
Current commander	LTC Edil Velázquez
Notable commanders	Emilio Díaz Colón
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

History

Constituted 6 February 1959 in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard as the 126th Engineer Battalion.^[2]

Organized and Federally recognized 15 February 1959 from existing units with headquarters in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Redesignated 1 May 1959 as the 130th Engineer Battalion.

Location of headquarters changed 31 December 1967 to Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.

Ordered into active Federal service 11 February 2003 at home stations; released from active Federal service 21 May 2003 and reverted to territorial control.

Ordered into active Federal service 23 July 2006 at home stations; released from active Federal service 18 January 2008 and reverted to territorial control. The 130th Eng. Bn. completed more than 1,500 combat patrol missions in Iraq, more than 44,000 miles of roads traveled and recon, 16,500 interrogations conducted, 7,300 hours expended in IED search throughout Baghdad and found and deactivated more than 280 IEDs.

Reorganized 1 September 2008 to consist of the headquarters and the Support Company (Companies A, B, C and D concurrently reorganized and redesignated as the 1013th Engineer Company, the 1014th Engineer Company, the 1011th Engineer Company, the 1010th Engineer Company and the 215th Fire Fighter Engineer Detachment, respectively hereafter separate lineages).

Structure

• Executive branch of the government of Puerto Rico & National Guard Bureau & United States Department of the Army
  • Puerto Rico National Guard & Army National Guard
    • Puerto Rico Army National Guard
      • 101st Troop Command
        • 130th Engineer Battalion
          • 130th EN BN Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)^[2]
          • 130th EN BN Forward Support Company (FSC)^[2]
          • 1010th Engineer Company^[2]
          • 1011th Engineer Company^[2]
          • 1013th Engineer (Sapper) Company^[2]
          • 1014th Engineer (Sapper) Company^[2]
          • 215th Fire Fighter Engineer Detachment^[2]

Honors and awards

Unit

	Award	Embroidery[1][2]
1st row	Presidential Unit Citation (Army)	IRAQ
2nd row	Presidential Unit Citation (Navy)	IRAQ 2003
3rd row	Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)	SOUTHWEST ASIA 2006–2007
4th row	American Campaign Streamer	N/A
5th row	Afghanistan Campaign Streamer	N/A
6th row	Iraq Campaign Streamer	N/A

Individuals

Award	Name	Total[1]
	Purple Heart	34
	Silver Star	1
	Bronze Star	26
	Army Commendation Medal with "V" device	13
	Army Commendation Medal	469
	Combat Medic Badge	12
	Combat Action Badge	313