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1st Military Intelligence Battalion (United States)
Encyclopedia
1st Military Intelligence Battalion ("Flying Eye Battalion") is a unit of the United States Army
which specializes in the acquisition of aerial signals information
in direct support of the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade
. It comprises 4 companies – HHSC, A Company, B Company, and C Company.
, Louisiana
. It was reorganized and redesignated 1 May 1959 as Company A, 196th Aerial Photo Interpretation Detachment at Fort Bragg
, North Carolina. Then on 20 March 1962 it was converted and redesignated the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion. Upon its return from Vietnam in 1973, 1st MI was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and eventually inactivated 15 July 1982.
Reactivated 14 January 1984 in Germany as V Corps' aerial exploitation battalion, 1st MI is currently assigned to the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade out of Wiesbaden Army Airfield
, Wiesbaden, Germany
, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
1st MI Battalion has served in
attached to it:
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
which specializes in the acquisition of aerial signals information
SIGINT
Signals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people , whether involving electronic signals not directly used in communication , or combinations of the two...
in direct support of the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade
66th Military Intelligence Brigade (United States)
The 66th Military Intelligence Brigade is a United States Army brigade, subordinate to United States Army Intelligence and Security Command and based in Wiesbaden, Germany:* 66th Military Intelligence Brigade** Headquarters & Headquarters Company...
. It comprises 4 companies – HHSC, A Company, B Company, and C Company.
Battalion history
The unit was originally formed on 14 December 1956 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Air Reconnaissance Support Battalion, and formally activated 1 February 1957 at Fort PolkFort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. It was reorganized and redesignated 1 May 1959 as Company A, 196th Aerial Photo Interpretation Detachment at Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North Carolina. Then on 20 March 1962 it was converted and redesignated the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion. Upon its return from Vietnam in 1973, 1st MI was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and eventually inactivated 15 July 1982.
Reactivated 14 January 1984 in Germany as V Corps' aerial exploitation battalion, 1st MI is currently assigned to the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade out of Wiesbaden Army Airfield
Wiesbaden Army Airfield
Wiesbaden Army Airfield or WAAF is located southeast of the city of Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany. It was selected as the site for Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe on 28 September 1945, in large part due to its proximity to Frankfurt am Main, where the U.S. Seventh Army was...
, Wiesbaden, Germany
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
1st MI Battalion has served in
- the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, as Company A, 196th Aerial Photo Interpretation Detachment which was formed 10 July 1945 at Fort JacksonFort JacksonFort Jackson can refer to several places or things:*Fort Jackson , also called Fort Toulouse, a War of 1812 fort*Fort Jackson , a frontier trading post located near present-day Ione, Colorado...
, South Carolina. - the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
- Desert Storm
- Operation Joint Endeavor
- Operation Joint Guard
- Operation Joint Forge
- Operation Joint Guardian
- Operation Noble Anvil
- the Invasion of Iraq
Vietnam unit organization
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company was based in Saigon at Muscara Compound. It included an aviation platoon.
- Detachment A was based at Bien Hoa and supported III Corps operations.
- Detachment B was based at Danang and supported I Corps operations.
- Detachment C was based at Can Tho and supported IV Corps operations.
- Detachment D was based at Nha Trang and supported II Corps operations
- 45th Military Intelligence Detachment was assigned to 1st MI Battalion in 1968 and was based in Phu Bai. It was eventually organized as Detachment E.
Current unit organization
The battalion has undergone various reorganizations. Currently it has four companiesCompany (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
attached to it:
- Company HHS—Runs battalion command and control and provides logistics support
- Company A – Provides aerial images through the use of the HunterRQ-5 HunterThe RQ-5 Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle was originally intended to serve as the United States Army's Short Range UAV system for division and corps commanders. It took off and landed on runways. It used a gimbaled EO/IR sensor to relay its video in real time via a second airborne Hunter over a...
Unmanned Aerial VehicleUnmanned aerial vehicleAn unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity... - Company B – Produces SIGINT collection and Aerial Electronic WarfareElectronic warfareElectronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
with the Guardrail Common Sensor - Company C – Conducts analysis and dissemination of SIGINT
Decorations
The following decorations have been awarded to 1st MI- Presidential Unit CitationPresidential Unit Citation (US)The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941...
(Air Force) for SOUTHEAST ASIA 1966–1967 - Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
(Army) for VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
1965–1966 - Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1966–1967
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1967–1968
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1969–1970
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Vietnam 1970–1972
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Iraq 2005–2006
- Army Superior Unit Award for 1995–1996
- Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star for VIETNAM 1965–1971