Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)

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Military Intelligence Corps
Seal of the United States Army Military Intelligence Corps.svg
Seal of the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps
Active1863–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Type Military intelligence
Garrison/HQ Fort Huachuca, AZ
MottoAlways Out Front
March"MI Corps March"
Engagements
Commanders
Chief (USAICoE) MG Richard T. Appelhans
Command Sergeant Major (USAICoE) CSM Jesse M. Townsend
Chief Warrant Officer (USAICoE) CW5 Peter Davis
Insignia
Branch insignia
MI Corps Insignia.svg
Regimental insignia
Military Intelligence Regimental Insignia.png
Branch plaque
US Army MI Branch Plaque.png
Regimental coat of arms
US Army MI Regimental Coat of Arms.jpg
Former branch insignia (1923–1962)
MilitaryIntelligenceBranchOldInsignia.png
Former Army Security Branch Insignia (Army Reserve) (1954–1967)
Historical US Army Reserve Security Branch Insignia.png

The Military Intelligence Corps is the intelligence branch of the United States Army. The primary mission of military intelligence in the U.S. Army is to provide timely, relevant, accurate, and synchronized intelligence and electronic warfare support to tactical, operational and strategic-level commanders. The Army's intelligence components produce intelligence both for Army use and for sharing across the national intelligence community. [1]

Contents

History

Intelligence personnel were a part of the Continental Army since its initial founding in 1776.

In 1776, General George Washington directed that a reconnaissance unit be created for the Continental Army. Knowlton's Rangers, named after its leader Colonel Thomas Knowlton, became the first organized elite force, a predecessor to modern special operations forces units such as the Army Rangers, Delta Force, and others. The "1776" on the United States Army Intelligence Service seal refers to the formation of Knowlton's Rangers.

In January 1863, Major General Joseph Hooker established the Bureau of Military Information for the Union Army during the Civil War, headed by George H. Sharpe. Allan Pinkerton and Lafayette C. Baker handled similar operations for their respective regional commanders. All of those operations were shut down at the end of the Civil War in 1865. [2]

In 1885, the Army established the Military Intelligence Division. In 1903, it was placed under the new general staff in an elevated position. [3]

In March 1942, the Military Intelligence Division was reorganized as the Military Intelligence Service. Originally consisting of just 26 people, 16 of them officers, it was quickly expanded to include 342 officers and 1,000 enlisted personnel and civilians. It was tasked with collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence. Initially it included:

  • an Administrative Group
  • an Intelligence Group
  • a Counter-intelligence Group
  • an Operations Group
  • a Language School

In May 1942, Alfred McCormack established the Special Branch of the Military Intelligence Service, which specialized in communications intelligence.

On 1 January 1942, the U.S. Army Corps of Intelligence Police, founded in World War I, was re-designated as the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps. In 1945, the Special Branch became the Army Security Agency.

On June 19, 1942, the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, was formed. This group is now widely known as the Ritchie Boys and are credited with gathering over half of the actionable intelligence in the European Theatre. Most Ritchie Boys were fluent in European languages and could easily interrogate prisoners of war and civilians who knew vital information.

At its peak in early 1946, the MIS Language School had 160 instructors and 3,000 students studying in more than 125 classrooms, graduating more than 6,000 students by the end of the war. What began as an experimental military intelligence language-training program launched on a budget of $2,000 eventually became the forerunner of today's Defense Language Institute for the tens of thousands of linguists who serve American interests throughout the world. [4]

The school moved to the Presidio of Monterey in 1946. Renamed the Army Language School, it expanded rapidly in 1947–48 during the Cold War. Instructors, including native speakers of more than thirty languages and dialects, were recruited from all over the world. Russian became the largest language program, followed by Chinese, Korean, and German. [5]

The sphinx stands guard in front of the former headquarters of the Counter Intelligence Corps at Fort Holabird Ft Holabird Sphinx.png
The sphinx stands guard in front of the former headquarters of the Counter Intelligence Corps at Fort Holabird

On 1 September 1954, the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI) officially redesignated the CIC Center, Fort Holabird, Maryland, as the United States Army Intelligence Center, and the Chief of the Counter Intelligence Corps became its Commanding General. The following year, the Intelligence Center expanded further with the addition of the Photo Interpretation Center. Additionally, combat intelligence training (including order of battle techniques, photo interpretation, prisoner of war interrogation, and censorship) was transferred from the Army General School at Fort Riley, Kansas, to Fort Holabird, giving the commanding general the additional title of commandant, U.S. Army Intelligence School. This arrangement centralized nearly all intelligence training at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School, Fort Holabird.

The Intelligence Center and School remained at Fort Holabird until overcrowding during the Vietnam War forced its relocation to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Fort Huachuca became the "Home of Military Intelligence" on 23 March 1971, and the last class graduated from Fort Holabird on 2 September 1971, almost 17 years to the day after the Army Intelligence Center was established there. USAINTCS Established at Fort. Holabird, MD

On 1 July 1962, the Army Intelligence and Security Branch was established as a basic Army branch to meet the increased need for national and tactical intelligence. [6] The redesignated branch came with the creation of a new dagger and sun branch insignia, replacing the sphinx insignia that had been in place since 1923. [7]

A number of intelligence and security organizations were combined in July 1967 to form the military intelligence branch. [8] [9] [10] In 1977, they recombined with the Army Intelligence Agency and Army Security Agency to become the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command.

On 1 July 1987, the Military Intelligence Corps was activated as a regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System. [11] All United States Army Military Intelligence personnel are members of the Military Intelligence Corps.

Structure

Approximately 28,000 military personnel and 3,800 civilian personnel are assigned to intelligence duties, comprising the Military Intelligence Corps. Some of the key components include:

NameInsigniaFunctionGarrison
Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence (G-2) US Army Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff-Intelligence-Seal.png As the Army's Chief Intelligence Officer, the responsibilities of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence include policy formulation, planning, programming, budgeting, management, staff supervision, evaluation, and oversight for intelligence activities, as well as overall coordination of the major intelligence disciplines. Fort Belvoir
US Army INSCOM DUI.png U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) INSCOM.svg INSCOM is the U.S. Army's major intelligence command. Fort Belvoir
MIRC Distinctive Unit Insignia.png U.S. Army Military Intelligence Readiness Command (MIRC) Military Intelligence Readiness Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.png MIRC is the U.S. Army Reserve's intelligence command. Fort Belvoir
USAICoE.svg U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE) United States Army Intelligence Center CSIB.gif USAICoE is the U.S. Army's school for professional training of military intelligence personnel. Fort Huachuca

Major military intelligence units

NameInsigniaSupportsGarrison
58th Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) (Maryland Army National Guard) 58th Infantry Brigade SSI.svg Maryland Army National Guard Maryland
66th Military Intelligence Brigade 66MIBdeSSI.png United States Army Europe Wiesbaden (Germany)
71st Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) (Texas Army National Guard) 71st BfSB SSI.jpg Texas Army National Guard Texas
111th Military Intelligence Brigade 111th MI BDE Patch.svg Army Intelligence Center Fort Huachuca (AZ)
116th Military Intelligence Brigade (Aerial Intelligence)
  • US Army 116th MI Bde DUI.png Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 15 MI Bn DUI.jpg 15th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), at Fort Hood (TX)
  • 204th MI BN.jpg 204th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), at Fort Bliss (TX)
  • US Army 206th Military Intelligence Bn DUI.png 206th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), at Fort Hood (TX)
  • US Army 224th MI Bn-DUI.png 224th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), at Hunter Army Airfield (GA)
  • 138th Military Intelligence Company (JSTARS-Army element), at Robins Air Force Base (TX)
  • DCGS-Army Operations and Exploitation Unit
US Army 116th Military Intelligence Brigade SSI.png Army Intelligence and Security Command Fort Gordon (GA)
201st Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) 201BfSBSSI.jpg I Corps Joint Base Lewis–McChord (WA)
207th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater)
  • 207th DUI.png Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • US Army 307 MI Bn DUI.png 307th Military Intelligence Battalion
  • US Army 522 MI Bn DUI.png 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion
207MIBdeSSI.png United States Army Africa Vicenza (Italy)
259th Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) (Army Reserve) [12] US Army 259th MI Bde SSI.png Military Intelligence Readiness Command Joint Base Lewis–McChord (WA)
300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) (Utah Army National Guard) 300MIBdeSSI.gif Army Intelligence and Security Command Draper (UT)
336th Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) (Army Reserve) [12]
  • U.S. Army 336 MI Bde DUI.png Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 323 MI Bn DUI.png 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Theater Support), at Fort Meade (MD)
  • US Army 325 MI Bn DUI.png 325th Military Intelligence Battalion (General Support), at Fort Devens (MA)
  • 337 MI BN DUI.png 337th Military Intelligence Battalion (Theater Support), at Fort Sheridan (IL)
  • 345 MI Bde DUI.png 345th Military Intelligence Battalion (Theater Support), at Fort Gordon (GA)
  • 378 MI Bn DUI.jpg 378th Military Intelligence Battalion (General Support), in Blackwood (NJ)
U.S.Army 336 MI Bde SSI.png Military Intelligence Readiness Command Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst (NJ)
470th Military Intelligence Brigade 470 MI BDE SSI.jpg United States Army South Joint Base San Antonio (TX)
500th Military Intelligence Brigade 500MIBdeSSI.jpg United States Army Pacific Schofield Barracks (HI)
501st Military Intelligence Brigade
  • 501 MI BDE DUI.png Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 3 MI Bn DUI.png 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 524 MI Bn DUI.png 524th Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 532 MI Bn DUI.png 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 527 MI Bn DUI.png 719th Military Intelligence Battalion
501 MI BDE SSI.png Eighth United States Army Camp Humphreys (South Korea)
504th Military Intelligence Brigade 504thMIBrigade.svg III Armored Corps Fort Hood (TX)
505th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater) (Army Reserve) [12] US Army 505th MIB SSI.png Military Intelligence Readiness Command Camp Bullis (TX)
513th Military Intelligence Brigade 513 mi bde patch.svg United States Army Central Fort Gordon (GA)
525th Military Intelligence Brigade 525 BfSB.png XVIII Airborne Corps Fort Bragg (NC)
648th Regional Support Group (Army Reserve) [12]
  • Reserve Element — AFRICOM Joint Intelligence Operations Center, at Fort Meade (MD)
  • Reserve Element — CENTCOM Joint Intelligence Center, in Tampa (FL)
  • Reserve Element — EUCOM Joint Analysis Center, at Fort Gillem (GA)
  • Reserve Element — INDOPACOM Joint Intelligence Operations Center, in Aurora (CO)
Military Intelligence Readiness Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.png Military Intelligence Readiness Command Granite City (IL)
650th Military Intelligence Group [13] [14] 650th MI Group.png Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Mons (Belgium)
704th Military Intelligence Brigade
  • 704MIBdeDUI.jpg Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 741 MI Bn DUI.jpg 741st Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 742 MI Bn DUI.jpg 742nd Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 743 MI Bn DUI.png 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion
704MIBdeSSI.jpg National Security Agency Fort Meade (MD)
706th Military Intelligence Group
  • US Army 706th MI Group DUI.png Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 707th Military Intelligence Battalion
706 MI Group SSI.png Central Security Service Fort Gordon (GA)
780th Military Intelligence Brigade
  • US Army 780th MIB DUI.png Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 781 MI Bn DUI.png 781st Military Intelligence Battalion
  • US Army 782nd MI Bn DUI.png 782nd Military Intelligence Battalion
  • US Army 11th Cyber Bn DUI.png 11th Cyber Battalion
US Army 780th MIB SSI.png Army Cyber Command Fort Meade (MD)
902nd Military Intelligence Group 902 MI Group SSI.jpg Army Intelligence and Security Command Fort Meade (MD)
Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
  • US Defense Language Institute DUI.png Defense Language Institute–Army element
  • 229 MI Bn DUI.png 229th Military Intelligence Battalion
US Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center SSI.png Army Training and Doctrine Command Presidio of Monterey (CA)
National Ground Intelligence Center Inscom.png Army Intelligence and Security Command Charlottesville (VA)
Army Reserve Interrogation Group (Army Reserve) [12] US Army Reserve Interrogation Group SSI.png Military Intelligence Readiness Command Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst (NJ)
National Intelligence Support Group (Army Reserve) [12] Military Intelligence Readiness Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.png Military Intelligence Readiness Command Fort Belvoir (VA)
Army Reserve Military Intelligence Training Support Command (Army Reserve) [12] Military Intelligence Readiness Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.png Military Intelligence Readiness Command Fort Belvoir (VA)

Museum

The United States Army Intelligence Museum is located at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. It features the history of American military intelligence from the Revolutionary War to present. In the Army Military Intelligence Museum there is a painting of "The MI Blue Rose". The back of this painting indicates Sgt. Ralph R Abel, Jr. created it. The painting was photographed and distributed worldwide. Sgt. Abel also painted a replica of the corps flag.

Military Intelligence Hall of Fame

List of Deputy Chiefs of Staff for Intelligence, G-2

The title of Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, G-2 appeared in 1985. Prior to 1985, this office was known as Chief, Military Intelligence Division (1917–1920), Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2 (1920–1945, 1948–1985), and Director of Intelligence (1946–1948).

No.Deputy Chief of StaffTerm
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1
Ralph Van Deman portrait.jpg
Colonel
Ralph H. Van Deman
June 1918August 1920~2 years, 61 days
2
Marlborough Churchill.jpg
Brigadier General
Marlborough Churchill
June 1918August 1920~2 years, 61 days
3
Dennis E Nolan.jpg
Brigadier General
Dennis E. Nolan
September 1920September 1921~1 year, 0 days
4
111-SC-31919 - NARA - 55222996-cropped.jpg
Brigadier General
Stuart Heintzelman
September 1921November 1922~1 year, 61 days
5
William K. Naylor (cropped).jpg
Colonel
William K. Naylor
November 1922June 1924~1 year, 213 days
6
No image.png
Colonel
James H. Reeves
July 1924April 1927~2 years, 274 days
7
Stanley Hamer Ford profile.jpg
Colonel
Stanley H. Ford
May 1927September 1930~3 years, 123 days
8
Alfred T. Smith (US Army brigadier general) 3.jpg
Brigadier General
Alfred T. Smith
January 1931January 1935~4 years, 0 days
9
No image.png
Brigadier General
Harry E. Knight
February 1935November 1935~273 days
10
No image.png
Colonel
Frances H. Lincoln
November 1935June 1937~1 year, 212 days
11
Lt. Col. E.R.W. McCabe, 7-8-22 LOC npcc.06663.jpg
Colonel
R. Warner McCabe
July 1937February 1940~2 years, 215 days
12
Sherman Miles.JPG
Brigadier General
Sherman Miles
April 1940December 1941~1 year, 244 days
13
No image.png
Brigadier General
Raymond E. Lee
December 1941March 1942~90 days
14
George V. Strong.JPG
Major General
George V. Strong
May 1942February 1944~1 year, 276 days
15
Clayton L. Bissell.jpg
Major General
Clayton Bissell
February 1944January 1946~1 year, 334 days
16
Hoyt S Vandenberg.jpg
Lieutenant General
Hoyt Vandenberg
January 1946June 1946~151 days
17
Stephen J. Chamberlin.jpg
Lieutenant General
Stephen J. Chamberlin
June 1946October 1948~2 years, 122 days
18
Stafford LeRoy Irwin.jpg
Major General
Stafford L. Irwin
November 1948August 1950~1 year, 273 days
19
Alexander R Bolling.jpg
Major General
Alexander R. Bolling
August 1950August 1952~2 years, 0 days
20
Richard Clare Partridge (1899-1976) at West Point in 1920.png
Major General
Richard C. Partridge
August 1952November 1953~3 years, 92 days
21
Arthur Trudeau.jpg
Major General
Arthur G. Trudeau
November 1953August 1955~1 year, 273 days
22
Ridgely Gaither as commander of the 11th Airborne Division in 1952.jpg
Major General
Ridgely Gaither
August 1955July 1956~335 days
23
No image.png
Major General
Robert A. Schow
August 1956October 1958~2 years, 61 days
24
John Murphy Willems (1901-1976) at West Point in 1925.png
Major General
John M. Willems
November 1958October 1961~2 years, 334 days
25
AR Fitch 1966.JPG
Major General
Alva R. Fitch
October 1961January 1964~2 years, 92 days
26
319-AP-5727-P42655 001.jpg
Major General
Edgar C. Doleman
January 1964February 1965~1 year, 31 days
27
No image.png
Brigadier General
Charles J. Denholm (acting)
February 1965September 1965~211 days
28
John J. Davis.jpg
Major General
John J. Davis
September 1965October 1966~1 year, 30 days
29
No image.png
Brigadier General
Chester L. Johnson (acting)
October 1966December 1966~61 days
30
William P. Yarborough2.jpg
Major General
William P. Yarborough
December 1966July 1968~1 year, 213 days
31
Joseph A. McChristian (3).jpg
Major General
Joseph A. McChristian
August 1968April 1971~2 years, 243 days
32
Phillip B. Davidson.jpg
Major General
Philip B. Davidson Jr.
May 1971September 1972~1 year, 123 days
33
Lt. Gen. William E. Potts.jpg
Major General
William E. Potts
September 1972July 1973~303 days
34
Harold R. Aaron.jpg
Major General
Harold R. Aaron
November 1973August 1977~3 years, 273 days
35
No image.png
Major General
Edmund R. Thompson
August 1977November 1981~4 years, 92 days
36
No image.png
Major General
William E. Odom
November 1981May 1985~3 years, 181 days
37
No image.png
Lieutenant General
Sidney T. Weinstein
August 1985September 1989~4 years, 31 days
38
No image.png
Lieutenant General
Charles B. Eichelberger
November 1989September 1991~1 year, 304 days
39
No image.png
Lieutenant General
Ira C. Owens
October 1991February 1995~3 years, 123 days
40
No image.png
Lieutenant General
Paul E. Menoher
February 1995February 1997~2 years, 0 days
41
No image.png
Lieutenant General
Claudia J. Kennedy
May 1997July 2000~3 years, 61 days
42
No image.png
Lieutenant General
Robert W. Noonan
July 2000July 2003~3 years, 0 days
43
Keith Alexander, official military portrait.jpg
Lieutenant General
Keith B. Alexander
(born 1951)
July 2003July 2005~2 years, 0 days
44
LTG John F. Kimmons (Class A).jpg
Lieutenant General
John Kimmons
August 2005February 2009~3 years, 184 days
45
Lt. Gen. Richard P. Zahner.jpg
Lieutenant General
Richard P. Zahner
February 200912 April 2012~3 years, 71 days
46
Lt. Gen. Mary A. Legere.jpg
Lieutenant General
Mary A. Legere
12 April 20122016~3 years, 264 days
47
Robert P. Ashley, Jr.jpg
Lieutenant General
Robert P. Ashley Jr.
2016~3 October 2017~1 year, 275 days
48
Lt. Gen. Scott D. Berrier (3).jpg
Lieutenant General
Scott D. Berrier
30 January 201814 September 20202 years, 228 days
49
LTG Laura A. Potter (2).jpg
Lieutenant General
Laura A. Potter
14 September 20205 January 20243 years, 113 days
50
LTG Anthony R. Hale.jpg
Lieutenant General
Anthony R. Hale
5 January 20245 December 20251 year, 334 days
51
Michelle A. Schmidt (5).jpg
Lieutenant General
Michelle A. Schmidt
5 December 2025Incumbent59 days

See also

References

  1. United States Intelligence Community Official Website Archived 21 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Intelligence in the Civil War" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  3. Theoharis, Athan G., ed. (1999). The FBI: A Comprehensive Reference Guide . Phoenix, OR: The Oryx Press. p.  160 . Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  4. Hammons, Steve (22 April 2015). "The Japanese-American U.S. Army Intelligence Unit that helped win WWII". Defense Language and National Security Education Office. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  5. "History of the Presidio of Monterey - Army Language School". Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center.
  6. "Army Birthdays". U.S. Army Center of Military History. Department of the Army. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  7. "Military Intelligence, USAR (Obsolete)". The Institute of Heraldry. Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.
  8. "Publications 101" (PDF). usapa.army.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2004.
  9. "index2". Hrc.army.mil. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  10. John Patrick Finnegan, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D. C. (1998). "Military Intelligence". Archived from the original on 22 January 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Welcome To the Intelligence Center Online Network Archived 17 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Our units". Military Intelligence Readiness Command. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  13. AR 381–10, U.S. Army Intelligence Activities, Department of the Army, dated 3 May 2007, last accessed 7 July 2012
  14. FM 34-37; Strategic, Departmental, and Operational IEW Operations; Chapter 9, 650TH Military Intelligence Group, last accessed 7 July 2012

Further reading