309th Military Intelligence Battalion - Brief Article

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, July, 2000

Teal blue and white were the colors used for the U.S. Army Security Agency (ASA), the original designation of the organization. The key symbolizes the unit's mission--the guarding of security The golden bear's head on the key represents the state of California, where the unit activated. The lightning flashes, symbolic of electricity relate to the importance of electronic communications as part of the unit's function.

The 309th Military Intelligence Battalion, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade, at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, is one of the largest Active Component battalions in the U.S. Army. With an average daily strength of 1200 soldiers, the Team Sentinel Battalion serves as one of the Military Intelligence Corps' key training battalions.

The battalion's history began 19 September 1952, when the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 309th Communication Reconnaissance Battalion constituted with the Sixth U.S. Army in the Army Reserve. The Army activated the unit 1 November 1952 in Los Angeles, California. During late 1955 and early 1956, its organic elements were both constituted and activated, and the HHD redesignated as a headquarters and headquarters company. In October 1956, the unit reorganized and was redesignated the 309th ASA Battalion. The 309th continued its service with the Sixth U.S. Army until its inactivation and release from assignment in July 1986.

Under an initiative led by then Major General Paul E. Menoher, Jr., the unit redesignated 1 February 1990 as the 309th MI Battalion, withdrew from the Army Reserve, and moved to the Regular Army. The battalion transferred to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command on 17 August 1990, and organized at Fort Huachuca with the motto "Sentinels of Security."

Since its activation as a training battalion, the 309th MI Battalion has provided initial training for thousands of professional MI soldiers from a multitude of military occupational specialties (MOSs) and career fields. Today, the Team Sentinel Battalion's five companies conduct initial entry training (IET) and advanced individual training (AIT) for MOSs 96B, 96R, 97B, 97E, and 97L. The Battalion also conducts both academic and nonacademic training for the MI Officers Basic Course (MIOBC), the International Officers Intelligence Basic Course (IOIBC), the MI Warrant Officers Basic Course (WOBC), and the 350B, 350D, 351B, and 351E career warrant officer tracks.

In addition to training and graduating soldiers and officers in the areas of all-source analysis, ground surveillance, human intelligence (HUMINT), and counterintelligence, the battalion's mission includes providing subject matter experts to a number of commands and locations. Over the last five years, Team Sentinel has deployed soldiers in support of contingency and training missions worldwide to include: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Hungary, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, England, El Salvador, and multiple locations throughout the continental United States. The Battalion also provided mobile training teams to U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and U.S. Army Special Operations Command units and provided observer/controller augmentees to the Joint Readiness Training Center and the National Training Center.

During the last nine years, the Team Sentinel Battalion has committed itself to producing only the highest quality MI professionals. With an average graduation rate of more than 2500 soldiers per year, a large percentage of MI soldiers began their careers as members of the 309th. Since its activation, the 309th MI Battalion has faithfully served both the Army and our great nation with distinction. Team Sentinel remains committed to continuing that service for the indefinite future.

Sentinels of Security!