1st MI Battalion

Commander: LTC Ernesto A. Cortez

Command Sergeant Major: CSM Bernardo B. Serna

Our History:

The 1st Military Intelligence Battalion traces its history to the period of rapid expansion of U.S. Army Aviation. The unit was activated on 1 February 1957 at Fort Polk, Louisiana, as the 1st Aerial Reconnaissance Support Battalion. Following its re-designation at the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion in 1962, the Battalion deployed to the Republic of Vietnam on 1 December 1965 and was in continuous combat service until 30 April 1972. During this time, the unit received five Meritorious Unit Citations and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Deactivated following its return from Vietnam, the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion began a phased reactivation in 1983 in an attached status to VII (7th) U.S. Corps. Its separate companies moved from VII (7th) to V (5th) Corps between 1983 and 1986. The 1st Military Intelligence Battalion became V Corps Aerial Exploitation Battalion on 16 June 1986.

On 15 January 1991, elements of the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion deployed to Southwest Asia as part of the multinational force conducting Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, returning on 10 April 1991.

The unit received the Army Superior Unit Award for its support to Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR in December 1995 as part of Task Force Eagle to Taszar, Hungary, where it began flying missions over Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina only three days after arriving.

In March 1999, the battalion redeployed its operational elements from Hungary to Italy in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE. In December 1999, the battalion once again reconfigured itself by redeploying the Integrated Processing Facility (IPF) back to Mainz-Finthen, Germany. 1st MI continued to support TF Falcon in Operation JOINT GUARDIAN until February 2003 where it received its second Army Superior Unit Award.

On 17 August 2003, elements of the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion deployed again to Southwest Asia in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, returning on 3 August 2004 to their home station at Wiesbaden Army Airfield in Germany.

On 4 June 2005, elements of the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion returned once more to Southwest Asia in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. They redeployed back to Wiesbaden on 29 May 2006. For combat service in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation.

As of 2007, the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion currently conducting Capabilities Based Rotations in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.