| 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion 125th Military Intelligence Battalion | |
|---|---|
 Battalion coat of arms approved in 1982 | |
| Active |
10 August 1944 – 25 February 1946 6 October 1950 – 15 August 2005 6 June 2022 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch |
 United States Army |
| Type | Military Intelligence and Electronic Warfare |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | 25th Infantry Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Schofield Barracks, Hawaii |
| Motto(s) | "Eyes of Lightning" |
| Engagements | |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia |
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| Beret Flash |
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The 125th Military Intelligence Battalion (125 MI BN), later 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion (Division) is a military intelligence and electronic warfare unit of the United States Army, belonging to the Military Intelligence Corps. The battalion provides direct support to the 25th Infantry Division and is garrisoned in Hawaii.
History[]
The 125th Military Intelligence Battalion was first established on 16 June 1983 as part of the Army of Excellence reforms which saw a reorganisation and expansion of the army's divisions, notably the divisional assets. The new battalion was assigned directly to the 25th Infantry Division and activated at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. The battalion initially consisted of two companies: A (former 372nd Army Security Agency Company) Company and B (25th Military Intelligence Company) Company.[1][2]
On 16 August 1995 A Company was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. On 7 October 2003 A Company re-joined the battalion at Schofield Barracks less personnel and equipment. A Company was reorganised as an intelligence production company with the mission of providing intelligence in support of combat operations. All elements of the battalion have served tours of duty in either Iraq or Afghanistan.[1][2]
B Company served a thirteen month tour of duty in Iraq from January 2004–February 2005 furnishing intelligence support for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. The rest of the battalion served a one year tour of duty from April 2004–2005 in Afghanistan. The battalion was organised as a task force consisting of more than 600 personnel from all branches of the Armed Forces and performed dencentralised intelligence support to combat forwards to forward operating bases throughout the country. As part of the reorganisation of the 25th Infantry Division into a new modular structure as part of an army-wide reform into brigade-centric operations, the battalion was inactivated on 15 August 2005.[1][2]
On 6 June 2022, under the reorganization of the United States Army, the battalion was re-activated as the 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion (Division). The battalion now consisting of a headquarters and three companies provides divisional military intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities.[3] Since formation, the battalion falls under the administrative control of 25th Infantry Division Artillery.[4]
Annex 1[]
On 11 May 1962 A Company, 303rd Army Security Agency Battalion was activated at Fort Carson in Colorado and subsequently activated on 25 June 1962. On 15 October 1966 the company was reorganised as the 372nd Army Security Agency Company. The new company deployed to South Vietnam and was granted campaign participation credit for the following campaigns: Counteroffensive, Counteroffensive Phase II, Counteroffensive Phase III, Tet Counteroffensive, Counteroffensive Phase IV, Counteroffensive Phase V, Counteroffensive Phase VI, Tet 69/Counteroffensive, Summer-Fall 1969, Winter-Spring 1970, Sanctuary Counteroffensive, and Counteroffensive Phase VII.[1][2]
On 6 March 1971 the company was inactivated while still in South Vietnam. On 1 July 1974 the company was activated again in Helemano, Hawaii. In 1978 the policy of not assigning MI units below major command level was changed, leading to the assignment of the 25th MI Company to the 25th Division on 21 August 1978. It was redesignated Company B, 125th MI Battalion on 16 June 1983. A Company is also entitled to the following decorations:[1][2]
| Ribbon | Streamer | Name | Date of Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966 | 1968 |
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Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966–1967 | 1968 |
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Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967–1968 | 1969 |
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Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968–1969 | 1971/25 February 1971 |
|
|
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Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969–1970 | 1972 |
|
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer Embroidered VIENTAM 1966–1968 | 1971 |
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Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer Embroidered VIENTAM 1969–1970 | 1973 |
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Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer Embroidered VIENTAM 1970–1971 | 1974 |
|
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Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969–1971 | 1974 |
Annex 2[]
On 12 July 1944 the 25th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment was constituted in the Army of the United States. On 10 August 1944 the detachment was activated in New Caledonia with personnel from the provisional Counterintelligence Corps detachment attached to the 25th Infantry Division. The new detachment was consequently assigned to the division providing counterintelligence operations. The company is entitled to campaign participation credit for the Battle of Luzon in 1945. On 25 February 1946 the detachment was inactivated whiled on occupation duties in Japan.[1][2]
On 6 October 1950 the detachment was activated again in South Korea. On 8 February 1954 the detachment was allocated to the Regular Army, and renamed on 24 December 1958 as the 25th Military Intelligence Detachment. The detachment was granted campaign participation credit for the following from the Korean War: UN Offensive, CCF Intervention, First UN Counteroffensive, CCF Spring Offensive, UN Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Korea – Summer-Fall Offensive, Third Korean Winter, and Korea – Summer 1953.[1][2]
On 26 December 1969 the detachment was expanded to a company, and on 21 August 1978 the company was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division. The 372nd was a radio research company supporting the 25th Division in intercepting enemy communications and locating enemy units. The detachment was deployed to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War and was granted campaign participation credit for the following: Counteroffensive, Counteroffensive Phase II, Counteroffensive Phase III, Tet Counteroffensive, Counteroffensive Phase IV, Counteroffensive Phase V, Counteroffensive Phase VI, Tet 69/Counteroffensive, Summer-Fall 1969, Winter-Spring 1970, Sanctuary Counteroffensive, and Counteroffensive Phase VII.[1][2]
As part of the expansion of the Army under the 'Army of Excellence' reforms in the 1980s, the company was merged with the 372nd Army Security Agency Company to form the new larger 125th Military Intelligence Battalion. B Company is also entitled to the following decorations:[1][2]
| Ribbon | Streamer | Name | Date of Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered KOREA | 1954 |
|
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966–1967 | 1968 |
|
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967–1968 | 1969 |
|
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968–1969 | 1970 |
|
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) with Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969–1970 | 1974 |
|
|
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOIBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 | 1950 |
|
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|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer Embroidered VIENTAM 1966–1968 | 1971 |
|
|
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer Embroidered VIENTAM 1968–1970 | 1973 |
|
|
|
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966–1970 | 1971 |
184th Military Intelligence Company[]
The company was constituted on 19 March 1966 in the Regular Army as the 184th Military Intelligence Company. On 1 June 1966 the company was activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as an intelligence collection company. The company arrived in South Vietnam on 4 October 1966, and was based at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. During the company's deployment it was assigned to the 145th Military Intelligence Group. The company received a Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for its support of counter-insurgency operations and support to combat operations and participated in eight Vietnam campaigns. The company was inactivated in South Korea on 25 September 1969. Records indicate the company was active for a short time at Fort Lewis in Washington from 1 February 1970 to 21 September 1972.[2]
With the reorganization of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division from light infantry to a Stryker Brigade, the Department of the Army directed that the military intelligence company supporting the 1st Brigade would no longer be from the division military intelligence battalion but rather would be a separate company. Consequently the 184th Military Intelligence Company was reactivated on 16 May 2002 as a separate company using the personnel and equipment of A Company, 125th Military Intelligence Battalion which was inactivated. The 184th served with the 1st Brigade in and around the city of Mosul, Iraq beginning in October 2004 in support of combat operations and stability initiatives. The company returned to Fort Lewis with the 1st Brigade in September 2005.[2]
On 1 June 2006 the 1st Brigade Combat Team including the 184th Military Intelligence Company was inactivated; with personnel and equipment transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Stryker). The 1st Brigade Combat Team including the 184th Military Intelligence Company was reactivated on 16 December 2006 with station at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. With the reorganisation of the independent stryker brigade initiative from 2016, the company was inactivated.[2]
185th Military Intelligence Company[]
The 185th Military Intelligence Company was constituted in the Regular Army on 19 March 1966 and activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 1 June 1966 as an image interpretation company. The company arrived in Vietnam on 1 September 1966 and was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Airbase, Saigon. The company participated in eight Vietnam campaigns before it was inactivated in Vietnam on 25 September 1969. On 16 October 2005 the 185th Military Intelligence Company was reorganized as a combat support military intelligence company, assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division and activated at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. With the reorganisation of the independent stryker brigade initiative from 2016, the company was inactivated.[2]
Heraldry[]
Coat of Arms[]
Description/Blazon[5]
Azure a pale Argent (Silver Gray) overall between two mullets in fess a sword and a bayonet saltirewise Or bearing a torteaux charged with a heraldic rose of the third.
Symbolism[5]
Oriental blue and silver (gray) are the Military Intelligence colors. The unsheathed weapons connote readiness and the heraldic rose alludes to the subrosa mission of the organization. The stars symbolize the wartime service of two elements of the unit and the color red indicates their decorations for action in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Background[5]
The coat of arms was approved on 26 November 1982.
Distinctive Unit Insignia[]
Description/Blazon[5]
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall, consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure a pale Argent (Silver Gray) overall between two mullets in fess a sword and a bayonet saltirewise Or bearing a torteaux charged with a heraldic rose of the third. Attached below the shield is a Gold scroll inscribed "EYES OF LIGHTNING" in Black letters.
Symbolism[5]
Oriental blue and silver (gray) are the Military Intelligence colors. The unsheathed weapons connote readiness and the heraldic rose alludes to the subrosa mission of the organization. The stars symbolize the wartime service of two elements of the unit and the color red indicates their decorations for action in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Background[5]
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 26 November 1982.
Footnotes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Finnegan & Danysh, pp. 297–299
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Carrie. "Intelligence" (in en-US). https://www.25thida.org/units/intelligence-military-police/.
- ↑ [0=AZVTRP_w4BF9sFt51Ptrirhz7NwNyBdSrgF_idiPkIpr21nPvz5ysK0ScJPMeW43Jxw-s4mOvefihjTNxjIZiBO4UmG-06XRDNDGHr0EhTrGxahgm0OZ8yNDbH5Jj7I8GZ4wPq0xfsQNPv7qg_l60BwMkQ3yXkTGs34OOBa_E8i7NV0ITAqMBGqso_Kl2XuffWzcW60LAId1mvbOsog7V5cS&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R "“Eyes of Lightning” lights the way in Schofield Barracks, and the Army at large!⚡️ On June 6th, 2022 the 125th IEW celebrated its activation thunderously joining the fight in the INDOPACOM region!"]. 7 June 2022. https://www.facebook.com/125thIEWBN/posts/pfbid02QUnpBYkBeL2PfdevdsCWQFN1z1Z8QM8zJztN7We5GM5TGKLSgCUHYgxKtcghbsNUl?__cft__[0]=AZVTRP_w4BF9sFt51Ptrirhz7NwNyBdSrgF_idiPkIpr21nPvz5ysK0ScJPMeW43Jxw-s4mOvefihjTNxjIZiBO4UmG-06XRDNDGHr0EhTrGxahgm0OZ8yNDbH5Jj7I8GZ4wPq0xfsQNPv7qg_l60BwMkQ3yXkTGs34OOBa_E8i7NV0ITAqMBGqso_Kl2XuffWzcW60LAId1mvbOsog7V5cS&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
- ↑ "25th Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY)". https://home.army.mil/hawaii/25thID/units/DIVARTY.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Coat of Arms". https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3841&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services.
References[]
- Finnegan, John Patrick; Danysh, Romana (1998) (PDF). Military Intelligence. Army Lineage Series. Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America: Center of Military History, United States Army. ISBN 978-0160488283. OCLC 35741383. https://history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-13-1/cmhPub_60-13-1.pdf.