301st Military Intelligence Battalion (United States)

301st Military Intelligence Battalion 301st Military Intelligence Platoon
Battalion Coat of Arms
Active	6 June 1949 – 23 February 1953 16 September 1988 – 15 September 1997 16 April 2005 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Role	Military Intelligence
Part of	United States Army Reserve
Motto(s)	"The Force Multiplier"
Colors	Oriental Blue       Silver Gray
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
259th MI Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

The 301st Military Intelligence Battalion is a intelligence gathering battalion of the United States Army, belonging to the United States Army Reserve.

History

The 301st Military Intelligence Battalion traces its lineage back to the 301st Military Intelligence Platoon constituted on 6 June 1949 in the Organized Reserve Corps. On 22 June 1949 the platoon was activated in Austin, Texas. However, just a year later on 1 September 1950 the platoon was expanded to battalion size, becoming the 301st Military Intelligence Battalion. On 23 February 1953, however, the battalion was inactivated in Austin.

On 16 September 1988 the battalion was reactivated in Pasadena, Texas and its organic elements concurrently constituted and activated. The battalion was subsequently assigned to the 90th Army Reserve Command headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, as the regional army reserve command. The battalion's role towards the end of the Cold War was to provide technical intelligence alongside the 373rd MI Bn based out of Sacramento, California. On 15 September 1997, with the end of the Cold War, many units were inactivated or merged, and the 301st was subsequently inactivated.

On 16 April 2005, the battalion was reactivated, and as part of the modular reorganization of the army became an 'expeditionary' unit. This means the battalion can deploy individual companies or as a complete battalion in theater at short notice. The battalion was reformed in Phoenix, Arizona and subsequently assigned to the 505th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater), providing support for United States Army Pacific. The battalion's designation subsequently changed to 301st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion (Theater Support). However, a reorganization of the Intelligence Corps in 2016 lead the battalion to be transferred to the new 259th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade on that brigade's formation in September 2016. The battalion continues to provide reserve element intelligence for United States Army Pacific Command.

Structure

The battalion's structure as of April 2023 is as follows:

• Headquarters & Headquarters Company, at Sergeant Will C. Barnes Army Reserve Center at the Papago Park Military Reserve, Phoenix, Arizona
• A Company
• B Company
• C Company

Heraldry

Coat of Arms

Coat of arms of the 301st Military Intelligence Battalion

Years in use The coat of arms was approved on 30 October 1990.  It was amended to correct the blazon of the crest on 17 June 1991. Crest That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve:  On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure, the Lexington Minute Man Proper.  The statue of the Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H.H. Kitson, sculptor) stands on the common in Lexington, Massachusetts. Escutcheon Azure (Oriental Blue) a dagger and lightning flash dagger saltirewise, blades Argent, hilts Or and Sable. Motto "The Force Multiplier" Symbolism Oriental blue and silver/silver gray are the colors associated with the Military Intelligence Corps.  The crossed dagger and lightning flash dagger form an X suggesting the motto "The Force Multiplier."  They symbolize strength, the sharpness of steel, speed and precision.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Coat of arms of the 301st Military Intelligence Battalion (DUI)

Description A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure (Oriental Blue) a dagger and lightning flash dagger saltirewise, blades Argent, hilts Argent and Sable. Attached below the shield a Black scroll doubled and inscribed "THE FORCE MULTIPLIER" in Silver. Granted 30 October 1990 Symbolism Oriental blue and silver/silver gray are the colors associated with the Military Intelligence Corps. The crossed dagger and lightning flash dagger form an X suggesting the motto "The Force Multiplier." They symbolize strength, danger, speed and the precise application of electronic warfare and intelligence to defeat the enemy. The black and silver/white scroll represents the day and night activities of the unit.

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.