501st Military Intelligence Brigade

524th Military Intelligence Battalion

The 524th MI BN conducts Counterintelligence (CI) and Human Intelligence (HUMINT) operations in support of Combined Forces Command (CFC), United States Force Korea (USFK) and 8th Army (EUSA); on order, maneuver BN elements to support Unified Land Operations.

History

Born and first tested in the fire of the Korean War, the 524th Military Intelligence Battalion has a distinguished lineage. The 524th Technical Intelligence Coordination Detachment was constituted on 25 September 1950 and activated at Ft. Riley, KS, on 10 October 1950. The unit arrived in Inchon, Korea on 2 December 1950 and was deactivated on 01 December 1951. For its service during the Korean War, the unit received five campaigncredits.

The 524th Technical Intelligence Coordination Detachment was re-designated as the 524th Intelligence Corps Detachment and constituted on 22 June 1965. Assigned to the 3rd Army, the unit was activated at Ft. Bragg, NC, on 1 July 1965 and deployed to Vietnam, arriving there on 19 September 1965. The unit performed intelligence collection operations in Vietnam and was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon. On 15 October 1966, the unit was re-designated as the 524th Military ntelligence Detachment and on 26 November 1970 was deactivated. For its service in Vietnam, the unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation and 13 campaign credits.

On 16 June 1982, the unit was re-designated as the 524th Military Intelligence Battalion, activated at Camp Coiner, Yongsan, Republic of Korea and was assigned to the US Army Intelligence and Security Command. For its meritorious service in connection with difficult and challenging missions from October 1986 to January 1988, the unit was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award.

From 2005 through 2011, the battalion was an active participant in the global war on terrorism. Intelligence professionals from across the battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan. The battalion was again recognized for its meritorious service during a period of heightened tensions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013 with its second Army Superior Unit Award. On 13 June 2014, the battalion was reorganized as Bravo Company, 524th Military Intelligence Battalion and assigned to the 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion.

On 13 October 2017, the 524th Military Intelligence Battalion was reactivated as one of the most geographically dispersed in 8th Army, operating across the peninsula in eight different locations. In addition to the critical intelligence support provided to 8th Army and the USFK/CFC, the "Vigilance" Battalion strives to continue to build and strengthen the Republic of Korea and U.S. relationship.

Leaders