Military


311th Military Intelligence Battalion
"Eyes of the Eagle"

The mission of the 311th MIlitary Intelligence Battalion is to deploy within 36 hours worldwide providing Combat Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, Counter Intelligence, Interrogation of Enemy Prisoners of War, and Long Range Surveillance to support the defeat of enemy forces and control land area including population and resources.

The 311th Military Intelligence Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, KY, is composed of a Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Service Company, three Direct Support Companies, one General Support Company and one Long Range Surveillance Detachment. The 6 subordinated companies' primary focus is to provide intelligence to the 101st Airborne (Assault) division and its varied missions.

The 311th Communication Reconnaissance Battalion was constituted and assigned to the Army Security Agency at Fort Devens, Massachusetts on 14 June 1954 and further assigned to the 503d Communications Reconnaissance Group. It was redesignated as the 311th Army Security Agency Battalion in 1956. The unit's primary mission was to furnish cryptologic intelligence support. After a movement to Camp Walters, TX, in activations and reactivations, the unit was redesignated on 1 June 1982 as the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

The Battalion shares its heritage with several units. The 101st Military Intelligence Company was constituted 12 June 1944 as the 101st Counter-Intelligence Corps Detachment. Activated on 20 April 1944 at Newburg, England, the company participated in four campaigns during World War II. After World War II, the Detachment was inactivated in France. In March 1956, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment. The 101st Military Intelligence Company was formed after a reorganization-redesignation in December 1969. During the Vietnam Conflict, the unit participated in 12 major campaigns.

The 265th Army Security Agency Company (a.k.a. the 265th Radio Research Company (Airborne)) was constituted in March 1967 and activated in April at Fort Campbell, KY. The Company deployed to Vietnam and participated in more than 30 major Division operations and 13 campaigns. The unit was inactivated and reactivated in April 1972 and June 1976 respectively.

The Long Range Surveillance Detachment was activated in January 1968 as Company L, 75th Infantry (Ranger). The unit provided long range surveillance and reconnaissance support to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The unit was reactivated in 1986 and attached to 2d Squadron, 17th Calvary. The detachment deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield in September 1990. During Operation Desert Storm, the Detachment provided deep surveillance and reconnaissance in Iraq.

The 311th Military Intelligence Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia on 5 August 1990 with the first 23 soldiers of the Division. Supporting Desert shield and Desert Storm, the Battalion provided combat intelligence, electronic warfare, counterintelligence, battlefield deception, interrogation and psychological operations support providing commanders the capability to see and shape the battlefield by identifying Iraqi dispositions, capabilities, vulnerabilities, intentions and delivering targets.

The 311th MI Battalion deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. While there, the unit was part of Task Force Rakkasan.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

JAN 99

  • BN FTX in conjunction with the 2nd Bde FTX THUNDER GOLD from 22 Jan-1 February. Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) successfully completed the largest air assault operation since Operation Desert Storm. The battalion focused on establishing a realistic Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) facility as well as a General Support (GS) SIGINT baseline.

FEB-MAR 99

  • SPC Steven Frazier (D CO) earned the Distinguished Graduate award at the Primary Leadership Development Course.
  • C CO Task Force (B CO, D CO, HHSC) and LRSD deployed to Ft. Polk, LA for the 3rd Bde JRTC Rotation 99-05 from 27 Feb-18 March.
  • BN(-) FTX from 22-26 March. During this period of training D CO conducted a SIGINT exercise and HHSC conducted a Static Defense LFX on Range 51.
  • A CO deployed to Ft. Bragg, NC to participate in the 3ID WFX Preparation.
  • The battalion executed a one-week "Team Leader" training program focused on soldiers E4 and below operating in positions above their pay grade.

APR 99

  • The battalion sponsored two teams in the Corps Support Group Vehicle Rodeo and won 1st Place.
  • BN NBC Rodeo from 13-14 April.
  • A CO FTX in conjunction with the 1st Bde Eagle Flight IIIs from 19-30 April.
  • A CO conducted a Vehicular Ambush LFX on Range 53 from 26-30 April.
  • LRSD conducted Phase I Water Operations at Lake Barkley from 21-26 April.
  • The Battalion Family Support Group (FSG) sponsored an Easter Party for all of the battalion’s families, to include the annual Easter Egg Hunt for children on 1 April.
  • The Battalion CSM inducted 10 SGTs into the NCO CORP.

MAY 99

  • Division’s MEGA GOLD Exercise and BN Eagle Flight IV from 10-23 May. MEGA GOLD constituted the largest division-level training in the Army. External evaluations came from the 125th MI BN in Hawaii.
  • D CO participated in the Worldwide Language Olympics from 3-7 May. The Arabic team (SPC Berry and CPL Schleicher) placed 2nd and the Korean team (SSG Choi and SPC Lange) placed 13th, which is the best in the Division’s history.

JUN 99

  • B CO FTX in conjunction with the 2nd Bde Eagle Flight III from 7-17 Jun.
  • The battalion sponsored a Military Intelligence Ball on 10 June. The guest speaker was BG Alexander, J2 CENTCOM.
  • BN HUMINT soldiers participated in the Ft. Gordon HUMINT Exercise SOUTHERN KNIGHTS from 12-25 June.
  • B CO conducted a Squad React to Contact LFX on Range 27 from 19-24 June.
  • LRSD conducted a Platoon Movement to Contact LFX on Range 52 and SPIES/FRIES training from 22 June-1 July.
  • The battalion sponsored a 10-KM road race in support of the 101st Airborne Association on 4 June.
  • CPL Schleicher (D CO) earned the Distinguished Graduate Award from the Primary Leadership Development Course.
  • SGT Banks (B CO) represented the Separate Battalions as the NCO of the Quarter at the Division Level I Board.
  • SGT Fred Holt (D CO) earned the SSG John W. Kreckel Leadership Award.

JUL 99

  • A CO Eagle Flight II from 12-16 July.
  • C CO FTX from 13-16 July. C CO FTX in conjunction with the 3rd Bde Eagle Flight IIIs from 19-30 July.
  • D CO conducted a Squad React to Contact LFX on Range 27 from 23-25 July.
  • Selected personnel evaluated 76 SIB and 276 MICO during their annual training (AT) at Camp Atterbury, IN.
  • The battalion FSG sponsored the Battalion Organization Day at Destiny Park/ Eagles Nest Pavilion on 30 July. Highlights included a parachute jump by the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) Parachute Demonstration Team as well as helicopter static displays. Company competitions resulted in D CO winning this year’s Commander’s Cup.

AUG 99

  • C CO FTX in conjunction with the 3rd Bde FTX at Ft. Hood, TX from 2-9 August.
  • LRSD conducted Phase II Water Operations at Linton Lake from 3-7 August.
  • BN participated in ULCHI FOCUS LENS at Ft. Hood, TX from 9-31 August.

SEP 99

  • A CO Task Force (HHSC, D CO) and LRSD deployed to Ft. Polk, LA for the 1st Bde JRTC Rotation 99-10 from 1-28 September.
  • During the annual Hopkinsville Salute to Ft. Campbell, D CO won the "Best Decorated Military Booth" competition and the battalion was awarded third place in the Chili Cook-off competition.

OCT 99

  • BN (-) FTX from 25-29 October.
  • B CO, D CO, LRSD participated in the 2nd BDE Gate Strategy EXEVAL from 25 October-5 November.
  • The battalion sponsored a 10-KM cross-country run for the 101st Airborne Division Association. The battalion won 2nd place.

NOV 99

  • C CO conducted a Squad React to Contact LFX on Range 17 from 3-5 November.
  • D CO conducted a Force Protection FTX from 8-11 November.
  • D CO conducted Land Navigation Training in an off-post exercise at the Land between the Lakes (LBL) from 16-18 November
  • LRSD conducted a Platoon Movement to Contact LFX on Range 52 from 15-17 November.
  • C CO conducted Land Navigation Training with D CO at the Land between the Lakes from 15-19 November.
  • The battalion FSG sponsored the 2nd Annual Turkey Bowl on 24 November. This years’ champions were the junior NCOs.
  • SGT Dart (D CO) won the Division Level II NCO of the Quarter Board and SPC Anderson (D CO) won the Division II Soldier of the Quarter Board.

DEC 99

  • D CO conducted a Platoon Movement to Contact LFX on Range 52 from 7-9 December.
  • B CO conducted Land Navigation Training from 7-9 December.
  • A CO conducted STX from 8-10 December.
  • C CO deployed to Ft. Knox with the 3rd Bde Task Force from 29 November-3 December and to Ft. McClellan from 29 November to 15 December.
  • BN Driver’s Training was conducted from 29 November to 3 December.
  • LRSD conducted a Ranger Ball on 2 December.
  • HHSC conducted a React to Vehicular Ambush LFX on Range 53 from 9-10 December.
  • The battalion FSG sponsored the annual Christmas Party at the Dale Wayrynen Recreation Center on 16 December.