3rd Signal Brigade
The 3rd Signal Brigade is currently composed of the brigade's Headquarters and Headquar-ters Company; the 16th Signal Battalion; the 57th Signal Battalion; the 1114th Signal Battalion, Fort Hood's Directorate of Information Management; and the 313th Signal Company, a sepa-rate tactical unit.
Although the brigade is mainly tactical, it also operates the post's computer system, complete with e-mail capabilities and secure communications. Any information pertaining to the Fort Hood server ultimately goes through the 1114th Signal Battalion.
In this technological age, the demands of the Signal Corps are stronger than ever. In order to keep up with these extreme circumstances, the brigade is fielding new higher capacity telecommunication systems, first in the 16th Signal Battalion and then in the 57th Signal Battalion in 2001.
On order, the 3rd Signal Brigade deploys to a theater of operations, provides command and control communications to the IIId Mobile Armored Corps (Phantom), and redeploys.
The unit is tasked with:
- Installing, Operating, and Maintaining (IOM) the communications network for III Armored Corps;
- Being prepared to deploy in support of world wide contingency missions;
- Providing viable, effective family support to soldiers, civilians, and their families;
- Assisting in training "Reserve Component" Signal Battalions; and
- Supporting the Fort Hood Installation Mission Area (IMA) functions and facilities (DOIM).
Since the brigade's mission is so vast, both stateside and overseas deployments are main-stays of the unit. Some of the recent deployments included Bosnia; Korea; Panama; Saudi Arabia; Fort Carson, Colo,; Fort Bliss, Texas; and Fort Irwin, Calif.
The 3rd Signal Brigade was originally constituted on January 24, 1946 as the 1st Signal Service Group. It was activated at Camp Crowder, Missouri, February 1, 1946, as part of the Second United States Army. On February 13, 1946, the group was transferred from Camp Crowder to Camp Polk, Louisiana, as part of the Fourth United States Army.
On December 17, 1946, the Group made another move, this time to Fort Meade, Maryland, and was attached to Headquarters, Special Troop of the Sixth Army. From May 1, 1947 until March 31, 1949, the Group Headquarters was established but no personnel were assigned. On March 29, 1949, the group was designated as Headquarters, 1st Signal Service Troop and was allotted to Regular Army. In 1950, the Group moved to Camp Gordon, Georgia, as part of the Third United States Army.
In April 1951, the unit was transferred to Camp Cooke, Carolina as part of the Sixth Army. In January 1952, the unit moved to Camp San Luis Obispo, California. The Group deactivated on August 20, 1952. On June 3, 1953, the unit was redesignated as Headquarters, 1st Signal Group (Electronic Warfare) and activated at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.
In April 1954, the unit moved to Fort Huachuca, Arizona and on June 10, 1955 was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Signal Group. The Group was inactivated at Fort Huachuca, Arizona on December 9, 1957. In April 1960, the unit was assigned to United States Army Europe and was activated May 1, 1960 at Orleans, France. The Group was assigned to USACOMZEUR (United States Army Europe, Communication Zone). On February 26, 1965, the USACOMZEUR Signal Section and the 1st Signal Group were integrated into one unit.
On February 28, 1967, the Department of the Army announced that HHD, 1st Signal Group would relocate to Fort Huachuca, Arizona at cadre strength no later than March 15, 1967. On April 4, 1967, the 1st Signal Group assumed the mission of command and control of 176th Signal Company (TL), and the 596th Signal Company at Fort Huachuca.
In August 1968, the 1st Signal Group moved to Fort Lewis, Washington while the 596th Signal Company went to Vietnam from Fort Huachuca. This move left the 176th Signal Company and the 596th Signal Company to team up with the 58th and 78th Signal Battalions. The 1st Signal Group remained at Fort Lewis until June 12, 1978, where it was then relocated to Fort Hood and organized with the 57th and 16th Signal Battalions.
On May 1, 1979 the 391st Signal Company was attached to the 1st Signal Group. On June 21, 1979, the 278th Signal Company (Cable and Wire) was activated/organized. On July 10, 1979, the 54th Signal Battalion was released from U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Hood, and attached to the Group. On August 15, 1979, D Company, 57th Signal Battalion was relocated from Fort Sill, Oklahoma to Fort Hood. On September 17, 1979, the 1st Signal Group was inactivated and the HHC, 3d Signal Brigade was activated. HHC, 3d Signal BDE commanded and controlled the 16th, 54th and 57th Signal Battalions. On April 16, 1989 the Brigade inactivated the 54th Signal Battalion and began a total reconfiguration for the fielding on new Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE) which was culminated with the Commander's Acceptance Field Training Exercise in November 1989. The Brigade currently includes HHC, 3d Signal Brigade, 16th Signal Battalion, 57th Signal Battalion, and the 1114th Signal Battalion (Fort Hood Directorate of Information Management).
On September 27, 1990, the 57th Signal Battalion and elements of the HHC, 3d Signal Brigade were deployed to Southwest Asia (SWA) where they were attached to the 35th Signal Brigade (Corps) (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps in support of the Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. In April 1991, the 57th Signal Battalion and all other 3d Signal Brigade assets were released from attachment and returned to Fort Hood, Texas.
