MI deactivates Afghan element

March 13, 2013

By Sgt. 1st Class Ralph Martin

The 205th Military Intelligence Battalion, 500th MI Brigade, held a deactivation ceremony for its strategic debriefing element at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, Jan. 24.

The element, consisting of Soldiers from various units within the brigade, successfully completed a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan where they provided intelligence collection operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"Capt. John Wiebeld, commander, SDE, and I were able to incorporate 28 analysts, interrogators and signals intelligence professionals from the 205th, 715th and 441st MI Bns. into a cohesive team," said Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Bullhead. "The SDE Soldiers placed the mission first in all they did. Throughout the deployment, these Soldiers continued to set the bar high in everything they did."

The SDE was constituted in September 2011 to support strategic level intelligence collections operations in Afghanistan. The element trained at the Intelligence and Security Command's Detention Facility at Camp Bullis, Texas, before deploying.

(Editor's note: Martin is the senior enlisted leader, Operations, for 205th MI Battalion.)