| 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion | |
|---|---|
302nd Military Intelligence Coat of Arms |
|
| Active | April 1944 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | U.S. Army |
| Nickname | Sly Fox |
| Motto | Loyalty, Vigilance, Pride |
| Engagements | World War II Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Decorations | Superior Unit Award Meritorious Unit Commendation(2) |
| Battle honours | Normandy Campaign |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
The 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion (302nd MI BN), whose unit crest portrays the "sly fox", evolved from the 3252d Signal Service Company which was activated in England on 1 April 1944. The 3252nd saw service in France and Germany before returning to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it was deactivated in 1945. The unit was awarded battle credits for participation in the Invasion of Normandy. The 3252nd was re-designated the 533rd Signal Service Company in 1948 and served until 1949 in Salzburg, Austria.
In 1950, the 533rd Signal Service Company was re-designated the 302nd Communications Reconnaissance Battalion. It was assigned to the Army Security Agency and activated at Camp Pickett, Virginia. The unit departed Camp Pickett in 1951 to Fort Hood, Texas in 1952. In August 1952, the unit departed for Germany. In 1957, the 302nd was deactivated in Germany.
In 1975, the 302nd was reactivated in Germany and assigned to the 502nd Army Security Agency (ASA) in support of V Corps. In 1977, the battalion was transferred from the Army Security Agency to United States Army Europe (USAREUR).
In 1984, the 302nd was reorganized as the 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion, and subordinated to the 205th Military Intelligence Group of V Corps under the Combat Electronics Warfare Intelligence (CEWI) Concept. In 1985, the 302nd was subordinated from the 205th Military Intelligence Group to the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade.
In August 1990, a detachment deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.[1] Through the nineties, the 302nd deployed to the Balkans and was awarded the Superior Unit Award.[2]
As part of V Corps, the 302nd deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and a subsequent rotation. The unit was awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations. On 20 September 2003, Specialist Lunsford Brown, from Alpha Company, was killed in action at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.[3]
In 2007, the 302nd began its transformation into the 24th Military Intelligence Battalion. With the deactivation of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade, in October 2007, the 302nd was assigned to USAREUR and attached to the 66th Military Intelligence Group.[4]
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"White and teal blue, are symbolic of the battalion's former status as an unassigned-to-branch unit. The battalion's war service as a signal unit is shown by the colors of the fox's mask and background, while the intelligence functions of the unit are represented by the black censor's stamp. The key is for the unit's first campaign (Normandy) in World War II and also alludes to signal and intelligence functions. The stylized lightning flashes symbolize radio reconnaissance."[5]