223rd Military Intelligence Battalion (United States)

The 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion is a military intelligence battalion subordinate to the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade and part of the California Army National Guard.

223rd Military Intelligence Battalion
223rd Military Intelligence Battalion coat of arms
Active1992–present
CountryUnited States
BranchCalifornia Army National Guard
TypeIntelligence
SizeBattalion
Garrison/HQSan Francisco, California
Motto(s)Insight through inquiry
EngagementsOperation Iraqi Freedom
DecorationsCalifornia Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation

Detachment, 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion

  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC)

Detachment, Company A, 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion

  • Army Superior Unit Award (ASUA)

Detachment, Company B, 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion

Commanders
CommanderLTC Mark A. Correa
Command Sergeant MajorCSM Samuel P. Yudin
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

Mission

The battalion is tasked with providing linguists for human intelligence, counter-intelligence, and signals intelligence support, in addition to operating a center for language training and development. Like all National Guard units, the battalion can be called up for state duty by the state governor, ranging from support for anti-drug operations to providing linguists for interpretation and translation.[1]

History

The 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion was constituted on 1 June 1991 in the California Army National Guard, and organized and Federally recognized with its headquarters at Fort Funston in San Francisco on 16 January 1992. On 1 September 1997, its Company E was allotted to the Massachusetts Army National Guard; the latter was reorganized and redesignated as Company D on 1 October 2001. The battalion was ordered to active duty on 10 February 2003 for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, attached to the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade.[2] The battalion returned to the United States and was released from active duty on 25 May 2004, reverting to state control.[3]

Its mobilization for Operation United Assistance was announced in November 2014.[4]

COVID-19 Humanitarian Mission

On 20 March 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom alerted the California National Guard to be prepared to conduct a COVID-19 mission.[5] The 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion was activated on emergency state active duty for the COVID-19 Humanitarian Mission and arrived at the Sacramento Food Bank to assist in packing food boxes for distribution, the following day.[6] On Monday, 23 March 2020, the battalion was shifted to support food packing and distribution operations at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley in San Jose.[7][8] The following day, the battalion began supporting two additional food bank locations; the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County in Fairfield, CA and the Napa Food Bank in Napa, CA.[9][10][11][8][12]

Panther Strike

As part of the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade, the battalion rotates the duty of hosting the brigade-level Exercise Panther Strike which it did last in 2014 and 2019.[13] Panther Strike is a multi-national, multi-echelon military intelligence (MI) training exercise. The two-week exercise develops and enhances technical competence in counterintelligence (CI), human intelligence (HUMINT), geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), open source intelligence (OSINT), and signals intelligence (SIGINT) collective and individual tasks. Soldiers train in a realistic and challenging "train as they fight" non-garrison environment alongside NATO multi-national partners.[14]

Army Combat Fitness Test

In October, 2018, the 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion was the first battalion in the National Guard to field test the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).[15][16]

Subordinate units

The battalion includes the following units:[1]

Company D

Company D, 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 300th Military Intelligence Brigade provides interpreters, translators, counter-intelligence, and interrogation support. They provide this support for the US Army, as well as the rest of the Intelligence Community.

The D Company is also tasked to operate a center for language training and development in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. It provides soldiers and equipment to support state missions as directed by the governor. These specific mission may vary widely, from counter-drug support to contingency missions; from interpretation and translation services to civil disorder and emergency operations.

D Company, thousands of miles from the rest of the battalion on the West Coast, is administered for local purposes by the 151st Regional Support Group, Massachusetts ANG.[17] Recent deployment history include Kosovo Force-16 (Kosovo), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), the Iraq War 2003-11, and Operation New Dawn (Iraq).

References
  1. "223rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist)". California Army National Guard. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  2. McEntee, Mari (3 February 2004). "Intelligence battalion leaves legacy of trust". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  3. "223d Military Intelligence Battalion Lineage and Honors". United States Army Center of Military History. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  4. "Guard, Reserve Soldiers to mobilize for Ebola relief". www.army.mil. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  5. "Gov. Gavin Newsom deploys California National Guard to assist food banks during coronavirus outbreak". 21 March 2020.
  6. "California National Guard deploys to help Sacramento Food Bank". 22 March 2020.
  7. "National Guard Lends Helping Hand at San Jose Food Bank". 24 March 2020.
  8. "California National Guard members are TODAY's Heroes of the Day".
  9. "National Guard Unit Helps Food Bank in Fairfield".
  10. "National Guard Troops Provide Much-Needed Help at Bay Area Food Bank". 25 March 2020.
  11. "National Guard Partners with Solano County Food Bank". 25 March 2020.
  12. "Coronavirus: Governor deploys state National Guard to help food banks statewide during the coronavirus crisis". 21 March 2020.
  13. Church, David M. (July–September 2015). "Living the ARNG Culture of "No Cold Starts"" (PDF). Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin. 41 (3): 39–44.
  14. "Stand-To!".
  15. "About Us".
  16. "Working the Hips: Workouts to Build Strength and Muscle Stamina". 16 March 2020.
  17. "151st Regional Support Group".
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