FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Two years of planning and effort came to fruition Friday as
the Army’s first Reserve-led theater military intelligence brigade unfurled its
colors and officially became operational during an activation ceremony at Fort
Sam Houston’s historic Quadrangle.
The 505th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater), with its
collection of more than 600 active duty, reserve, and National Guard Soldiers,
became only the seventh brigade of its type in the Army with the activation.
U.S. Army North, the U.S. Army Reserve Command, the Military
Intelligence Readiness Command and the Intelligence Support Command all
collaborated on the brigade’s creation.
“This is only the beginning,” said 505th MI Brigade
Commander Col. Dustin Schultz, addressing her Soldiers. “The ‘Victory Brigade’
is embarking on a mission that links the visions of some of our greatest
leaders. You are the future and the task is daunting."
The brigade will support Army North operations in the
Northern Command theater, including security cooperation efforts with Canada,
Mexico and the Bahamas, as well as force protection efforts at military
installations across the United States.
Schultz thanked the brigade’s Soldiers and their families
for their hard work in standing up the unit, and said they are proving that the
Army Reserve is “both a willing and capable force that can answer the call when
needed.”
Brig. Gen. Christie Nixon, commanding general of the
Military Intelligence Readiness Command, said the multi-component nature of the
505th brings skills far beyond each member’s military specialty.
“They’re not only Soldiers,” Nixon said, “but also bring to
bear their civilian expertise as attorneys, law enforcement officers, first
responders, educators, financiers... you name it, we have every job.”
During the ceremony, the brigade’s two subordinate
battalions were also activated. The 549th MI Battalion will operate alongside
the brigade headquarters at Camp Bullis, while the 383rd MI Battalion will be
headquartered in Belton, Mo.