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JBSA News
NEWS | Sept. 23, 2015

One-of-a-kind intelligence brigade activates at Fort Sam Houston

U.S. Army North Public Affairs

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.