The Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
Fort Huachua, Arizona
Fort Huachuca is home of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)/9th Army Signal Command. Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 70 miles southeast of Tucson and 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca was annexed in 1971 by the city of Sierra Vista and was declared a national landmark in 1976. Fort Huachuca is also the headquarters of Army Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) and the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) and the Electronic Proving Ground (EPG). Libby Army Airfield is located on post and shares the runway with Sierra Vista Municipal Airport; it is on the list of alternate landing locations for the space shuttle, though it has never been used as such.
Driving Directions: Fort Huachuca is located in the Southeastern corner of Arizona. Take exit 302 from Interstate 10 and drive south for approximately 25 miles to the main gate. This will be the second traffic light after passing through Huachuca City. Turn right at the traffic light to enter the post. Pull off to the right to get a temporary visitor's pass before proceeding to the security check point. To obtain a visitor's pass, you will need the following documents:
1. Picture ID -- driver's license.
2. Vehicle Registration.
3. Proof of Insurance.
4. Assignment or TDY orders (Military or Civilian workers only— not required for visitors.)
* Note that vehicle registration and proof of insurance are required only if you are driving your own privately owned vehicle or a rental vehicle onto Fort Huachuca. If you are using public transportation such as a taxi or shuttle bus, those documents are not required.
What does US Military Intelligence Do?
In the United States Armed Forces, Military Intelligence (sometimes referred to as MI) refers specifically to the intelligence components of the United States Army. Other branches of the service have their own military intelligence components, referred to by other names.
Some History...
Intelligence gathering has been a part of human cultures for millennia. Military. Even in the Bible, “the Lord spoke to Moses saying, ‘Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan…’ When the Continental Army was founded in 1775, intelligence personnel were an integral part of it. George Washington spent $17,000 on paid informants. When Nathan Hale said, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country,” he was an American spy captured on an espionage mission, having been a member of Lt. Col. Thomas Knowlton’s “rangers” (intelligence operatives).
In 1885, the Army established the Military Intelligence Division (MID). In 1903, the MID was placed under the new general staff in an elevated position.
In March 1942, the Military Intelligence Division was reorganized as the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). It originally consisted of just 26 people, 16 of them officers, but it soon increased in size to include 342 officers and 1,000 enlisted personnel and civilians. Its job was to collect, analyze, and disseminate intelligence. Initially it included: an Administrative Group, Intelligence Group, Counter-intelligence Group and an Operations Group.
In May 1942, Alfred McCormack established the Special Branch of MIS, which specialized in COMINT (Communications Intelligence).
In 1945, the Special Branch became the Army Security Agency. In 1946, the Counter-Intelligence Group became the US Army Counter Intelligence Corps.
To meet the Army's increased requirement for national and tactical intelligence, an Intelligence and Security Branch was established in the Army effective July 1, 1962, by General Orders No. 38, July 3, 1962. On July 1, 1967, the branch was redesignated as Military Intelligence.
Military Intelligence was so highly classified in nature that public was relatively oblivious to the existence or workings of the Military Intelligence Service both during World War II and long after. A few records about MIS finally saw light of day in 1972 following Freedom of Information Act requests. As the Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service website says, “Consequently, many MIS soldiers did not receive recognition and/or decorations for their remarkable efforts. They became ‘unsung heroes,’ unacknowledged for their important contributions in wartime as well as postwar activities.”
In July 1967, a number of intelligence and security organizations were combined to form the military intelligence branch. In 1977 they eventually recombined with the Army Intelligence Agency and Army Security Agency to become the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command.
The Military Intelligence Corps was activated on July 1, 1987 in accordance with the United States Army Regimental System.