309th Military Intelligence Battalion (United States)
The 309th Military Intelligence Battalion is a training unit of the United States Army. It aims to conduct initial entry, collective, and functional training to produce competent, disciplined, and physically fit military intelligence soldiers, instilled with the Army values, ready to join the Army at war.
Companies A, B, C, and D reorganized and redesignated 15 August 1966 as the 518th, 519th, 520th, and 521st Army Security Agency Companies – hereafter separate lineages.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company Inactivated 15 July 1986 at Bell, California.
Redesignated 1 February 1990 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion; concurrently withdrawn from the Army Reserve and allotted to the Regular Army.
Company A support and train counterintelligence students in the Counterintelligence Special Agent Course and CI Officer's Course.
Company B support and train human intelligence students in the Human Intelligence Collector course and the Linguist course.
Company C The company provides administrative and logistical support staff to the battalion, as well as support and train MI System Maintainers/Integrators.
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches in height overall, consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: Argent, on a pale emitting in saltire four lightning flashes Azure a key bit to dexter in base, the bow a bear's head, Or. Attached above the shield is a Gold triparted scroll inscribed "Sentinels of Security" in black letters.
Symbolism: Teal blue and silver refer to the colors formerly used for the U.S. Army Security Agency. The key symbolizes the unit's mission which is providing security. The golden bear's head on the key represents California where the unit activated. The lightning flashes, symbolizing electricity, relate to the importance of electronic communications as part of the unit's functions.
Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 309th Army Security Agency Battalion, Army Reserve on 12 February 1959. It was assigned for use by the 325th U.S. Army Security Agency Battalion on 5 August 1959. It was reassigned for the 309th U.S. Army Security Agency Battalion on 2 August 1965. The insignia was redesignated for the 309th Military Intelligence Battalion on 2 May 1990.
Coat of Arms
Shield: Argent, on a pale emitting in saltire four lightning flashes Azure a key ward to dexter in base, the bow a bear's head, Or.
Crest:
* 1990–present: None.
* 1959–1986: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve: On a wreath of the colours, argent and azure, the Lexington Minuteman proper. The statue of the Minuteman, Capt. John Parker, stands on the Common in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Motto: "Sentinels of Security".
Symbolism: Teal blue and white were the colors used for the U.S. Army Security Agency, the original designation of the organization. The key symbolizes the unit's mission—the guarding of security—and the golden bear's head on the key represents the State of California, where the unit was activated. The lightning flashes, symbolic of electricity, relate to the importance of electronic communications as part of the unit's functions.
Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 309th Army Security Agency Battalion, Army Reserve, on 12 February 1959. It was assigned for use by the 325th U.S. Army Security Agency Battalion, Army Reserve on 5 August 1959. It was reassigned for use by the 309th U.S. Army Security Agency Battalion on 2 August 1965. It was cancelled on 6 June 1975. The coat of arms was reinstated and redesignated for the 309th Military Intelligence Battalion on 10 October 1995.
