The 207th Military Intelligence Brigade activated in a ceremony March 16, 2016 here at Hoekstra Field on Caserma Ederle.
The 207th is the Theater Intelligence Brigade for United States Africa Command and is under the operational control of U.S. Army Africa.
“The U.S. Army’s decision to re-align military intelligence units supporting U.S. European Command and AFRICOM will better support our operations on the continent,” said Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams, USARAF commanding general.
The new brigade includes the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade Headquarters and 307th Military Intelligence Battalion located here, as well as the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion located at Wiesbaden, Germany. The third battalion in the brigade, the 337th Military Intelligence Battalion, is a U.S. Army Reserve formation located at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
“We look forward to working closely with our brothers and sister in uniform north of the Alps and across the Atlantic, while utilizing the Total Army: active, guard and reserve,” said Williams.
The unit was originally constituted in 1944 as the 113th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment. It was consolidated in 1983 with the 207th Military Intelligence Detachment and reorganized as the 207th brigade in 1985. The brigade, stationed in Ludwigsburg, Germany through the 1980s under VII Corps, inactivated in 1992.
“The activation of this brigade epitomized the very concept of teamwork,” said Col. Timothy Higgins, commander of the 207th.
Higgins credited the efforts of those who helped bring the brigade to this point.
“The brigade stands ready to support and accomplish its shared goals of increased security and prosperity on the continent of Africa,” said Higgins.
The 207th is scheduled to be fully operational by end of fiscal year 2016.
“The nation needs a new breed of Soldiers and Civilians; as of today the 207th stand ready to answer that call,” said Maj. Gen. George Franz III, commanding general of U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command.
