AFRICOM Intelligence Brigade stands up

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Lance Pounds | Maj. Gen. George Franz III, commanding general of Intelligence and Security Command, observes as Col. Timothy Higgins, 207th Military Intelligence Brigade commander, and his senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Segraves, unfurl the campaign streamers on a new unit guidon during the activation ceremony of 207th MI Bde. March 16, 2016 here at Hoekstra Field at Caserma Ederle. The 207th MI Bde. will serve as the Theater Intelligence Brigade for U.S. Africa Command and is under operational control of U.S. Army Africa. The brigade includes the 207th MI Bde. Headquarters and 307th MI Battalion located here, as well as the 522nd MI Battalion located at Wiesbaden, Germany and the 337th MI Battalion located at Fort Sheridan, Ill. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Staff Sgt. Lance Pounds)  

VICENZA, ITALY

03.16.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Lance Pounds 

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

VICENZA, Italy – The 207th Military Intelligence Brigade activated in a ceremony March 16, 2016, here at Hoekstra Field on Caserma Ederle.

“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.

• Date Taken: 03.16.2016
• Date Posted: 03.16.2016 13:09
• Story ID: 192589
• Location: VICENZA, IT