The 513th Military Intelligence Brigade was originally activated in Germany as the 513th Military Intelligence Service Group in January 1953. Under that and other designations, the unit would collect intelligence and conduct counterespionage missions in support of U.S. Army Europe until its inactivation in June 1969. It was activated again as the 513th Military Intelligence Group in October 1982 and would become a brigade in October 1986 when it was given its current designation as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade.
During the First Gulf War, the Brigade deployed the 190-man vanguard force Task Force 174. It contained a large component of the unit’s echelon-above-corps Intelligence center, a Signal Intelligence element (from the 201st Military Intelligence Battalion), and a small group of counterintelligence experts from the 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion. This group was honored with an Army Superior Unit Award. And in 2009, the Brigade’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company was given a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its deployment to Iraq in support of the War on Terrorism from January 2004 to January 2005.
As of Winter 2024, the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade remains an active unit in the United States Army. It is headquartered at Fort Eisenhower (formerly known as Fort Gordon) along with two of its subordinate units, the 202nd and 297th Military Intelligence Battalions.
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The 513th Military Intelligence Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia, also called a DUI or unit crest, features a German-style Teutonic helmet with a crown atop it; this is a reference to Camp King, located in Oberursel, German and home to the unit when it was activated in early 1953. The helmet is oriented in a front-facing position (like on the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia) to denote vigilance and watchfulness (reinforcing the motto PER VIGILANTIAM SCIENTIA, Latin for "Knowledge Through Vigilance." Laurel branches on both sides are symbols of achievement an honor. A series of black and white tiles or squares denotes the two types of intelligence collection (HUMINT and SIGINT) provided by the Brgiade; the repetition of the pattern denotes the dissemination of the intelligence and processed and analyzed by the Brigade.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1, Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e),
"Beret" and
"Garrison Cap" respectively.
Related Items513th Military Intelligence Brigade Patch (SSI)
513th Military Intelligence Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)