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LTC Jonathan Coe

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Welcome Letter

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CSM Richard Williams

UNIT HISTORY

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"Vigilance Above!"

The 224th Aviation Battalion (Radio Research) was activated in Saigon, Vietnam, on June 1, 1966. Initially composed of four companies with 6 aircraft and 169 personnel, the battalion expanded rapidly to meet the demands of the conflict. By July 1967, it reached its peak strength of 1,066 personnel and 30 aircraft.

On May 19, 1971, the unit was redesignated as the 224th Army Security Agency Aviation Battalion. Throughout its service in Vietnam, the battalion participated in 15 campaigns, earning three Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. On March 3, 1973, following the end of its mission, the battalion’s colors were transferred to Oakland, California, and the unit was deactivated.

The unit was reactivated on June 1, 1981, as the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. It was organized with a Headquarters and Service Company, Alpha Company (Aerial Surveillance) flying the OV-1/RV-1 Mohawk, and Bravo Company (Electronic Warfare) operating the Guardrail system.

From February 1984 to January 1990, the battalion provided continuous aerial intelligence support to the U.S. Southern Command. In 1996, Alpha Company retired the last of its OV-1 and RV-1 Mohawk reconnaissance aircraft, marking the end of a legacy. The company was subsequently deactivated in 1997.

The dawn of the 21st century ushered in a new era of high-tempo global operations for the 224th, placing it at the forefront of the Global War on Terror. Bravo Company deployed utilizing its RC-12N Guardrail Common Sensor System from August 2001 to June 2002 to support a range of missions, including Operations PHOENIX VENTURE, DESERT SPRING, SOUTHERN WATCH, and ENDURING FREEDOM. As the demand for aerial intelligence grew, Alpha Company was reactivated on November 15, 2002, at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, where it began flying the RQ-5A Hunter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and South America soon became the standard for the battalion. Its companies provided crucial support to anti-terrorism, counter-drug, and direct combat operations. The battalion deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 2006-2007 and again from 2008-2009. In 2012, the battalion’s expertise was further leveraged when it deployed as Task Force CONDOR to Afghanistan, operating under the command of Task Force ODIN (Observe, Detect, Identify, Neutralize).

On October 15, 2015, the 224th was reassigned to the newly activated 116th Military Intelligence Brigade, launching a significant period of modernization. The legacy Guardrail aircraft were replaced by the advanced Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance Surveillance System (EMARSS), and the MQ-5B Hunter UAV was succeeded by the more capable MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). This restructuring realigned Alpha Company to manned fixed-wing operations and Bravo Company to unmanned systems.

In 2018, Bravo Company achieved a U.S. Army first by conducting Remote Split Operations with the MQ-1C Gray Eagle. This allowed them to fly missions in the CENTCOM area of operations from their home station at Fort Stewart, Georgia, a capability they sustained until the final retrograde from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021. Since then, Bravo Company has become a leader in Gray Eagle modernization, contributing to Project Convergence, Experimental Demonstration Gateway Events (EDGE), and supporting missions in the AFRICOM, NORTHCOM, and EUCOM theaters.

In 2024, Alpha Company began divesting its MC-12 fleet as the Army transitions to more advanced platforms such as the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES). The summer of 2025 marked the conclusion of nearly four decades of A-ISR support to SOUTHCOM as the company completed its retrograde from Colombia. Upon their return, Alpha Company divested its final MC-12s and closed a long and decorated chapter of manned A-ISR within the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion.

Following the divestment of its manned fleet, the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion strategically pivoted to focus entirely on unmanned aerial intelligence. This transition aligns with the U.S. Army's new force structure, under which the 224th is designated to become the first unmanned aerial system battalion in the Army.

This new chapter includes a change of station from Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, to Fort Hood, Texas, scheduled for completion by 2027. The move will consolidate the entire 116th Military Intelligence Brigade in a single location, enhancing its operational capabilities. The newly formed battalion will consist of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, two Gray Eagle companies, and one processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) company. These strategic initiatives position the 224th at the forefront of the future of Army aerial intelligence.

LEADERSHIP

BN COMMANDER OFFICE:
 

571-801-8061

STAFF DUTY NUMBER:
 

224TH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BATTALION

Primary:912-312-4434

Primary: 912-312-4434

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Hunter Army Airfield 31409

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UNIT HISTORY

"Vigilance Above!"

The Vietnam War Era (1966 – 1973)

The 224th Aviation Battalion (Radio Research) was activated in Saigon, Vietnam, on June 1, 1966. Initially composed of four companies with 6 aircraft and 169 personnel, the battalion expanded rapidly to meet the demands of the conflict. By July 1967, it reached its peak strength of 1,066 personnel and 30 aircraft.
On May 19, 1971, the unit was redesignated as the 224th Army Security Agency Aviation Battalion. Throughout its service in Vietnam, the battalion participated in 15 campaigns, earning three Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. On March 3, 1973, following the end of its mission, the battalion’s colors were transferred to Oakland, California, and the unit was deactivated.

Reactivation and Cold War Missions (1981 – 1997)

The unit was reactivated on June 1, 1981, as the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. It was organized with a Headquarters and Service Company, Alpha Company (Aerial Surveillance) flying the OV-1/RV-1 Mohawk, and Bravo Company (Electronic Warfare) operating the Guardrail system.
From February 1984 to January 1990, the battalion provided continuous aerial intelligence support to the U.S. Southern Command. In 1996, Alpha Company retired the last of its OV-1 and RV-1 Mohawk reconnaissance aircraft, marking the end of a legacy. The company was subsequently deactivated in 1997.

The Global War on Terror (2001 – 2015)

The dawn of the 21st century ushered in a new era of high-tempo global operations for the 224th, placing it at the forefront of the Global War on Terror. Bravo Company deployed utilizing its RC-12N Guardrail Common Sensor System from August 2001 to June 2002 to support a range of missions, including Operations PHOENIX VENTURE, DESERT SPRING, SOUTHERN WATCH, and ENDURING FREEDOM. As the demand for aerial intelligence grew, Alpha Company was reactivated on November 15, 2002, at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, where it began flying the RQ-5A Hunter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and South America soon became the standard for the battalion. Its companies provided crucial support to anti-terrorism, counter-drug, and direct combat operations. The battalion deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 2006-2007 and again from 2008-2009. In 2012, the battalion’s expertise was further leveraged when it deployed as Task Force CONDOR to Afghanistan, operating under the command of Task Force ODIN (Observe, Detect, Identify, Neutralize).

A New Era of Modernization (2015 – Present)

On October 15, 2015, the 224th was reassigned to the newly activated 116th Military Intelligence Brigade, launching a significant period of modernization. The legacy Guardrail aircraft were replaced by the advanced Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance Surveillance System (EMARSS), and the MQ-5B Hunter UAV was succeeded by the more capable MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). This restructuring realigned Alpha Company to manned fixed-wing operations and Bravo Company to unmanned systems.
In 2018, Bravo Company achieved a U.S. Army first by conducting Remote Split Operations with the MQ-1C Gray Eagle. This allowed them to fly missions in the CENTCOM area of operations from their home station at Fort Stewart, Georgia, a capability they sustained until the final retrograde from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021. Since then, Bravo Company has become a leader in Gray Eagle modernization, contributing to Project Convergence, Experimental Demonstration Gateway Events (EDGE), and supporting missions in the AFRICOM, NORTHCOM, and EUCOM theaters.
In 2024, Alpha Company began divesting its MC-12 fleet as the Army transitions to more advanced platforms such as the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES). The summer of 2025 marked the conclusion of nearly four decades of A-ISR support to SOUTHCOM as the company completed its retrograde from Colombia. Upon their return, Alpha Company divested its final MC-12s and closed a long and decorated chapter of manned A-ISR within the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion.

The Future: First of its Kind

Following the divestment of its manned fleet, the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion strategically pivoted to focus entirely on unmanned aerial intelligence. This transition aligns with the U.S. Army's new force structure, under which the 224th is designated to become the first unmanned aerial system battalion in the Army.
This new chapter includes a change of station from Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, to Fort Hood, Texas, scheduled for completion by 2027. The move will consolidate the entire 116th Military Intelligence Brigade in a single location, enhancing its operational capabilities. The newly formed battalion will consist of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, two Gray Eagle companies, and one processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) company. These strategic initiatives position the 224th at the forefront of the future of Army aerial intelligence.