SAN ANGELO, Texas -- The 344th Military Intelligence Battalion, a tenant unit on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, celebrated 100 years of signals intelligence and crypto logical training at the Cactus Hotel in San Angelo, July 20.
Members celebrated the centennial with music, dancing, food and socialization. Master Sgt. Jason Piercy, 169th Engineer Detachment, senior enlisted leader, spoke about the growth of the detachment within the 344th MI BN on Goodfellow.
The 344th MI BN trains, develops and educates Soldiers to conduct and lead signals intelligence operations while taking care of Soldiers, civilians, contractors and their families.
“It doesn’t matter that the 169th are firefighters and the 344th is intelligence,” said Piercy. “We are all soldiers and instructors who are there to make sure that we give the best training to the soldiers who are coming through our doors.”
The 169th Engineer Battalion trains service members, civilians and allied members and develops leaders in combat, general and geospatial engineering skills in coordination with sister services across multiple locations including Goodfellow.
Lt. Col. Yukio Kuniyuki, 344th MI BN commander, reflected on the history of signals intelligence, and the fact that because of military member’s innovation, there has been constant growth and adjustment to fulfill the mission.
“It has been 100 years since military intelligence was established, 100 years of crypto logical training and fighting,” said Kuniyuki. “We have more history and heritage than anyone, tying us back to our roots.”
Originally established as a detachment at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, the 169th EN BN Firefighter Detachment trains soldiers in firefighting at the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy on Goodfellow.