There are few more professional intelligence agencies in the world that those of the United States Navy and Army.  This is for good reason; as the army Intelligence Creed reads, “I am a Soldier first, but an intelligence professional second to none.”  This sentiment is echoed in the Navy as well.  With devotion such as this, the Army and Navy Intelligences keep our armed services informed and therefore protect our nation from any and all threats that may arise. 

Army Intelligence has its roots in the Revolutionary War.  Unites were present in the Continental Army from its inception in 1775.  General George Washington was particular inclined to use human intelligence sources to gather information on British movements and troop strengths.  However, the first official military intelligence agency to be established was the Bureau of Military Information, established by Major General Joseph Hooker in 1863 for the Union Army.   It was headed by George H. Sharpe. Allan Pinkerton and Lafayette C. Baker established similar commands for their divisions as well.  These formal intelligence agencies were closed down after the Civil War, but in 1885 the Army established the Military Intelligence Division.  Now this is known as the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command. 

The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), an Army major command is the one of the premier military intelligence agencies in the world.  Its definition and mission is, “To [conduct] intelligence, security and information operations for military commanders and national decision makers.”  It is headquartered at Fort Belvoir, VA it is responsible for 10 intelligence brigades: 66th, 300th, 470th, 500th, 501st and 704th Military Intelligence Brigades; the 116th and 902d Military Intelligence Groups; the 1st Information Center; the Army Operations Activity; the Central Clearance Facility; the Army Joint Surveillance target Attack Radar System Company; and the National Ground Intelligence Center. 

Naval Intelligence is handled by the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI).  Its mission is to, “[Produce] meaningful maritime intelligence and [move] that intelligence rapidly to key strategic, operational, and tactical decision-makers.”  It was established in 1882 to seek out and report on other nation’s navies.  It got its first test during the Spanish American War in 1898.  ONI gradually grew as it was given the tasks of, “protection of Navy Personnel, censorship and the ferreting out of spies and saboteurs.”  These tasks were made permanent in 1929.

During World War II it provided valuable intelligence about the Japanese and German fleets.  ONI was expanded and a Combat Intelligence Division was established by Admiral Ernest J. King.  This division supported Admiral Nimitz in his “island hopping” campaign and provided critical intelligence on German U-boats. A Special Operations Division was also established and it played a key role in defeating the Japanese Fleet by providing the location of ships and troops.  After the war ONI continued on in strength with full support of Admiral Nimitz during a time period when the navy was cutting forces. The Operational Intelligence Section took over the role of the Combat Intelligence Division and the Special Operations Division was incorporated with then Operational Division.   Once the Cold War picked up speed it provided consistent valuable information about the Soviet fleet of ships and submarines. The Navy Field Operational Intelligence Office (NFOIO) was established in 1957 to increase our signals intelligence collection.  Today the ONI is headquartered at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, MD with the Marines and the Coast Guard and is still active in supporting our fleet and sailors around the world.

The mission of our Army and Navy is to fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained see and land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders.  This mission would be impossible without the full support and cooperation of the Intelligence Community and the ONI and INSCOM.  They are some of the best the United States has and they continuously protect our people, forces, and country with brave devotion.