Military Intelligence Corps ( United States Army ) The Military Intelligence Corps ( sometimes referred to as MI ) is the intelligence branch of the United States Army . The primary mission of military intelligence in the United States Army is to provide timely , relevant , accurate , and synchronized intelligence and electronic warfare support to tactical , operational and strategic - level commanders . The Army ’ s intelligence components produce intelligence both for Army use and for sharing across the national intelligence community . Structure . Approximately 28 , 000 military personnel and 3 , 800 civilian personnel are assigned to intelligence duties , comprising the Military Intelligence Corps . Some of the key components include : History . Intelligence personnel were a part of the Continental Army from its founding in 1775 . In January 1863 , Major General Joseph Hooker established the Bureau of Military Information for the Union Army during the Civil War , headed by George H . Sharpe . Allan Pinkerton and Lafayette C . Baker handled similar operations for their respective regional commanders . All of those operations were shut down at the end of the Civil War in 1865 . In 1885 , the Army established the Military Intelligence Division ( MID ) . In 1903 , the MID was placed under the new general staff in an elevated position . In March 1942 , the Military Intelligence Division was reorganized as the Military Intelligence Service ( MIS ) . Originally consisting of just 26 people , 16 of them officers , it was quickly expanded to include 342 officers and 1 , 000 enlisted personnel and civilians . It was tasked with collecting , analyzing , and disseminating intelligence . Initially it included : In May 1942 , Alfred McCormack established the Special Branch of MIS , which specialized in COMINT . In 1945 , the Special Branch became the Army Security Agency . In 1946 , the Counter - Intelligence Group became the US Army Counter Intelligence Corps . It was in July 1967 , that a number of intelligence and security organizations were combined to form the military intelligence branch . Military Intelligence Corps . The Military Intelligence Corps is one of the basic branches of the United States Army . In 1971 , the United States Army Intelligence Center was established at Fort Huachuca , Arizona as the home of the military intelligence branch . On 1 July 1987 the Military Intelligence Corps was activated as a regiment under the U . S . Army Regimental System . All United States Army Military Intelligence personnel are members of the Military Intelligence Corps . Units . Battlefield Surveillance Brigades . Battlefield Surveillance Brigade s ( BfSB ) are meant to improve the situational awareness about the battlefield for commanders at division level or higher , so they can adapt their units combat power for the current operations . For this the Battlefield Surveillance Brigades can deploy unmanned aerial vehicle s , signals gathering equipment , human intelligence collectors and long range surveillance patrols . There are currently three active Battlefield Surveillance Brigade , each supporting one of the three Corps of the US Army : the 201st BfSB at Fort Lewis , the 504th BfSB at Fort Hood and the 525th BfSB at Fort Bragg . A fourth brigade is scheduled to activate at Fort Polk in 2013 but is not yet named . The Army National Guard has additional seven BfSB ' s . Each BfSB consists of a headquarters and headquarters company , two military intelligence battalions , a reconnaissance squadron with a long range surveillance troop , a signals company and a support company . Creed of the Military Intelligence Corps . I am a Soldier first , but an intelligence professional second to none . < br > With pride in my heritage , but focused on the future , < br > Performing the first task of an Army : < br > To find , know , and never lose the enemy . < br > With a sense of urgency and of tenacity , professional and physical fitness , < br > and above all , INTEGRITY , for in truth lies victory . < br > Always at silent war , while ready for a shooting war , < br > The silent warrior of the ARMY team . Museum . The United States Army Intelligence Museum is located at Fort Huachuca , Arizona . It features the history of American military intelligence from the Revolutionary War to present .