MI deactivates Afghan element

By Sgt. 1st Class Ralph MartinMarch 13, 2013

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Soldiers of the 205th MI Battalion, 500th MI Brigade's strategic debriefing element, congratulate one another after completing their deactivation ceremony at Richardson Theatre, Jan. 24. The element recently completed a yearlong deployment to Afghani... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The 205th Military Intelligence Battalion, 500th MI Brigade, held a deactivation ceremony for its strategic debriefing element at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, Jan. 24.

The element, consisting of Soldiers from various units within the brigade, successfully completed a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan where they provided intelligence collection operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"Capt. John Wiebeld, commander, SDE, and I were able to incorporate 28 analysts, interrogators and signals intelligence professionals from the 205th, 715th and 441st MI Bns. into a cohesive team," said Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Bullhead. "The SDE Soldiers placed the mission first in all they did. Throughout the deployment, these Soldiers continued to set the bar high in everything they did."

The SDE was constituted in September 2011 to support strategic level intelligence collections operations in Afghanistan. The element trained at the Intelligence and Security Command's Detention Facility at Camp Bullis, Texas, before deploying.

(Editor's note: Martin is the senior enlisted leader, Operations, for 205th MI Battalion.)