86th Expeditionary Signal Battalion
| 86th Signal Battalion | |
|---|---|
 86th Signal Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
| Active | 23 March 1966– 30 April 1971 1 July 1977 - present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | 11th Signal Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Bliss |
| Nickname(s) | "Tigers" |
| Motto(s) | "First Voice Heard!" "Loud and Clear!" |
| Engagements | Vietnam War Gulf War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
The 86th Signal Battalion ("Tigers") of the United States Army is an element of 11th Signal Brigade. It is based at Fort Bliss, Texas. The unit mascot is the Tiger.
Mission
The 86th Expeditionary Signal Battalion enables mission command for supported units, without Signal assets. The Battalion engineers, installs, operates, maintains, and defends network communications in support of Combatant Commanders and Joint Force Land Component Commanders.[1] The Battalion currently provides support to the Brigade Modernization Command and 1st Armored Division during the Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) held bi-annually in the Spring and Fall at Fort Bliss, TX and White Sands Missile Range, NM.
History
The 86th Signal Battalion was first constituted on 23 March 1966 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 86th Signal Battalion. The Battalion was officially activated on 1 June 1966 at Fort Bragg, NC. The battalion deployed to Vietnam from 1967 through 1971. On 30 April 1971 the Battalion was officially deactivated in Vietnam.
The Battalion was re-activated on 1 July 1977 at Fort Huachuca, AZ as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 86th Signal Battalion.[2]
In April 2011 the Battalion returned from a deployment from Afghanistan. Shortly after the deployment the Battalion completed a BRAC move to Fort Bliss, TX.[3]
Subordinate units
The 86th Signal Battalion is an Expeditionary Signal Battalion or "ESB". It comprises the following units:
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
- A Company (Expeditionary Signal Company)
- B Company (Expeditionary Signal Company)
- C Company (Area Signal Company)[1]
Capabilities
In the Spring of 2014 the Battalion was fielded with Warfighter Information Network - Tactical Increment 1b (WIN-T Inc 1b). The Battalion was the first ESB to be fielded with WIN-T Inc 1b. WIN-T Inc 1b, introduced the Network Centric Waveform into the tactical network which optimizes bandwidth and removed the military's reliance on costly civilian satellite services. It also introduced the colorless network. The colorless network enables the encryption of unclassified data when transmitted it over satellite and line of sight.[4]
Honors
Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 1966-1987 | for service in Vietnam[2] |
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 1990–1991 | for service in Desert Storm |
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 2002–2004 | for service in Afghanistan[5] |
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 2006–2007 | for service in Iraq[6] |
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 2010–2011 | for service in Afghanistan[7] |
Campaign streamers
| Conflict | Campaign | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam War | Counteroffensive II | 1966–1967 |
| Vietnam War | Counteroffensive III | 1967–1968 |
| Vietnam War | Tet Counteroffensive | 1968 |
| Vietnam War | Counteroffensive IV | 1968 |
| Vietnam War | Counteroffensive V | 1968 |
| Vietnam War | Counteroffensive VI | 1968–1969 |
| Vietnam War | Tet 69 Counteroffensive | 1969 |
| Vietnam War | Summer - Fall 1969 | 1969 |
| Vietnam War | Winter - Spring 1970 | 1970 |
| Vietnam War | Sanctuary Counteroffensive | 1970 |
| Vietnam War | Counteroffensive VII | 1971[2] |
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Consolidation I | 2002–2004 |
| Operation Iraqi Freedom | National Resolution | 2006–2007 |
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Consolidation III | 2010–2011 |
References
- ^ a b "FM 6-02 : SIGNAL SUPPORT TO OPERATIONS" (PDF). Armypubs.army.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Department of the Army - Lineage and Honors". History.army.mil. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ Amy McLaughlin (13 April 2011). "Uncasing ceremony marks signal unit's homecoming". Army.mil. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ Amy Walker, PEO C3T (5 March 2014). "New network technologies to support expeditionary signal battalions". Army.mil. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "UNIT AWARDS" (PDF). Armypubs.army.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ "UNIT AWARDS" (PDF). Armypubs.army.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ "PERMANENT ORDERS 056~06" (PDF). History.army.mil. Retrieved 18 November 2014.