Assigned to the 101st Airborne Division since 1982, the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion was originally constituted as the HQ and HQ Detachment (HHD), 311th Communication Reconnaissance Battalion in the Regular Army on 1 June 1954. Its HHD was reorganized and redesignated in May 1955 as HQ and HQ Company while retaining the remainder of its original designation, but the following year it was redesignated as the 311th Army Security Agency (ASA) Battalion on 1 July 1956.
Over the next quarter century, the 311th ASA Battalion spent more time inactivated than not, first from December 1957 to February 1966 and then from 30 June 1971 until 1 June 1982 when it was transformed through reactivation, reorganization, and redesignation to its current title--Headquarters, Headquarters and Operations Company (HHOC), 311th Military Intelligence Battalion—and assignment as an Airborne unit.
The Battalion as a whole does not hold any campaign credits and only a single military decoration, a Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) for service in the opening months of Operation Iraqi Freedom (March to September 2003). But both its HHOC and its “A” Company was awarded an MUC for their support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm between September 1990 and April 1991, and its “D” Company was tapped for a Valorous Unit Award for service between 02 March and 19 March 2002.
The 311th Military Intelligence Battalion beret flash, more accurately known as an organizational flash because it represents a single unit or organization, was approved on 27 January 1992. It is worn on the maroon beret that the Army approved in 1981 for personnel serving in Airborne-designated units, with the flash centered on the beret stiffener. Battalion Officers wear their nonsubdued rank insignia centered on the flash, while all of the Battalion’s Enlisted Soldiers wear the Battalion's Distinctive Unit Insignia (unit crest—see link below) in like manner. More wear guidance for the flash is found in Chapter 21-32, subsection (a) of the January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1.
Approval for the Airborne background trimming, or oval, came on 1 March 1992. It is worn beneath Parachutist and/or Air Assault badges, which are centered on the embroidered oval before the combination is placed on components of authorized uniforms. These include the AGSU and ASU Service Uniform Coat (including the Dress ASU variation), the Service Uniform shirt of the ASU (Class B ASU only), and green or blue Army Maternity Tunic (female Soldiers only).
General information and wear guidance for the oval is found Chapter 21-32, subsection (b) of DA PAM 670-1, while detailed information regarding the wear and positioning of Parachutist and Air Assault badges with ovals is in Chapter 22-16 (b).
Related Items
311th Military Intelligence Battalion Unit Crest (DUI)