691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group

The United States Air Force's 691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is an intelligence unit located at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group
Radomes at RAF Menwith Hill
Active1988–1991; 2008–2014; 2016–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleIntelligence
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQFort George Meade
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Commanders
Current
commander
Col Charles Freel[2]
Insignia
691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group emblem (6910th Electronic Security Wing emblem approved for use by the unit 31 May 1989)[1]

Mission

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The mission of the 691 ISR Group is to execute operations providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to national decision makers, while providing planning, programming, logistics, and systems engineering expertise to execute cryptologic missions, in addition to promoting community relations and public affairs initiatives within a multinational and multi-service environment.

History

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691st Electronic Security Wing

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The group was first activated in June 1988 as the 691st Electronic Security Wing at Lindsey Air Station, in Wiesbaden, Germany. The wing replaced the 6910th Electronic Security Wing, absorbing the 6910th's personnel and equipment and assuming command of Electronic Security Command's units in Germany. The wing worked with the 66th Electronic Combat Wing to integrate ESC's assets and support forces into the exercises, activities and war plans of United States Air Forces Europe and NATO.[3] In 1991, two of the wing's squadrons were inactivated and in October the wing was inactivated[1] and its remaining squadrons assigned to the 26th Intelligence Wing.

Reactivation as a group at RAF Menwith Hill

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The wing was redesignated the 691st Intelligence Group and reactivated at RAF Menwith Hill in January 2008, assuming the equipment and personnel of Detachment 1, 70th Intelligence Wing. At Menwith Hill, the 691st Group provided cryptologic liaison support to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence's largest operational field site, as well as maintaining liaison activities for allied information operations. The group was inactivated in September 2014, and its 451st Intelligence Squadron reassigned directly to the 70th Wing.[1][4]

Reactivation at Fort Meade

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By 2015 the 707th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group had expanded to the point that it was larger than most wings, and a division was made to spin off three of its squadrons into a separate group. In May 2016, the 691st was again activated at Fort George G. Meade to assume responsibility for these units.[2]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 691st Electronic Security Wing on 21 June 1988
Activated on 15 July 1988
Inactivated on 1 October 1991
  • Redesignated 691st Intelligence Group on 10 January 2008
Activated on 31 January 2008
Redesignated 691st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group on 1 January 2009
Inactivated on 15 September 2014
Activated on 5 May 2016[1]

Assignments

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  • European Electronic Security Division, 15 July 1988 – 1 October 1991
  • 70th Intelligence Wing (later 70th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing), 31 January 2008 – 15 Sep 2014
  • 70th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, 5 May 2016 – present[1]

Components

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Hahn Air Base, Germany
Flak Kaserne, Germany
Sembach Air Base, Germany
Bad Aibling, Germany
Sembach Air Base, Germany

Stations

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  • Lindsey Air Station, Germany, 15 July 1988 – 1 October 1991)
  • RAF Menwith Hill, United Kingdom, 31 January 2008 – 15 September 2014
  • Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, 5 May 2016 – present[1]

Awards

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Award streamer Award Dates Notes
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 15 July 1988 – 30 June 1990 691st Electronic Security Wing[1]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 June 2008-31 May 2009 691st Intelligence Group (later 691st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group)[1]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January-31 December 2010 691st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group[1]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January-31 December 2011 691st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group[1]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bailey, Carl E. (4 August 2016). "Factsheet 691 Intellignece, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b Montes, SSG Alexandre (6 May 2016). "Return of the 691st ISR Group, aiding partners and Air Force Cryptologic Enterprise". 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  3. ^ "691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group" (PDF). USAFUnitHistory.com. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  4. ^ Daub, SRA Samuel (15 September 2014). "70th Wing Inactivates 691st ISR Group". 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 21 December 2016.

Bibliography

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  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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