Constituted on October 13, 1950 in the Regular Army as HHC, 501st Communication Reconnaissance Group, the unit was activated on October 20, 1950 at Camp Pickett, Virginia, and assigned to the Army Security Agency (ASA). On May 28, 1951, the 501st transferred from Camp Pickett to Camp Stoneman, California, for staging to Busan, Korea. The unit spent four days in the Busan assembly area, awaiting s
ea transportation to Inchon. The 501st arrived at Inchon on July 1, 1951. The Group headquarters moved into the war-damaged main building of the Kyonggi Middle School, Seoul, Korea. By July 15, the 501st had assumed administrative and operational control of all ASA units in Korea. By the end of hostilities in July 1953, the Group had three battalions and five companies assigned. Besides the numerous citations awarded to its subordinate units, the Group received the Meritorious Unit Commendation (July 1, 1951 to July 27, 1953), the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit citation (July 15, 1951 to April 30, 1953), and credited for participation in six campaigns. On January 28, 1956, the 501st Communications Reconnaissance Group was redesignated as HHC, 501st ASA Group. On July 1, 1965, the 501st ASA Group was inactivated and its personnel and mission transferred to the 508th USASA Group, a TDA organization, as part of a worldwide reorganization occurring within ASA to provide greater flexibility in support of tactical units. On January 1, 1978, HHC, 501st ASA Group was redesignated HHC, 501st Military Intelligence Group, and activated at Yongsan, Korea. The Group took place of the temporary 501st MI Group (Provisional), organized at Camp Coiner on April 1, 1977, as part of the major reorganization within Army Intelligence, which merged individuals disciplines into one organization. On October 16, 1986, the 501st was elevated to Brigade status under the Army of Excellence guidelines. The brigade has transitioned south from USAG Yongsan to USAG Humphreys, with detachments throughout South Korea.
