The Military Intelligence Company (MICO) assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade provides critical intelligence support to the brigade's airborne operations, combining human, signals, and geospatial intelligence capabilities to deliver timely and actionable information. Originally, intelligence functions in the Army were carried out by larger Military Intelligence Battalions (MI BN), which supported divisions and corps-level commands. As the Army shifted toward more modular and rapidly deployable brigade combat teams (BCTs) in the early 2000s, intelligence support was reorganized into smaller, more agile MICO units assigned directly to BCTs. This transition allowed for faster, more integrated intelligence gathering and dissemination at the tactical level, better suited for the decentralized nature of modern combat.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade’s MICO was established in alignment with this reorganization, ensuring the brigade had dedicated intelligence assets capable of deploying anywhere in the world on short notice. Though the 173rd Airborne has a proud lineage dating back to its activation in 1915 (as the 173rd Infantry) and its airborne role since 1963, the creation of a dedicated MICO reflects the evolving role of intelligence in brigade-level operations. The MICO supports the brigade with multi-discipline intelligence—including signals intelligence (SIGINT), human intelligence (HUMINT), and unmanned aerial systems (UAS)—and plays a vital role in mission planning, target development, and force protection. Its integration ensures the 173rd remains a lethal, informed, and responsive airborne force.