Does Anyone Remember The Army Security Agency?

2015-04-04T10:14:10-04:00

When I went through the induction process in April 1974, there was a representative from the ASA at the induction center who attempted to pull me away from the contract I had initiated with my recruiter and have me join-up with the ASA in some capacity. At that point in my life I had no interest in the technical aspects of communications so my scores were barely within the acceptable range from the aptitude tests I had taken. He was really leaning on me to go into a commo MOS until I asked him if my aptitude score for the career field I had actually enlisted for was good enough, he looked and said, "yes it is." I said, "Good, you had me worried that I wouldn't be able to do what I was attempting to enlist for and I was about to just go home and forget about it." HAHAHA. I guess the ASA was short-handed in their commo MOS's at that time and so they were trying to persuade people to sign up for them. In 1977, the ASA was merged with the US Army's Military Intelligence component to create the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). And ironically, my final duty station in Germany was at an INSCOM installation, Gablingen Kaserne on the North side of Augsburg. But I was not there to work for INSCOM...I was assigned there as the Detachment Commander of my company's flight detachment which was there to support VII Corps Artillery. We supported the Brigade Commander with an OH-58, and I was the designated pilot for the Commander, VII Corps Artillery with a UH-1 Huey. I flew for two of them during my tenure...MG Louis J. Del Rosso, and BG Creighton W. Abrams Jr, whose father was the Army Chief of Staff when I joined in 1974. I loved flying for both of them, but actually deployed to Dessert Storm with BG Abrams. What a time we had in that job...wheww! Loved it very much, and enjoyed the heck out of Augsburg and living in Southern Bavaria. I'd do it all again without requiring even the gentlest of nudges if I could.

Response by COL Jill Morgenthaler made Nov 5 at 2015 8:42 AM

2015-11-05T08:42:41-05:00

I served with ASA in South Korea as it became INSCOM - 1977 and then commanded similiar units under the INSCOM/66 Military Intelligence Group in Detachment B, Pirmasens, West Germany and Detachment O, West Berlin.

Response by CSM Michael Salfai made May 23 at 2016 2:39 PM

2016-05-23T14:39:13-04:00

Yes, my first enlistment (4 years) was with the ASA. I went to the language school (DLIWC) at Monterey and then to Fort Devens to be trained as a 98.2/98C. I served at the 8th RRU, Phu Bai, Viet Nam and the 12th USASAFS at Chitose.

Response by SP5 James Norrbom made Jul 30 at 2016 5:49 PM

2016-07-30T17:49:01-04:00

I was at Torii Station from April of 1957 to June of 1959 and was and 058.2 Morse Code Interceptor. I was there with my brother Fred.

Response by SPC Robert Berg made Dec 5 at 2016 4:19 PM

2016-12-05T16:19:35-05:00

Yes, i was in the ASA from Dec 1973 to Oct 1975 in Udorn Thailand and then Pyongtaek South Korea.

Response by SGT Norwood Hux made Mar 27 at 2017 2:46 AM

2017-03-27T02:46:44-04:00

was in Augsburg same time you were work at Sheridan Kaserne 1st opns bn

Response by COL Jill Morgenthaler made Mar 30 at 2017 1:23 PM

2017-03-30T13:23:22-04:00

I was in it at Camp Humphrey and Uijonbu in 1977

Response by SSG Keith Jahnke made Sep 5 at 2017 8:12 AM

2017-09-05T08:12:58-04:00

FS Hakata Japan May 1970 - Jan 1972 as 05H
7thRRFS Udorn Thailand Nov 1973 - May 1975 as 98B

Response by SSG Gerald King made Sep 26 at 2017 9:35 PM

2017-09-26T21:35:08-04:00

Served with the Agency from Jun of 1965 to Nov of 1975. Vietnam, Germany, Ft Hood, Ft Meade, Ft Riley - School at Ft Devens. Plus other classified assignments.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2017 11:28 PM

2017-09-26T23:28:43-04:00

I remember them well - hilltops, ice, and snow - morse code and rocket telemetry intercepts. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Sep 26 at 2017 11:45 PM

2017-09-26T23:45:18-04:00

a bit before my time

Response by SPC Daniel Rankin made Sep 27 at 2017 3:11 PM

2017-09-27T15:11:55-04:00

I remember and in my unit is was also called the s-2 section.

Response by SGT Norwood Hux made Mar 21 at 2018 12:30 AM

2018-03-21T00:30:39-04:00

Was in The ASA

Response by SP5 Anthony Guion made Jun 9 at 2018 10:08 PM

2018-06-09T22:08:30-04:00

In ASA from 69 to 72, Ft Devens and Chu Lai, RVN

Response by SP5 Lowell Morse made Aug 27 at 2018 11:21 PM

2018-08-27T23:21:19-04:00

Russian linguist. Heilbronn 1958-1960

Response by SSG Byron Howard Sr made Oct 28 at 2018 1:44 PM

2018-10-28T13:44:37-04:00

My recurter was ASA. Great guy Leo Ramp.

Response by SSG Gerald King made Aug 16 at 2019 4:46 PM

2019-08-16T16:46:03-04:00

In 1965, during my senior year in High School, I was planning on joining the Navy. I took the Armed Forces exam and thought nothing more of it. A couple months later, I was called into the principals office (not an unusual occurrence) and was told there was a man waiting in his office who wanted to talk to me. In his office was a NCO who stated he represented the Army Security Agency and wanted to talk to me about joining. He stated that I had scored exceptionally high on all the tests and I was just what the Agency needed. I inquired as to what my job would be and all he would say is that it would be highly classified and there would be a thorough background investigation of me and everyone I knew which would be conducted by the FBI. This sounded like a lot more fun than being on a ship in the middle of the ocean. He stated I had to join for 4 years because my first year would be schooling. I was given a sheet with three MOS's listed and told I would probably be selected for one those. I joined and spent 10 1/2 years with the Agency and really enjoyed it. It was much different than the regular Army. We were not controlled by DA, but were under the direct control of DIRNSA (Director National Security Agency) which allowed us to get away with a lot of stuff we never could have in the regular Army. I ended up as a Comsec/Sigsec Advisor. I managed to avoid the 05H MOS which was copying morse code and am very glad that I didn't have to listen to that stuff of 4 or more years.