In the early 2000's, together with the major re-organization efforts which swept the military, the 404th Scouting Center, a downsized version of the previous battalion, was renamed as a HumInt battalion (designation unknown).

It was revealed during 2006 that several Scouts which have been KIA in Afghanistan actually belonged to this unit, although it was originally stated that they belong to the light infantry battalions which were currently deployed there.

The HumInt battalion continues to be subordonated to the general directorate of military intelligence (DGIA). This unit is used for strategic purposes, compared to other scouting units which are used at a tactical level during conflicts.

A detachment has been deployed and rotated in Iraq ever since 2003.

History

By the year 2000, the famous 404th Scouting battalion, located in Buzau, had been reduced to roughly half its size and renamed a Scouting Center. The 404th Scouting Centered continued to be under direct command of the general directorate for military intelligence, or DGIA. By the mid 2000's however, as Romania was now a NATO member and as the need for strategic level intelligence on the battlefield had increased, a decision was taken to recreate the unit at a battalion level. Its designation unknown, the new unit is refered to as "the Humint battalion", and continues to be under direct control of DGIA.

The Humint battalion received its combat flag according to Presidential Decret no. 1012, from 25 july 2006. The combat flag was given to battalion commander, col. Lucian Foca, by President Traian Basescu during a ceremony on 31 july 2006, at the Buzau headquarters. Also present at the ceremony were General dr. Eugen Badalan, at that time General Chief of Staff.

Characteristics

The Humint battalion continues to be a separate structure from all the other Scouting formations in the country. While the role of the usual scouting company or battalion is to gather field intelligence prior to combat, the role of the Humint battalion could be described of gathering tactical and operational intelligence for long term use. That data can then be processed into a large database of information, which can be used for strategic purposes, both for military as well as for national security needs. The Humint personnel collects human intelligence from the battlefield area, from enemy forces, from civilians, etc. Several means are at the disposal of Humint operatives in order to successfully conduct their operations, among them being electronic monitoring, aerial photography, human observation, and so on. It has to be reminded here that the Romanian Humint detachment in Iraq has been using two Shadow 600 UAV's since its first deployment rotation for "specific operations" in their area of responsibility.

Admission

Admission standards and/or procedures for the Humint battalion are unknown and will probably continue to be kept confidential from public knowledge for some time to come.

Training

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Weapons

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Order of Battle

The Humint unit is the size of a battalion, designation unknown. It is entirely located at the barracks of the former 404 Scouting battalion and Center, respectively. The base is called UM 02222.

The Humint battalion continues to be, as its two predecessors, under the direct command of the Military General Intelligence Directorate, or DGIA.

Exercises

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Operations

Afghanistan
Several Scouts have been KIA in Afghanistan since 2002. Officially, Romania has never sent special operations forces in that country; however both the operatives as well as the commanders of several SOF-compatible units have long mentioned their experience in that theater of operations. Sgt-maj. Mihail Anton Samuila and sgt-maj Silviu Fogorasi are two scouts which have been KIA in Afghanistan in 11 november 2003. Although incorporated into the 151st Light Infantry battalion "Razboieni", nicknamed Black Wolves, the two seargant major's used to be scouts in other units, such as the now-disbanded 119th Scouting Battalion in Oradea, which used to be one of the best in the country. In july 2006, it was publicly admitted that they were from the Humint battalion.

Two years later, in april 2005, sgt-maj Narcis Sonei was also KIA during a mission in SE Afghanistan. He was incorporated into the 300th Light Infantry battalion "St. Andrew" for that deployment, however several media sources have stated that he was in fact incorporated into a scouting unit. The profile of Narcis Sonei also doesn't describe a regular infantryman; he had a parachutism license, a climbing license, and a communications license. Furthermore, he won the 1st place in a mountain climbing competition organized ...in Buzau!

Iraq
Romania lost several soldiers in Iraq in recent years, incorporated into the light infantry battalions deployed there. In 2006, with the official recognition of the Humint battalion, came the public acknowledgement by military authorities that some of those men were in fact from this unit.

In 2004, a written note from Major General Mieczyslaw Bieniek, commander in chief of the Multinational Division in south-central Iraq stated the following:
"The Romanian HumInt team is the most performant group of the Division, regarding intelligence, and supplies us with very important information. I am convinced that one day, due to their remarcable results, the Coalition will succeed in transforming Iraq into a free, democratic and sovereign state".

Bosnia-Herzegovina
Humint detachments and teams have constantly been on rotation in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the unit was first "created" (renamed), in 2001.

Kosovo
Detachment and platoon sized teams have also been on rotation in Kosovo.

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