[9] The unit was constituted on 1 July 1916 into the Regular Army as the 5th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps.

During World War I, the battalion participated in three major operations – Lorraine 1918, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne.

At the time this was the longest motor convoy of its size in United States Army history.

The battalion participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers prior to deploying for Europe, [16]: 123  which was the largest test of tactical communications since World War I.

[17] On 4 March 1943, the battalion headed to North Africa and staged and participated in the Invasion of Sicily, followed by a mission to provide communications support to forces arriving in Italy in October 1943.

For its service in World War II, the battalion was credited with five campaigns and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

The battalion remained in Korea until 16 March 1981 when it moved to Ludwigsburg, West Germany in support of VII Corps.

[19] During the unit's time at Fort Bragg, it deployed extensively in support of the War on Terror.

[22] During this time, the unit supported combat operations in the Middle East, such as in Afghanistan in 2011[23] and Iraq in 2015.