The concept for a civil affairs brigade had been under consideration for years, but was finally approved as a result of the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review.

The Battalion was redesignated on 10 May 1967 as the 96th Civil Affairs Group and allotted to the Regular Army.

Service Members from the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Special Operations)(Airborne) take pride in being known as "The Originals".

Its lineage and structure extend back to the formation of those small groups of uniquely trained and qualified individuals who comprised the Allied Military Government of the Occupied Territory, or AMGOTs.

Originally designated as the 96th Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Military Government Group, the unit was activated on 25 August 1945 at the Presidio of Monterey, California to help capture Army Civil Affairs expertise gained during World War II.