Photo By Staff Sgt. Tiffany Evans | Capt. Hayder Adnan Ali al-Saidy, Iraqi police intelligence officer, looks at a map...... read more read more
By Spc. Tiffany Evans
41st Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Soldiers of the 41st Fires Brigade are the driving force behind Intel Fusion Meetings, which started in September and brings the intelligence community of Wasit province together.
"We have four very professional Intel organizations with the same goal of providing security to Wasit province, but they weren't talking to each other," said Maj. Jennifer Finch, a native of Goose Creek, S.C., 41st Fires Bde., intelligence officer. "We opened a forum to all of them allowing them to talk and collaborate Intel, because Intel truly drives operations. Our motto is 'Take charge of your destiny.'"
Finch and others are helping to put a system in place for the Iraqi security forces. The four ISF agencies in Wasit are the Iraqi police, Iraqi army, the Department of Border Enforcement and the al- Kut Special Weapons and Training Team.
Meetings are based around discussing each other's capabilities and systems assessment, classes and threat briefs. On Oct. 11, 2008, they reviewed classes on defining and analyzing the area of operations; identifying the threat; determining the threat courses of action; identifying priority intelligence requirements; preparation for Intel Fusion briefing and overall Wasit threat assessment briefing.
"Sometimes, the meetings seem to get heated," said Capt. Brett Ashworth, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, 1st Bn., 32nd IA Bde., intelligence officer military training team. "Most of the time it's just the way they talk. All the ISF personnel use their hands when talking and raise their voices as they get excited. Just like the U.S. interagency cooperation can be difficult at times."
However, so far Ashworth said he's seen a great foundation being built between all these agencies. Many of those attending think the meetings are important and good for the overall safety of Wasit province.
"It's good because we can share information, build trust between agencies and bring information between us," said Col. Thaair Khadem al-Qurashi, DBE. "We can share information and find out what other agencies are doing."
Maj. Ali Kadhim Muheey, IA 32nd BDE, and Lt. Ali Abd al-Husayn, 1st Bn., 32nd IA Bde, agree with al-Qurashi and said these meetings are a good way for them to protect not only their province, but their loved ones also.
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2008 15:13 |
| Story ID: | 25029 |
| Location: | AL KUT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 368 |
| Downloads: | 243 |
This work, Wasit's intelligence community works together, by SSG Tiffany Evans, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT