Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Nicolas A. Cloward | Military Intelligence soldiers from across North America gathered together at Camp...... read more read more
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Military Intelligence (MI) soldiers from across North America gathered together at Camp Williams, Utah June 8-22 for Panther Strike 2014. This annual training exercise pulls in a broad spectrum of military intelligence specialties and offers them the opportunity to simulate the functions of a deployed combined joint task force.
CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah - While teams of MI soldiers from across the fields of the human, signals, imagery, geo-spatial and all-source intelligence synergized their efforts to capture or eliminate insurgent cells in a simulated Afghan valley, an essential and unique set of MI soldiers worked behind the scenes. This select group of soldiers, honing their skills in the counter intelligence (CI) arena, used Panther Strike as an opportunity to complete a mandatory assessment before being honored with the title of CI agent.
But what exactly is CI?
Military CI professionals function as a key member of the diverse team that supports military commanders’ requirements to safeguard U.S. personnel, installations and allied interest. This exercise gave them the opportunity to practice their skill set supporting military commanders overseas and countering the threat from foreign intelligent forces and international terrorist organizations – two key components in the broad and yet specialized CI mission.
During their assessment, senior agents mentored probationary agents to help sharpen their CI skills and reinforce these principals. National Guard soldiers in the CI probationary program have 24 months to conduct this assessment. If they’re deemed unfit for the Military Occupational Skill (MOS) during this period, they are removed from the program and re-classed; however, soldiers are being trained to succeed, not to be weeded out.
“Panther Strike is not specifically focused on the [counter intelligence probationary program], but it does provide an opportunity for probationary agents to be assessed during the course of the exercise,” said Capt. Aaron Butterfield, commander of the California National Guard’s B Company, 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion and the officer in charge of Panther Strike’s CI operations. “There’s a list of essential skills they must possess and each soldier is evaluated within the scope of the scenario to ensure they’re prepared; we’re instructing and assessing our soldiers so they can better support our maneuver elements in a deployed environment.”
Soldiers from all over the country use the rare training opportunity Panther Strike provides to as an opportunity to be assessed on aspects of their probationary training requirements as they work on a CI team within the training scenario.
“We have a very impressive spectrum of soldiers from several states,” said Butterfield. “There’s a great opportunity for cross pollination between all the different levels of experience on the ground.”
Sgt. Benjamin Bell a counter intelligence agent from the Utah National Guard’s D company, 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion was in midst of his assessment.
“It’s been a very different experience than the [basic] counter intelligence course,” said Bell. “The course was designed to teach basic skills and the implementation of those skills. [The assessment] has been much more in-depth than I was anticipating. It definitely builds on what I learned at the MOS qualification course.”
Soldiers that are veterans of the CI field believe embracing the challenges set before them is paramount
An active duty U.S. Army sergeant from Texas, who requested to remain unnamed, shared her passion for CI after having served in the field for three years.
“Those interested, must be willing to sacrifice their time, take personal responsibility, and be flexible, smart and disciplined,” she said.
CI is a demanding field that requires an intense focus on attention to detail and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely through written reports.
“It draws a specific kind of person - a person that really wants to serve and really wants to protect and when you get [into a CI agent position] you have more than ample opportunity to do so and it’s very satisfying,” she said. “We’re very much at the tip of the spear. It’s a job I love.”
The demand for quality CI agents remains high because the MOS is not an initial entry position. Only soldiers with a substantial amount of time in service are allowed to enter the field. They must complete an application process that is reviewed by the National Guard Bureau and individuals that have been deemed qualified are then selected to go through the course.
Butterfield would like to see more soldiers interested in the CI career path to step up to the task and pursue it.
“We strongly encourage anyone who’s interested in learning more about CI to talk to their unit readiness NCO and commander and see if they have slots,” urged Butterfield.
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.23.2014 18:23 |
| Story ID: | 134114 |
| Location: | CAMP WILLIAMS, UT, US |
| Web Views: | 881 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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