Military intelligence Soldiers receive live envirornment training

Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | Patton Hall, at the Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., is the location where the live environment training was conducted by G-2 security at U.S. Army Central.  

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, UNITED STATES

03.17.2015

Courtesy Story

416th Theater Engineer Command

Story by 863rd Engineer Battalion

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. – Military intelligence (MI) Soldiers are tasked with keeping their units informed. They collect, analyze and disseminate important information about threats to Soldiers and the mission. Much like engineers, they train constantly to maintain a high level of readiness. Unfortunately, without access to classified systems and a present enemy threat, it can be difficult to provide meaningful MI training during battle assembly weekends and two-week annual trainings.

That’s why the 416th Theater Engineer Command (TEC) took part in a new training program called All Source Analyst Live Environment Training (LET) in January. LET affords units the opportunity to send MI Soldiers to participate in real-world operations supporting U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) while receiving mentorship from experienced All Source Analysts. CENTCOM covers 20 countries and focuses on the Middle East, with USARCENT providing continuous oversight and control of Army operations throughout their area of responsibility.

During the exercise, which can last up to 29 days, Soldiers are fully integrated into the battle rhythm of a G-2 security section, conducting research in regionally focused intelligence groups in order to define the battlefield environment. As part of the Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), analysts examine the target region using a framework called PMESII, which highlights the political, military, economic, social, infrastructure and information aspects of an area. They also take part in video teleconference briefings with units overseas to communicate current threats and the common intelligence picture.

First Lt. Joseph Gradle, officer in charge of security cell for the 863rd Engineer Battalion, was selected to travel to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, for 26 days to complete the first-ever cycle of the course. In addition to working alongside specifically tasked intelligence groups and attending weekly briefings, he was able to publish various intelligence reports and analysis of competing hypotheses to the greater intelligence community (IC). He was also permitted to attend interagency working group meetings and the Department of the Army Worldwide Secured Video Teleconference.

“The opportunity to work alongside subject matter experts at USARCENT and push my analysis out to other members of the IC for review was invaluable. The analysts over at the G-2 provided constant feedback and a great understanding of their methodology, so I’ll be able to take what I learned and in turn pass it along to my section,” he said.

“I would highly recommend this program to other soldiers in the MI field. It was a great experience,” he added.

Best of all, the course can be funded through a program called FOUNDRY. FOUNDRY is an Army G-2, Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) led training program that assists commanders and G-2 members obtain military intelligence training opportunities otherwise not available at the tactical echelon or through the institutional training system. It was born out of the idea that there should be no cold starts for MI Soldiers heading downrange, so it provides timely and relevant advanced intelligence skills training. Despite the broad range of resources it provides, it remains underutilized, particularly in the support branches such as engineer.

Lt. Col. Antwine Williams-Smith, deputy security officer for the 416th TEC, said she hopes to see continued participation in the program. The TEC is currently developing relationships with each of their Army Service Component Commands (ASCC), which include USARCENT, USARNORTH and USARSOUTH.

“It is important that our MI Soldiers gain real-world intel experience in order to understand their role in helping the commander make timely decisions,” she said. “As deployment opportunities decline, [this] partnership with ASCCs offers real intel missions to MI professionals [and] a firsthand look at what is going on in theater and what intel requirements they will need to answer.”

• Date Taken: 03.17.2015
• Date Posted: 03.17.2015 14:56
• Story ID: 157260
• Location: SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, US