Marines graduate from Squadron Intelligence Training and Certification Course

Photo By Sgt. Michelle Reif | Sgt. Scott Roush, the security chief and senior intelligence analyst for Marine Aircraft Group 26, receives an award congratulating him on his accomplishments as honor graduate of the Squadron Intelligence Training and Certification Course during a graduation ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station New River, Aug. 28, 2015. The students spent 19 training days and more than 90 class hours learning aviation-specific intelligence skills such as structured analytic techniques, comprehensive threat education, capabilities and limitation of all Marine Corps aircraft and how to support a large scale exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michelle Reif/Released.)  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, UNITED STATES

08.28.2015

Story by Cpl. Michelle Reif 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. — Know your enemy, and know yourself. Never stop exercising your mind, always continue to learn and work towards becoming a master of your trade.

This is the advice Lt. Col. Brett A. Hart, the executive officer of Marine Aircraft Group 26, gave to the Squadron Intelligence Training and Certification Course (SITCC) students during their graduation ceremony.

Ten intelligence specialists from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and 2nd Marine Division graduated from SITCC in a ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, Aug. 28, 2015.

The students spent 19 training days and more than 90 class hours learning skills; such as structured analytic techniques, comprehensive threat education, capabilities and limitations of all Marine Corps aircraft and how to support a large force exercise involving 10-30 aircrafts.

The purpose of the course is to fill in the gaps between the training the Marines receive at the schoolhouse and the knowledge and skillset required of them on the job, explained Capt. Brian D. Hall, Marine Aircraft Group 26, Intelligence officer in charge.

“The SITCC uniformly raises the fundamental knowledge and analytical skills of the junior intelligence analysts that attend the course,” said Hall. “Intelligence specialists that are destined for wing billets only receive one short week of aviation specific training at the schoolhouse in Dam Neck, Virginia. Before SITCC, all training was traditionally conducted on the job in their squadrons. SITCC, a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing initiative, is our way to take Marines out of the distraction-rich squadron environment and develop a critical foundation of aviation specific skills to support their aviators.”

This course was instrumental in teaching the Marines the aviation-specific knowledge they aren’t initially taught, said Sgt. Scott Roush, security chief and senior intelligence analyst for MAG-26, as well as honor graduate of the course.

“Some aspects will be highly visible,” said Hall, about how the Marines will use the skills they learned once they return to their units. “A great intelligence specialist has a vast knowledge base regarding the threat and the skills to apply all that knowledge to a specific situation and specific threat – all with a view to provide tailored, insightful and accurate assessments to the commander. SITCC strives to return Marines that are far better prepared to do that than they were prior to the course.”

• Date Taken: 08.28.2015
• Date Posted: 09.01.2015 09:17
• Story ID: 174840
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US