Rakkasan team plotting success

Photo By Pfc. Christopher McKenna | Pvt. Jamal Bailey, from Surry County, Va., Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), geospatial analyst, creates a map using the Arc Geospatial Intelligence Support program.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.16.2008

Story by Pfc. Christopher McKenna 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

By Pfc. Christopher McKenna
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – The Rakkasan Geospatial Intelligence Support Team supports the brigade and outlying units with a never-ending supply of maps and imagery.

With only a couple months left on the current deployment, the GIST team has already more than tripled the map production from the previous team. Every request for information that comes into the office leads to the production of another map.

"We are about ready to go over 2,000 requests for information since the deployment began, when on the previous deployment, the team only completed 389 RFIs," said Sgt. 1st Class Francis Dobrisky, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), topographical GIST non-commissioned officer in charge.

He attributes the number of requests to the team's ability to support elements outside of the brigade, as well as internal assets.

"We've just tried to support everyone from all the battalions to the brigade staff to the brigade commander," Dobrisky said. "We've helped people from all over the Victory Base Complex, Cropper and even the mayor cell here at Striker."

The GIST maps are all produced digitally and come in both digital and hard copy forms. Maps are created in layers, giving the requester the option to receive a diverse map to suit their needs.

"We start with either an imagery layer or map background layer," said Dobrisky who is from Freehold, N.J. "We then add layers to include the roads, the [forward operating bases], battle positions, area borders and so forth. We can layer it all on top of each other to come out with our final product."

The requests for maps vary in size and complexity, but the GIST does its best to satisfy every need.

"A lot of times people come in asking for different stuff, and you've got to be able to do it," said Pvt. Jamal Bailey, from Surry County, Va., HHC, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT), geospatial analyst.

The ever-changing and need it now nature of the job keeps the team on its toes. Bailey said much of what he learned came from on-the-job training during this deployment.

"You've got to learn more quickly than being in the rear when you are out here," Bailey said. "A lot of times, you will get people coming in asking for something they need 30 minutes later, and you've got to ... do it from scratch. So, you've got to ... have a fast turnaround time with your product."

While Bailey has gained valuable job experience, his work is complicated and requires constant efforts to improve.

"I still have a lot of learning to do," Bailey said. "I can honestly say I know a lot more now than I knew in [advanced individual training]. Most of the stuff you don't really learn until you get to your unit."

The GIST recently become a part of brigade elements after the Army transition.

"Every brigade has a terrain team now when they used to be a division asset and were piecemealed out as a unit was deploying or going to the field," Dobrisky said. "Now, we are assigned orders specifically on a pinpoint assignment to a brigade."

He said it creates better continuity with the team being a part of the brigade.

"This is my first brigade team, and I have heard stories from my peers throughout my [military occupational specialty] that some brigades really don't support the teams well," Dobrisky said. "This brigade has supported us excellently in everything we have asked for, from equipment to whatever."

• Date Taken: 09.16.2008
• Date Posted: 09.16.2008 09:24
• Story ID: 23724
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ