Intel, Recon squadrons outsmart COVID-19

Photo By Staff Sgt. Rhett Isbell | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christoffer Armour, 390th Intelligence Squadron NCO in charge of material management, sanitizes his work station May 5, 2020, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 82nd RS is responsible for supporting theater- and national-level consumers with near real-time, on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rhett Isbell)  

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.09.2020

Story by Senior Airman Rhett Isbell 

18th Wing

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to many obstacles, but the ingenuity and fighting spirit of Team Kadena’s 82nd Reconnaissance and 390th Intelligence Squadrons have persevered with the creation of new policies and an unfaltering operations tempo.

The powerhouse duo hustled from the beginning of the pandemic and worked to accomplish their vital mission and protect their Airmen from harm by enacting several health and safety measures throughout their squadrons.

“Our squadron has adapted to the new normal by changing the way we operate,” said Lt. Col. John Jewell, 82nd RS commander. “We’ve broken the Airmen up into teams, enforced social distancing and communicated electronically to keep in touch, among other things.”

By enacting and adapting to these measures quickly, members were able to devote themselves to a top priority…mission success.


“Our mission is to collect intelligence to give to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command leaders, so they can make informed decisions on how to continue protecting this area of responsibility,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Dandrea-Garcia, 390th IS production manager. “We’re a key intelligence producer in this area so it’s imperative we continue our mission and not slow down. We can’t let ourselves falter.”

These changes had to work in tandem with the intelligence mission supporting theater and national-level consumers with near real-time, on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities.

They accomplished this by using the RC-135V/W on-board signal detection suite. The mission crew then forwards gathered information in a variety of formats to a wide range of consumers.

Maintaining this high level of readiness and flexibility may be difficult for some, but Lt. Col. Jarrod Knapp, 390th IS commander, feels his Airmen only gained more resolve as time went by.

“We weren’t really able to take a knee,” Knapp said. “The key fact is we have not stopped operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve prevailed despite the virus.”

Many members hope that operations can return to normal as soon as possible, but stand ready to accomplish their mission no matter the circumstances.

“I hope that we can open things up to normal operating procedures,” Dandrea-Garcia said. “If that’s not possible then we’ll just stay here and keep on going as long as it takes.”

• Date Taken: 07.09.2020
• Date Posted: 07.09.2020 19:06
• Story ID: 373578
• Location: KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP