BAB AL-MANDAB STRAIT – The Ship Nautical or Otherwise Photographic Interpretation and Exploitation (SNOOPIE) team aboard the amphibious transport ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) has a set of unique and challenging requirements.
The SNOOPIE team consists of Navy Intelligence Specialists and Mass Communication Specialists who collect photographs and video on surface and air contacts that come into close proximity to the ship. The Intelligence Specialists then analyze the imagery to inform the use the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), and the Navy.
“We capture how close a vessel gets to us,” said Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Tristan Twitchell, the leading petty officer of the SNOOPIE Team. “Using reference points on our ship to show proximity, what flag they may be flying, the vessel or aircraft type are all vital pieces of information we need to accurately and quickly identify who they are. That information is relayed to decide whether or not someone is a threat to us.”
The ship’s SNOOPIE team has also implemented the Navy’s Operational Tasking Visual Information (OPTASK VI) order, which provides information vital to the shaping perception related to U.S. Navy Maritime Strategy.
“Maintaining information dominance over our adversaries is one of our primary objectives,” said Twitchell. “If there’s a contested incident, we are there capturing evidence to show we are maintaining our professionalism and that we did the right thing during the incident.”
SNOOPIE team members rapidly process and release the imagery to proper officials for intelligence analysis, operational decision-making, and public consumption.
“What we do as part of this team really matters,” said Yeoman 3rd Class Faith Sallee, a SNOOPIE team member. “Knowing that if something we capture can make a significant difference not just for the ship, but back home and the Navy as a whole is meaningful. We have a direct impact on what decisions are made.”
“I have been a part of this team for more than three years now,” said Twitchell. “We are so much further ahead than where we were and are fully capable of accomplishing the mission. We have the training, the equipment, and the people. This is a ship-wide team and effort which I greatly appreciate.”
John P. Murtha is currently on its first deployment and part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit team and is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.