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 BAGRAM
AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - In a windowless room, illuminated only by
the light of computer screens, the Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary
Operations Support Squadron intelligence flight, paints a picture of
the battlespace clear as day.
With intelligence gathered
from multiple platforms, from ground forces to satellites, the unit
collects, analyzes, and formulates up-to-date reports for commanders
to make critical decisions where lives are sometimes on the line.
“Intelligence informs operational planning based on the
commander's needs and the particular military objective, increasing
chances for success,” said Tech. Sgt. Jarom Saurey, 455th EOSS
intelligence flight superintendent. “Analysis reports draw on all
available sources of information, including existing and newly
collected material. These reports are used to inform and influence
the planning staff and seek to predict the adversary's intent.”
In order to meet this goal, Intel AFSCs use several scientific
and mathematical processes, such as using geo-locational mensuration
functions, historical trend analysis, and manipulating geospatial
databases. While it may sound like a Ph.D. in rocket science is
needed to decipher these techniques, the 455th EOSS intelligence
flight Airmen, find parallels in a simpler explanation.
“A
good analogy of what Intel does is similar to the weather flight,”
said Maj. Joseph Shupert, 455th AEW senior intelligence officer. “We
are both analysts who collect and interpret data that we can't
control, determine what it means to air operations, and present the
combined data and assessment to aircrews and leaders to ensure
mission execution.”
However, intelligence isn't just a
one-agency job. Airmen from the 455th EOSS work with other services,
civilian entities, and sometimes other countries to ensure that they
provide decision makers with best information available.
“As
the senior Air Force intelligence element in theater, we coordinate
with lateral and higher headquarters intelligence elements from our
sister services, coalition partners, joint headquarters, and
national-level intelligence agencies which allow us to leverage
their capabilities for our intelligence requirements,” said Shupert.
“The various intelligence products we create provide leaders with
situational awareness that enables them to make threat- informed
decisions, risk assessments, force protection measures, manning
decisions, and many more.”
To best accomplish their mission
in the combined-intelligence stream, the intelligence flight has
developed a unique set of skills.
“Our various skill levels
and experiences allow us to identify opportunities to constantly
improve our intelligence products,” explained Shupert. “Through this
we gain ever increasing levels of expertise on the threats our
Airmen face operating at Bagram and conducting missions across
Afghanistan.”
From the squad leader protecting the base from
the ground, to the F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots conducting strikes
from the air, every mission in Afghanistan is reliant upon good,
up-to-the-minute intel. And the Airmen of the 455th EOSS
Intelligence Flight provide this every day, even if they cannot
technically “see” outside their windowless room.
By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Rau
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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