Operational Intelligence apparent in the 379th AEW

Published Aug. 3, 2012
By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The success of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is a result of each organization within the wing working together to meet the Air Tasking Order requirements. Each plays a vital role towards accomplishing the mission and the Wing Intelligence Flight is no exception.

As part of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron team, the Wing Intelligence Flight provides intelligence support and threat reporting to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and other senior wing leadership.

The 10-person intel team, focuses their efforts on a set of targeted subject areas within the region, the theater of battle, and the overall area of responsibility. These targets are established by immediate and long-term threat levels coupled with the wing commanders' area of interests and responsibility.

"One of our main duties is to provide daily intelligence updates to the wing commander," said Maj. Jason Osleson, 379th OSS senior intelligence officer. "The general creates a list of priority intelligence requirements and essential elements of information he wants us to look at for different target sets. We're very fortunate that we have the capability and access to provide him either SECRET or TOP SECRET briefings six days a week."

The Wing Intel Flight also supports 379th AEW subordinate intelligence units and coordinates with Combined Air Operations Center Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division and Air Force Forces intelligence directorate staff with a focus on theater air operations and force protection intelligence.

After every mission, each of the flying squadrons on base, with the exception of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, submits mission reports through their respective squadrons that are routed to the Wing Intel Flight.

"The squadron level intelligence personnel are required to conduct pre-flight intelligence briefings with the crew followed by a mission debrief that generates a MISREP within three hours of engine shutdown after every mission," said Osleson. "Our office reviews between 30 and 40 mission reports per day totaling approximately 300 MISREPS in a given week."

Along with reviewing and forwarding MISREPS to the CAOC, members of the flight are responsible for briefing all transient crews coming through the base and securing all of their classified information while staying here. Additionally, the flight creates a daily read file of gathered intelligence that is distributed to leadership every morning.

"This read file is like a one-stop-shop for our leadership to review the highlights of intel reports we've gathered and get a feel for how the 379 AEW supports Air Tasking Order execution," said Osleson.

For some, being new to the intelligence career field might be daunting, however, being a rookie to the career field did not limit Tech. Sgt. Bobby Hall.

"The most challenging adjustment for me has been to get away from the checklist mentality I used to have as a crew chief," said Hall, 379th OSS Intelligence Flight superintendent. "I constantly have to be able to analyze raw data and continually think on my toes. I love this challenge and we, as a team, have seen the payoff from our hard work."

As long as there is a threat, the 379th Wing Intelligence Flight will gather and organize the necessary information to afford our Wing the essential intelligence to not only valiantly execute the ATO, but also protect the men and women of the 379th.