Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan -- Providing intelligence information to the various organizations within the area of responsibility is vital to delivering decisive airporwer at the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.
Senior Airmen Nathaniel Millen, 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron intelligence analyst, provides that critical intelligence to the wing as well as other agencies throughout the AOR.
“I start everyday by building anywhere from 40-60% of the daily graphic intelligence summary,” said Millen. “This report is pushed out to over 800 recipients from various agencies including all of the wing leadership.”
Throughout Millen’s shift, he receives mission reports, or MISREPS, from various flying agencies supported by the 455th AEW and then reviews and revises the reports to ensure that the Combined Air Operations Center has the most accurate representation of every flying mission the 455th AEW accomplishes.
In addition to the MISREPS that the intelligence team receives, they also receive requests for information.
“When we receive the RFIs, sometimes they may be required to be filled within minutes; others within days,” said Millen. “We mainly serve to support the 455th AEW leadership, flying assets, and force protection agencies. However, we will support anyone who has a reasonable request.”
Maj. Nicole Kump, 455th EOSS senior intelligence officer, said that Millen is a vital part of the intelligence team.
“He is the only full nighttime member of our intelligence team,” said Kump. “He has helped build mapping products which provide a better visual depiction of our AOR. He is a critical player within our team for all of these items.”
A native of Clearwater, Fla., Millen is a third generation Air Force member.
“I always knew I wanted to serve my great country,” said Millen. “After careful mentoring from my father, uncle and grandfather who are all prior Air Force, I decided to join.”
Millen has been deployed before but says it was more like a vacation so he counts this as his first “real” deployment.
“I was ecstatic when I found out I was deploying to Bagram,” said Millen. ”I knew I would miss my family, but after being stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, for two years prior to returning to my home station, I was used to the feeling.”
When asked why he felt his job was important, Millen said that the intelligence that his unit provides saves lives.
“I know that if I provide accurate, time sensitive intelligence, I may save someone’s life,” said Millen. “I also know that by providing intelligence, our adversaries will not stand a chance, and I get to see that impact every single day.”
According to Millen, the most challenging part of his job is when they have to call the shots on what is and isn’t a threat.
“Deciding what is and what is not important is challenging,” said Millen. Prioritizing the important information is difficult because ultimately if you miss something, a life could be in jeopardy.
“Part of our job is to make educated evaluations of a situation based on our analysis and piece together the puzzle of the battlefield,” said Millen. “When we make the correct assessment on a certain event happening, and it happens, it’s a great feeling all around.”