103rd AOG’s Air Intelligence Squadron preps CTANG members for deployments

  • Published
  • By Capt. Bryon Turner
  • 103rd Air and Space Operations Group
Members of the 103rd Air and Space Operations Group's Air Intelligence Squadron assist Airmen from the across the Connecticut Air National Guard as they prepare to deploy to the U.S. Central Command 's area of responsibility, known as the CENTCOM AOR.

Airmen from Connecticut's National Guard regularly deploy to different locations within CENTCOM's AOR and other locations worldwide. These deployers require a wide array of pre-deployment support from different units within the CTANG, including intelligence support from the 103rd Air Intelligence Squadron.

Members of the 103rd Air Intelligence Squadron have been supporting the 103rd ACS with regular pre-deployment intelligence briefings, provided to them at their geographically separated installation in Orange, Conn.

"As an intelligence analyst in the AIS, it is our duty to provide support to all those who need it," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Damico, intelligence analyst with the 103rd AIS. "In the past, we've provided support to the Connecticut Army National Guard and The Adjutant General of the state of Connecticut."

Intelligence experts like Damico have been disseminating current intelligence updates, threat weapon system familiarization, force protection and a variety of other briefings since February of this year to get the unit's command and control experts ready for deployment.

Other members of the 103rd AIS have been helping Airmen from the security forces and civil engineer squadrons prepare documents known as Isolated Personnel Reports, or ISOPREPS.

"The DD 1833 Isolated Personnel Report provides specific information that is necessary to positively authenticate isolated personnel during a recovery mission," said Senior Master Sgt. Matthew LeMasters, superintendent, 103rd AIS. "Being part of the 103rd Air Intelligence Squadron, Analysis, Correlation and Fusion Cell (ACF), one of our vital responsibilities is to provide unit support, not only to the deployed warfighters but also during the pre-deployment phase as well."

Information is collected by a process that directs the user to provide statements containing personal information known only to them. These statements must be durable, able to be protected and easily remembered by the individual. It is an important source of authentication data when communicating with U.S. or coalition forces. Proper completion, use, and archiving of authentication information could be critical to a successful recovery.

"AIS personnel have been more than accommodating by adapting their schedule to meet the needs of the members in CES," said Senior Master Sgt. Jeffery Pooler, Prime BEEF manager with the 103rd CES. "This has been extremely helpful in the pre-deployment process," said Pooler.

The members of the 103rd Air Intelligence Squadron began formal support for the ISOPREP requirements in August 2010.

"Having the AIS jump in to provide ISOPREPS for deploying members was a great relief while we were deep in UCI (Unit Compliance Inspection) preparation," said LtCol George Worrall, 103rd Operations Support Flight. "With ISOPREPS required for nearly all deployments now it would be very difficult to accommodate everyone without our partners in the AIS. The additional AIS support to provide timely information to our monthly deployers is welcome as well and great for the wing."

Intelligence analysts brief deploying members on the threats and situation for the deployed location as part of the deployment process to high threat areas worldwide.
"We currently have ten analysts in the ACF that are excited to support the warfighters of the CTANG. Being able to provide intel support to the deploying warfighters of the 103rd forges a camaraderie built on trust that will last your career," said LeMasters. "The unit support capabilities that the ACF can provide to the 103rd are limitless and we are a team that is ready to roll."

CENTCOM is one of 10 combatant commands in the United States military. Six of these commands, including CENTCOM, have a specific geographic region of the world where the combatant commanders may plan and conduct operations as defined under the Unified Command Plan.

CENTCOM's AOR consists of 20 countries including, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.