GRAFENWOHR, Germany - U.S. Army Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Military Intelligence Company (MICO) spent two months in Grafenwohr Training Area, Germany fielding and receiving training on the Prophet Enhanced Version 2, a new Intelligence system. The system, valued at over $17 million, is an upgrade from the current version the MICO has on-hand and provides three Human Intelligence (HUMINT) and three Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Military All-Terrain Vehicles (MATVs).
The Prophet Enhanced (PE) is a dedicated, all-weather, 24/7 Tactical SIGINT and Electronic Warfare (EW) system providing force protection and situational awareness. The sensors have the capability to detect, identify, exploit, and precision geo-locate enemy communications from multiple configurations.
"The PE is an impressive modular system that affords a maneuver commander the ability to deploy one of his most sophisticated intelligence collection platforms that can be tailor made to fit any situation," said CW2 Shermaine Terry, the Operational Management Team Chief assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. "It also allows the Multi-Function Teams on the front lines to instantly communicate with each other, pass reporting, and reach back to higher echelons via encrypted communications regardless of where they may be on the battlefield."
While the SIGINT Paratroopers trained on the new system, the HUMINT collectors trained on equipment such as the Rapid Site Exploitation Kit, Counter Intelligence/HUMINT Automated Reporting and Collection System (CHARCS), Biometric Automated Tool Set (BATS), and Secured Electronic Enrollment Kit (SEEK).
"This was the first time since AIT I had the chance to employ the interrogation skills I learned there," said PFC Wyatt Lowe, a Human Intelligence Collector (MOS 35M) assigned to the MICO, 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade. "Even though the new system was centered around SIGINT," said Lowe, "I liked that they incorporated different classes to involve the 35Ms."
The Intelligence Electronic Warfare section from the MI Company was present for the second half of the New Equipment Training (NET) as well. They learned how to conduct maintenance on the new system and began troubleshooting problems as they arose throughout the training event.
The final week of training culminated with a joint SIGINT and HUMINT FTX. The purpose of the exercise was to validate connectivity of the system, ability to cross talk and cue between HUMINT and SIGINT, and to test the abilities and protocols of individual teams.
Two All-Source Analysts from 1-503rd Infantry Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, joined the Multi-Function Platoon for the FTX, acting as the fusion cell. They developed intelligence requirements, analyzed the information collected on the ground as it flowed back to the SCIF in near real-time, and presented a daily Battle Update Brief to provide a last 24 hour roll-up and next 24 hour assessment.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, is the U.S. Army Contingency Force in Europe providing ready forces anywhere in the U.S., European, Africa and Central Commands' areas of responsibility within 18 hours.
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