Intelligence Soldiers from across Joint Base Lewis-McChord are better prepared to do their jobs after completing an "All-Source" intelligence course at the installation Jul 23 to Aug 4.
20 Intel Analysts completed the Military Intelligence Skills Enhancement Program (MISEP) Apprentice Certification Course which is a "next level" course to improve an intel analysts skills above and beyond what they are taught in Advanced Individual Training at the start of their military careers.
"MISEP shores up the gap from AIT to a Soldiers first unit or second for that matter," says Chief Warrant Officer 2 Debbie Perez, All Source Intelligence Officer in Charge, 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command.
Perez says the course isn't just for new Soldiers though, the program is tailored to also enhance the skills of NCO's and Company Grade Officers and uses the Army "Train like you fight" concept so that when students return to their unit they are able to easily apply what they learned to their mission.
The training focused on using the system of record for Military Intelligence, DCGS-A (Distributed Common Ground Station-Army), which is a suite of systems designed to allow users to process timely accurate and relevant data about the enemy, weather and terrain, to support battlefield visualization to produce products for their commander. The primary product being Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield or IPB.
"This training specifically focuses on the digital intelligence gathering functions young analysts need to master which will help them provide a much more accurate intelligence picture to their commanders," said Mr. Adam Brown a Senior All-Source Intel Analyst and class instructor.
The culminating event for each level of the course is an IPB brief given by each of the students.
"Having two weeks to focus on the system we use most is incredibly beneficial as I'm now much more comfortable with how to use our systems and it's something I'm going to use right away as I will be participating in an exercise where I'll use these skills in a few weeks." Pvt. 1st Class Anthony Sterlavage, Intel Analyst, 593rd ESC
The MISEP also serves as a metric for the units Intelligence Officer to track readiness. Upon completion of a MISEP course each subordinate unit is required to report to the G2 the level of MI readiness their Soldiers are certified at. This not only helps the G2 track readiness but also identify any shortfalls or gaps that can be met or shored up with additional follow on training provided through the Army's Military Intelligence training platform, the Foundry.
"This training is rigorous and difficult but the results are that our MI Soldiers can provide an accurate and coherent intelligence picture to their commander which will save lives on the battlefield and potentially save lives at home in the U.S.," added Perez.
The MISEP program has four levels that build upon each other. The levels are Novice, Apprentice, Master, and Journeyman. The last two levels are not taught in a classroom, they are evaluated and certified through on the job training that is applied from the Novice and Apprentice courses.
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