Enhancing intelligence readiness in Kuwait

By Mr. Nathan Becker (INSCOM)April 8, 2019

U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command Intelligence Platform (IP)-Kuwait meeting
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gregory Norton, chief, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command Intelligence Platform (IP)-Kuwait, discusses with his team information technology infrastructure for the Theater Intelligence Platform-Central during a meeting held on Camp Arifjan, K... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) Intelligence Platform-Kuwait
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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) delivers decisive intelligence in order to enable leaders to anticipate and address challenges; enhance Army readiness and warfighting; protect critical capabilities; and inform critical decisions.

To that end, INSCOM deploys Soldiers, Army civilians and contractors across the globe to conduct and synchronize multi-discipline and all-source intelligence and security operations.

An essential element within INSCOM is the Intelligence Platform (IP)-Kuwait, which provides mission critical continuity of operations and sustainment maintenance for the U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) Theater Intelligence Platform-Central (TIP-C) on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

INSCOM is able to leverage its considerable experience in providing logistics and engineering support for the sustainment of intelligence operations, systems, and facilities in deployed environments for the benefit of the ARCENT G-2 and to support the tenant units and Intelligence Community (IC) partners supporting the warfighters in theater.

The IP is a dynamic seven-person team of deployed INSCOM liaison officers sourced from multiple career fields and skillsets within the command, to include G-2 (Security), G-3 (Operations), G-4 (Logistics/Engineering), G-6 (Information Technology) staffs and the Command Services Office (CSO).

"As the newest member of the IP team on the ground, and chief of the IP team and TIP-C compound, I've gained an appreciation for the coordinated, interagency-level support to operations ongoing in the ARCENT/CENTCOM AOR (area of responsibility) and the multitude of partners and capabilities being brought to support ongoing operations in theater," said Gregory Norton, chief, INSCOM Intelligence Platform-Kuwait.

INSCOM has been providing a rotational workforce and Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program (MICECP) volunteers to the IP since 2016 and INSCOM G-4 has been supporting the mission for approximately 17 years.

The IP is responsible for managing TIP-C access control, accreditation, land and facilities. They synchronize intelligence communications systems, architecture, information technology infrastructure and life cycle replacements for tenant units supporting ongoing operations in theater and assist ARCENT G-2 with requirements for accountability and reporting of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems.

The IP is additionally charged with providing oversight of contract support for the contractor-operated Forward Support Activity-Kuwait, an integral part of the support mission and one which requires Contracting Officer Representatives (COR) training.

INSCOM's support role is vital as the TIP-C serves as the regional hub for intelligence collection, exploitation, and fusion and non-standard ISR system sustainment across the theater. The TIP-C provides the infrastructure and architecture for intelligence support to the theater, supports organizational intelligence requirements, and provides facilities for specific tactical missions in theater.

The TIP-C compound also services forward deployed organizations from the IC community who provide direct support to operations in theater.

"Being the G2 (liaison officer) LNO at the TIP-C exemplifies what we do at INSCOM - this is the nexus of intelligence and security - we answer the question over the door at HQ," said Benjamin Shane Lambert, special security officer (SSO), INSCOM Intelligence Platform - Kuwait. "Deploying in support of a real-world mission is the perfect opportunity to employ the concepts tested in the Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC); here at the TIP-C the SSO is the go-to person for all security-related issues, full-spectrum, and every day presents new challenges."

The IP provides a unique opportunity for the men and women of INSCOM to showcase INSCOM's capabilities as a global intelligence platform, experience Intelligence Community mission sets, develop professionally and see how the work at home and abroad impacts both INSCOM's and the Army's mission.

"After meeting with our intelligence community partners on the ground, it's obvious that INSCOM's IP serves to tie that community together and provide key support and functionality," said John Neal, INSCOM deputy chief of staff. "It's a role INSCOM is well-placed to perform."

The IP mission is one of many demonstrating INSCOM's support to the ongoing CENTCOM mission and demonstrates INSCOM's subject matter expertise in support of the ARCENT-led intelligence community (IC) efforts in theater.

"INSCOM support to partners in the TIP-C enables synchronous efforts across the IC," said Col. Doug Henry, INSCOM assistant chief of staff G-4.