By: Sgt. Melissa N. Lessard 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade Public Affairs
The 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion held a mission command course from Sep 13-17 here. The Soldiers who participated are teaching about all intelligence fields to better their leadership skills in the field and execute commander’s intent.
“The course consists of both classroom and practical exercises to train and certify intelligence leaders on the key skills required to successfully deploy and provide mission command for intelligence support teams,” said 2nd Lt. Jacob Mondoro, 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion. “Emphasis will be placed on troop leading procedures, the operation process, and employing intelligence assets in a large scale combat operations environment.”
During the classroom training, Soldiers heard from all intelligence specialties and how they worked during battlefield operations. The goal was to familiarize all leaders so they can better inform themselves, their troops, and leaders during operations.
Mondoro said that mission command assists with building cohesive teams through mutual trust, create shared understanding, provide a clear commanders intent, exercise disciplined initiative, use mission orders, and accept prudent risk.
After Soldiers completed their in classroom instruction they went to the motor pool to look at and receive briefs on intelligence equipment.
Spc. Benjamin Lopus taught leaders about a unit where open source intelligence can be gathered. He went through the systems and explained why open source intelligence analysts would need such systems and how they benefitted the commander during operations.
“As a leader who is in charge of a multi-disciplinary team, it is vital to understand what capabilities and limitations are associated with each discipline,” said Mondoro. “A clear and thorough understanding for these aspects allows for leaders to effectively employ their assets in support of the commander’s objectives and achieve mission success.”
Another aspect leaders learned about was the prophet and signals intelligence, taught by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael C. Smith.
The Prophet is a near-real-time signals intelligence and electronic warfare unit. It provides actionable intelligence, situational understanding, and force protection to the commanders who utilize them.
Smith spoke during in classroom training about what signals intelligence is, how it is used, and how teams are paired up during operations. He also explained the specific role signals intelligence place on the battlefield. He later spoke about the Prophet and what exactly the unit provides for commanders and intelligence teams.
Mondoro explained the best part of the course is the hands on familiarization of the different intelligence systems while the most challenging part is the development of the operations order and the brief given to command teams.
“Blue Watch leavers have worked together to build their products, share ideas, and learn from each other so that they can deliver and effective operations order.”
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