AMC Intel directorate provides 24/7 support to sustain mission Published Feb. 10, 2016 By Maj Jonathan Stock Air Mobility SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- For some, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance may conjure images of shaken martinis, fast cars equipped with rockets and special satellites with cameras zooming into focus on targets thousands of miles away. While Hollywood has influenced these images, some of the true heroes in military intelligence can be found at Headquarters Air Mobility Command. AMC's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Directorate, or A2, supports the command's top priority to execute and sustain rapid global mobility by providing 24/7 situational awareness, intelligence and threat warning support for global mission execution. The directorate's mission is to develop, deploy, integrate and sustain premier ISR capabilities that deliver decision advantage for mobility operations. "We provide senior leaders Mobility Air Forces-focused intelligence, which enables them to make command decisions that are instrumental in keeping aircrews safe as they execute the mobility mission," said Col. Keith Andrews, director of AMC A2. One of A2's responsibilities is keeping headquarters staff up to date on situations developing around the globe while also providing support to more than 104 mobility intelligence units. These units offer tactical situational awareness to mobility aircrews throughout the globe. "Our efforts enable increasing near-real-time threat awareness to our AMC Airmen and mobility partners worldwide," said Andrews. "Having some of the best in the ISR community and capitalizing on new innovation allows our work to mitigate threats prior to an adversary disruption of AMC operations." While A2 supports all of AMC's strategic objectives, its main focus is executing today's rapid global mobility mission by fully understanding the threat environment and the monitoring of potential mission threats, said Lt. Col. Robert Brenzel, Air Intelligence Squadron commander. "A recent example of A2's impact within AMC is our key role in the opening of new airfields in Iraq and Afghanistan through strategic airlift in support of the fight against ISIL, the Taliban and Al Qaeda," said Mr. Stephen Dawidowicz, chief of AMC ISR Operations. The directorate has been key in expanding AMC mobility efforts in support of the U.S. and coalition fight against terrorism in countries around the world, he said. AMC A2's focus areas include collection, analysis, cyber, and KC-46 support, as well as future threats that could impact the Air Force as a whole. One initiative in support of these focus areas is the writing of the first AMC ISR Collection Strategy. This new collection strategy better integrates AMC with the national intelligence community and will help drive national and theater ISR collection and analysis efforts in support of global operations. In analysis, A2 personnel are better utilizing geospatial intelligence GEOINT products from across the intelligence community. A2 is using four-dimensional visualization capabilities, also known as "3D + time", to provide more intuitive and interactive means for intelligence personnel and aircrew to communicate and recognize threats in a dynamic operational environment. The directorate has also made large strides standing up a cyber threat team, which enables A2 to provide commanders with an increased awareness of current and future cyber threats that could potentially impact AMC's missions globally. As these new advantages develop, AMC's ISR Airmen will continue to provide outstanding 24/7 situational awareness, intelligence and threat warning to support global mission success.