AMC information analysis ‘artists’ create intelligence mosaic for Mobility Air Forces

Published April 19, 2013
By Ed Shannon
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Working from within their secluded studio, known as a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility), and creating from a broad, rough sketch, a team of inspired Air Mobility Command "artists" transformed a blank canvas into another eye-catching mosaic of intelligence products.

This time, the team's mosaic revealed a thorough intelligence picture for Mobility Air Forces supporting the French intervention in Mali. The "artists" or intelligence analysts within the AMC Air Intelligence Squadron, regularly produce valuable "art," accurate, relevant and timely information and analysis, from their secure office within the AMC Intelligence Directorate, according to Capt. Jennifer Linz, the squadron's Africa Command/European Command (AFRICOM/EUCOM) Branch chief.

"The quick turn requirements and time constraints involved with producing analysis for this operation challenged our team, but we rose to the occasion by putting in a lot of extra time and effort," Linz said.

Senior civilian analyst Bill Farrell, who has provided intelligence analysis for several crisis operations during his career, explained the artists approach crisis operations initially by asking basic questions about the operating environment.

"We focus on the threats and try to answer the unknowns," he said. "The Mali mission presented unique challenges because there were locations involved that we haven't been to in quite a while and because this particular crisis encompassed more than just Mali--we had to examine the entire region. We had to ask 'what do we know about the location?,' 'what can we find out?,' and 'who are the threats?'"

Staff Sgt. Raymond Bessellieu and Airman First Class Alexander Curran contributed tremendous research skills, Linz said. Bessellieu and Curran, along with deputy team chief 2nd Lt. Austin Pickrell, experienced the first crisis operation of their intelligence careers, all three having arrived at AMC within the last 12 months. Bessellieu cross-trained from Services while AMC represents first assignments for Curran and Pickrell. Each believes the Mali crisis operation provided numerous learning opportunities.

"You can't get this kind of ops (operations) training in school," Bessellieu said. "You only get to see crisis operations so often, but the knowledge base you get from that experience is incredible."

Pickrell said matching requirement deadlines to team tasks represented a good learning experience. "When the generals wanted a briefing, we had to flex our time to prepare for it, and also manage our workload to answer questions that arose during the briefings," he said. "Sometimes that required weekends and after-duty hours," he said. "But this was an 'all hands on deck' operation to support 18th Air Force."

Curran, who arrived to the unit out of high school in April 2012, added his touch to the mosaic by helping teammates obtain the intelligence information they needed for analysis, and he believes having the opportunity to serve on the team will benefit him and his Air Force career.

"Being in intel, having the security clearance and learning how a major command headquarters works will open a lot of doors for me," he said. "AMC is a good place for me to establish an intelligence foundation and learn how the Air Force works."

Linz, Farrell, Pickrell, Bessellieu and Curran conducted research, analyzed the information and contributed to briefings providing leaders a current picture of the threat environment. According to Linz, Farrell's depth of experience and continuity in the position contributed enormously to the operation.

"Our success would not have been possible without Mr. Farrell's efforts," she said. "He is vital to our team's achievement on this mission."

Farrell marveled at how reliable and quick the younger members of the team researched and obtained critical information for consideration in the assessments.

"We have a global mission to obtain and assess information that impacts people's lives," he said. "It's pretty heady stuff for people in their late teens and early 20s, and I am impressed with what they are able to accomplish considering what they have to learn in such a short amount of time."

The entire team rose to the challenge and excelled, said Linz who also appreciates the benefits of working crises.

"Crises always hone our skills," she said, "from research and analysis to writing and presentation."

Through sharpening the capabilities it offers to customers, team members can say with pride, "there is an art to what we do."