Photo By Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero | (Left to Right) Staff Sgt. Nicholas Speece, 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance...... read more read more
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CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — Six months ago officials put a plan down on paper to bolster the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission by adding a new platform to the ISR inventory. Now the Airmen assigned to the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Detachment 1 here, are charged with the task of standing up the new ISR mission, which is using the newly configured C-12 Huron turboprop planes, designated MC-12W, as ISR platforms.
The program, called Project Liberty, involves Airmen operating the C-12 aircraft out of Balad Air Base, Iraq, and more Airmen analyzing and gathering the intel from here. The first combat sortie, which was flown June 9, was a complete success according to all parties involved.
In a recent interview, Brig. Gen. Blair E. Hansen, the A2 director of ISR capabilities and Air Force lead for the task force said, "this fight demands decisive information, surgical ISR, tailored to the level of the fight. This capability will give field commanders more important and timely knowledge to make critical decisions. To be effective in counterinsurgency requires micro information fast, to both kill or capture terrorists as well as to protect our joint and coalition force and the civilian population."
Behind the scenes of this new mission, employs more than 20 trained professionals, all deployed form Langley AFB, Va., responsible for gathering and analyzing all the data and imagery the aircraft collects, which will ultimately be used to provide military leaders with near real-time information to make key battlefield decisions.
"The purpose of Project Liberty is to provide intelligence directly to the war fighter," said Capt. Jeffrey Johnston, 362nd ERS Det. 1 commander. "We are providing daily support to the theater."
Captain Johnston said, the new ISR mission isn't exactly a new concept, but what is new is the platform and the fact that they are standing up the new cog to the fight.
"It has been a tremendous amount of work, but we have the absolute best people to pave the way forward for future rotations," said the Fort Atkinson, Wisc., native.
According to the detachments superintendent, standing up a new mission like this isn't ever easy, but said thanks to the hard work of his Airmen the gap has been bridged smoothly.
"There is a reason this team was hand-picked to come here," said Master Sgt. Kyle LaLand, who is a native of Queens, N.Y. "I really think we are making a big difference for the guys fighting on the ground."
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2009 06:22 |
| Story ID: | 35057 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 446 |
| Downloads: | 324 |
This work, From paper to combat sortie: Airmen execute intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission, by SSgt Tim Beckham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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