LONESHARK: Training for the real thing

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Randy Mallard
  • 17 TRW
GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas --  Each day we see or hear about the constant battle our nation wages against a number of adversaries. Behind the headlines and spokespeople, a different battle is fought by those in the intelligence field against the groups and countries that oppose our nation.

Taking this intelligence battle to our enemies is not an easy task. The battle field is ever changing and at the 316th Training Squadron, Staff Sgt. Travis Porter and his fellow instructors do their part to ensure that troops leaving here are as prepared as possible to assist in the ongoing fight.

Sergeant Porter leads an exercise that each student must complete prior to graduation known as OPERATION LONESHARK.

According to Sergeant Porter, the squadron made a leap in 2010 from using old and outdated methods to train students, to incorporating the latest intelligence equipment and techniques that are updated as they change in the field. This means that when a student leaves Goodfellow, they're already trained on the same systems they will use at their first duty station, helping them to contribute to real world events at a faster pace.

Not only do students get hands-on experience with the latest systems, they also learn what it's like to work as a team with other intelligence career fields. Each student is required to man each position on an Intel Production Team where they experience the quick pace of a simulated real-world event. Scenarios thrown at the students can change at any moment. Events and the overall outcome are determined by the reaction of the "team."

After participating in a scenario that was based on real-world intelligence information from a particular country, 316th TRS student, Airman 1st Class Kelsey Escalante, said, "It's something else ... it feels like a real experience."

The students are not graded as individuals but as a team so they learn what it takes to succeed and fail as a team. Bottom line is for Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airman to arrive at their duty station more prepared to enter the fight like never before.