FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
The Pennsylvania National Guard filled a gap in the training of Soldiers in the intelligence Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) with the recent launch of the of the Intelligence Electronics Warfare (IEW) program and the fielding of the Intelligence Electronics Warfare Tactical Proficiency Trainer (IEWPT).
Located at Fort Indiantown Gap's Mission Training Complex, the IEWTPT allows units to run full training exercises. The trainer has two parts, an upper enclave and a lower enclave.
“We are filling a void where training never existed,” said James Lee Simmons Jr., IEW program lead at the Mission Training Complex. "It has always fallen on the units to implement whatever 'hip-pocket' training they could fit in the training schedule for these Soldiers."
A great deal of what 35-series (intelligence) Soldiers do is mental rather than physical, so it’s very important to create an environment that exercises the Soldiers’ minds, Simmons said.
“Our goal is that when you walk through our doors, you’re no longer in cantonment, you actually feel that you’re in a field environment,” said Simmons, adding that the trainer includes simulated background noise.
Additionally, the IEW program offers use of the HUMINT (Human Intelligence) Control Cell (HCC). There are two systems, each with a station for a primary and auxiliary trainee and an instructor that can generate more than 50 scenarios.
The site also features a language and cultural resource support center to help Soldiers gain or sustain language proficiency, as they must pass a yearly test to retain the skill qualifier and the additional pay that entitles them. In addition to supporting linguistic fluency, the center also offers Soldiers the opportunity to learn more about the customs and courtesies of regions where they may find themselves operating.
“I loved this training,” said Spc. Brent Martin, a human intelligence analyst with the 28th Infantry Division who studied Arabic at the Defense Language Institute. "I feel like this is the best training we can do as HUMINT-ers at drill, and also as somebody that was trained as a linguist at DLI, this is also beneficial because they actually speak Arabic in the scenario. They’ll translate your questions into Arabic, they’ll answer in Arabic, then it’ll come back to you as an English answer."
The IEW program created a virtual scenario in which Martin could practice tactical questioning, the closest thing to actual 35M MOS training since coming to the 28th ID in 2018. He said he loves doing something relevant to the intelligence field at drill instead of paperwork or non-MOS-specific training.
The key piece in the system is the Soldier’s engagement with the avatar, which is virtual and gamified, according to Parker Lafon, an IEW contractor. The Soldier talks directly to the avatar, which then responds intuitively, in real time.
This system replaces the high output of time, effort and cost required to train with live, contracted role-players.
“The intelligence field is based on confirmation or denial. We believe something to be the case so now I’m going to send an asset out to do ISR,” said Simmons. “If I’m bad at analysis, I’m going to be sending assets out to empty fields and barren sands; If I’m good, my ISR assets will be able to answer critical intelligence gaps that allow the Commander to make well informed decisions.”
The IEW program allows Soldiers to fully run through their processes and test them as realistically as possible in a training environment. For instance, in many previous training scenarios Soldiers would simply be handed a notecard or receive an email with information. This is not how information is transferred in the operational environment, and is thus unrealistic.
“We’re looking to create an immersive training environment,” Simmons said.
Before the IEW program, there was no system to simulate an intelligence feed in a training environment, and Soldiers with these MOSs often require so much Intelligence-based system support that adequate training has been nearly impossible on a drill weekend, Simmons said.
While IEW systems are becoming more widely available, this is only the third to become available nationally at the beginning of 2020. Units from the New York and Virginia National Guards have expressed interested in using the system, which can easily be transported out of state or be used by those units here.
“We will go anywhere a Soldier needs trained,” said Simmons. “We are trying to be the one stop shop for Intel training. You tell me what scenario you want, I tell you I have a building with the desks and the systems set up, all you have to do is show up with the willingness to train.”
Simmons and Lafon are comparable to a marksmanship instructor working as an EST (Engagement Skills Trainer) Operator. It is not necessary to know how to fire a weapon to operate the EST, but if you have a qualified marksmanship instructor as your EST operator, your training and its value are maximized. With a total Military Intelligence experience of nearly 40 years, Simmons and Lafon leverage their knowledge and experiences to ensure that Soldiers are not simply going through the motions of training, but are deeply engaged and encouraged to think and analyze.
Simmons pointed out there is a big difference between showing up to drill and actually doing worthwhile and relevant training.
“When Soldiers actually get to do what they signed up to do, they are much more excited to be at training than they ever are to just be at drill,” he said.