Intelligence collectors bring Iraq back to Fort Bragg

By Staff Sgt.Seth Laughter
2nd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO

Photo by Staff Sgt. Seth Laughter/2nd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO Jake Melton, left, a human intelligence training developer, with Reservoir International, observes the training as Spc. Andrey Udalov, center, a human intelligence collector, from Brooklyn, N.Y., with 82nd Airborne Division Special Troops Battalion, interviews an Iraqi role-player from Reservoir International, during a field exercise, near Fort Bragg, Aug. 4.

Walking down the single, sun-baked street, with the sounds of chickens and goats in a nearby pen and the voices of local Iraqis in muted conversation, mud-daubed buildings with sheet metal roofs crowd the each side of the small path, a visitor would find it difficult to tell the difference between this village and any other in Iraq. However, there is a difference and the difference is the massive pine forest surrounding the village and the oppressive Fort Bragg humidity.

Created by the training group Reservoir International, this village, nestled in the forests surrounding Fort Bragg, is the setting for a unique training experience for 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers who require a very specialized experience to hone their skills.

The human intelligence collectors of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team and the 82nd Airborne Division Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, took part in the training exercise, conducted Aug. 2 through 6. During training, they simulated assuming control of an area of operation in Iraq and establishing contacts with the local population to gather information on insurgent activity. Their mission was also to build relationships with the citizens and village leaders and improve the community.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joe Grano, a human intelligence technician, with Company B, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd BCT, planned the training months in advance with the assistance of Reservoir International “We set up this scenario to imitate Baghdad, where we attempted to replicate everything down to the people, places, and maps we are using,” Grano said.

Throughout the exercise, the teams of four to five paratroopers were presented with myriad of situations in which they had to interact with the village “locals.” The special part of the training was that all of the locals were employed by Reservoir International They were masters of the Iraqi culture and Arabic language, and most were native-born Iraqis. Throughout the exercise, these role-players provided an unprecedented level of realism for the Soldiers in training.

“Realism, that’s our focus for the Soldiers,” said Jake Melton, a human intelligence training developer, with Reservoir International “We replicate everything from the village layout to the people and try to give the Soldiers the most realistic idea of what it’s like down-range. We are trying to bring Iraq to them.”

Because of the realistic level of training, each team had to use a translator to effectively communicate with the locals.

“Interacting with these people gives you the feeling that you are talking with a real person, with a real family, and real issues,” said Pvt. 1st Class Matthew Lindburg, human intelligence collector, from Honolulu, with Co. B, 2nd BSTB.

In each situation or meeting, the paratroopers came into contact with varying personalities, each with their own distinct needs, desires, and cultural standards. They had to consistently adapt to each new encounter and collect the information needed to accomplish the mission and build a relationship with the community.

“Paratroopers must be able to negotiate each situation correctly,” Grano stated.

To provide the paratroopers with the best training possible, each situation could have been handled in many different ways.

“Each meeting has numerous possible outcomes depending on the paratroopers interaction with the Iraqi role-players,” said Grano.

Because of this, a meeting could turn out poorly for the paratroopers because they failed to communicate effectively and they could be forced to leave without any useful information. But, the exercise was designed to show them how to improve their skills.

At any time, an observer-controller from Reservoir International, assigned to each team, could stop the meeting and provide guidance to the Soldiers on how they could recover the situation and communicate effectively with the Iraqi role-player.

“If the situation becomes unsalvageable “the Soldiers or the OCs can reset and start over,” Grano said.

Following each meeting, the teams were given an after action review by the OCs and the teams translator. The translator provided the team with cultural and social advice on issues that could have arisen and how they could have better conveyed their questions or requests.

The OCs provided advice on the overall meeting and feedback on how to improve upon the next meeting with the same individual.

Though the exercise was only five days long, each day represented one week. Therefore when paratroopers met with an individual one day, the next day was notionally a week later and many events may have transpired in that time period.

“Throughout the exercise, there are key pieces of information that the teams need to gather in order to kill or capture high-value targets or to build bridges with local leaders and communities,” said Grano.

After each mission, the teams returned to their base of operations to compare notes and to report their gathered information to their higher headquarters. Day after day, the interactions built upon each other.

“This type of training lets us see things from beginning to the end,” said Staff Sgt. Mubota Watson, a platoon sergeant with Co. B, 2nd BSTB, 2nd BCT. “It gives you the chance and ability to witness how the gathered information is linked together like a puzzle. It makes us more effective.”

Grano described the training as an opportunity to hone their skills and to return to conventional brigade combat team operations after their more humanitarian aid and disaster relief mission in Haiti, earlier this year.

“This (training) is like a pre-season football game,” said Watson. “If you just sat in a locker room and talked about plays you would never get the real experience.

“But this training submerges us neck-deep into the full exposure of our specialty and gives us a boots on the ground, real world scenario,” he continued.

In each scenario, ranging from interaction with possible informants, suspected insurgents, village leaders, to a woman whose husband had been kidnapped, these paratroopers had to quickly adapt and build upon their skills and knowledge in order to successfully complete the exercise and mission.

It was like bringing Iraq to Fort Bragg, “It’s the only training like this, anywhere,” Grano said.

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