User:Abovfold/Sandbox/WIT

Weapons Intelligence Teams

>>>What WIT was designed for and why NGIC advised standing it up/using the 203rd to accomplish it>>>problems>>>overcoming issues>>>development + success

INSCOM tasked the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) with developing a workable Concept of Operations to implement a counter-IED program. NGIC’s mission analysis led to the recommendation of establishing a Counter IED Targeting Program (CITP). The CITP would consist of three basic cooperating, but separate, sections: WITs; a forward fusion cell, and a CONUS based fusion center. The current CITP mission is to increase the collection of technical intelligence (TECHINT) using WITs and to provide forward and rear fusion cells producing actionable intelligence to support the targeting of bomb-makers and their networks.

NGIC Commanders guidance for the staffing of phase II was to mobilize the 203rd. The 203rd mobilized and assumed the Weapon Intelligence Team mission in May 2005, and 47 reserve component and seven active component Soldiers deployed to Iraq in September 2005. This task force provided 13 Weapon Intelligence Teams to 13 Brigade Combat and Regimental Combat Teams.

A soldier from the 203rd WIT teaches forensic science to members of the Iraqi Police.

Once the correct time line was determined the NGIC Deputy Commander notified the Commander of the 203rd to prepare his unit for mobilization and deployment. The Commander was directed to modify and accelerate his annual training plan. The challenge of this was very difficult for the staff of the 203rd as there were not sufficient funds and personnel available to make such a drastic change in direction so quickly. Unfortunately, this task was overwhelming for the current commander and he was relived of his command. This again provided new challenges for the NGIC staff to assist with the training development of our operationally controlled (OPCON) subordinate Battalion. The 203rd is OPCON to the NGIC for peacetime training, but was flagged or administrative controlled (ADCON) by the USAR giving them a dual chain of command. As a USAR unit and without a mobilization order, the supporting USAR command could not fully fund the required mission change. Without the necessary funding and personnel, the NGIC stepped in to provide both. The USAR Chain of Command appointed a new Commander, and NGIC provided a MAJ to oversee and develop the pre-mobilization training.

The Soldiers that were identified to be mobilized in support of this tasking were notified. The unit then conducted an accelerated annual training at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia with great success in training these Soldiers in the required Warrior Tasks. It was determined that the specialized pre-deployment training required six weeks of extensive training at home station. After working through the mobilization process the mobilization order was approved and issued with only two weeks before the required start date to meet the suspense for the required no later than arrival in country date. Lastly, the NGIC was challenged again as it was determined that First Army required a two week unit validation at Fort Dix, New Jersey prior to deployment. The extra time requirement required us to modify the pre-deployment training to include evenings and cancel part of the planned block leave in order to meet both validation requirements and stay on schedule for the RIP/TOA. I was very impressed at how motivated the Soldiers were during one of my site visits in that they truly understood the enormity of the task before them. They where also very appreciative of the new skills they were receiving. These new skills are now being written up into a new skill identifier and the entire process of Training for Phase III began in May 2006 and will once again be based out of Aberdeen Proving Ground with the 203rd Military Intelligence Battalion serving as the headquarters.

The first WITs received sixteen days of training at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 2004 and immediately deployed to Iraq. These initial teams enjoyed limited success, but succeeded in validating the concept of the WIT. Additionally, the teams were instrumental in getting the word out to battlefield commanders that they now had a valuable asset in the CIED fight. The second WIT rotation (Phase II) was assigned to the 203rd which deployed to Iraq to assume responsibility for the WIT mission in 2005. Since 2006, WITs have been made up of a combination of personnel from the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Weapons Technical Intelligence is the role, WIT is the team

“By providing an intelligence capability that did not previously exist, the Weapons intelligence Team concept proved a great success. In May 2005, MNC-I approved an extension of Phase I - Proof of Concept for an additional 1 80 days and requested the CITP program expand by adding an additional seven weapons intelligence teams for Phase II” WIT Background and Future (n.d.). The NGIC Commanders guidance for the staffing of phase II was to mobilize The 203rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Technical Intelligence). The 203rd MI BN is the US Army’s only Technical Intelligence Battalion. A Multiple Component Battalion, the unit is organized into three companies and one detachment. The 203rd MI BN mobilized and assumed the Weapon Intelligence Team mission in May 2005, 47 reserve component and seven active component Soldiers, and deployed to Iraq in September 2005. This task force provided 13 Weapon Intelligence Teams to 13 Brigade Combat and Regimental Combat Teams.

By late 2010, the 203rd had around 80 WIT investigators spread out across 15 Forward Operating Bases in Iraq, embedded with Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Teams and working in very remote locations, in partership with Iraqi security forces.

For this work, the unit gained the unofficial moniker "CSI: Baghdad", a reference to the popular criminal forensics television series.