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Changing
to Meet
a
Changing World
By Brig. Gen. John D.
Thomas Jr.
INSCOM
provides significant, value-added support through a
seamless intelligence architecture which links all levels
of capability and serves as a smart bridge between corps
and echelon above corps. INSCOM provides coordinated
connectivity and target access, ensuring the entire force
is target-smart and technically proficient. With these
capabilities, INSCOM provides critical support for force
projection by operational intelligence preparation of the
battlefield. The architecture provides for split- based
operations and tactically tailored, tiered deployment
packages with unique capabilities.
Under the modular,
"A" Series TOE structure, INSCOMs
tactical tailoring allows for soldier teams with unique
capabilities to be assigned more efficiently against a
theater commander-in-chiefs requirements. About 95
percent of INSCOMs force structure has been
converted; the command expects to achieve full
operational capability in the fourth quarter of fiscal
year 1998.
Force packages are tiered
and numbered to meet the expanding or contracting
requirements of the theater. For example, a tier I
package would be the first element designated to deploy
and would consist of a number of teams with a variety of
specifically needed skills. Each additional, tiered
package expands the MI capabilities in theater according
to the anticipated requirements.
"When you get one INSCOM soldier, you get the whole
of INSCOM." The common team structure developed
across the greater INSCOM organization allows the command
to quickly lift and shift team assets to meet the needs
of its brigade commanders and the theater
commander-in-chief each brigade supports. This allows
more efficient use of limited assets: the right skills
are in the right place at the right time.
This capability of
flexible, dynamic intelligence support exists only in the
U. S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. Our INSCOM
soldiers and civilians developed this premier capability
through a lot of sweat, dedication and perseverance. They
always find a way to get things done, to meet the need
and carry the load when others might have given up. Our
soldiers and civilians are our most important asset...the
true "brains behind the outfit."
This year marks 20 years of
INSCOM premier capabilities and accomplishments. The U.S.
Army Intelligence and Security Command has evolved from
its beginnings at Arlington Hall Station, Va., on Jan. 1,
1977. There have been changes in brigades,
redesignations, consolidations, activations and
deactivations during the last 20 years. Our most recent
activation was the official opening of the Army Computer
Emergency Response Team Coordination Center here at
INSCOMheadquarters. As part of the Land Information
Warfare Activity led by Col. Hal Stevens, the ACERT/CC
detects, tracks and reports computer attacks against Army
computer networks. Its story is in this issue of the
INSCOMJournal.
Our latest deactivation
struck a sad note in all of us. On May 20, we conducted
an inactivation ceremony for the 470th MI Brigade led by
Col. Ron Burgess. A forward based detachment of 69
soldiers from Company D, 202d MI Battalion, 513th MI
Brigade, will assume the mission of the 470th at Fort
Clayton, Panama, upon its official inactivation date of
July 15.
Brig.
Gen. John D. Thomas Jr.
Commander,
INSCOM
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