Isn’t it reassuring to have people you can turn to for advice when faced with a situation or problem requiring good honest assistance?

Many of us have parents or grandparents we turn to, others seek out their pastor, and some may consult a licensed professional depending on the exact nature of the situation. Some may simply choose to discuss their concerns with a good friend.

Take for instance my friend and barber, Mr. Jim Plainer at the Northside Barber Shop in Valdosta. His shop is an ideal location to obtain sound advice on a variety of subjects ranging from classic Chevy’s to the best fish bait for catching bass or bream on the Withlacoochee River. Plainer is an easy man to talk to and has a wealth of information regarding old cars just for the asking and he gives a good haircut once you stop laughing from his hilarious stories and jokes!

Another acquaintance in Valdosta is my friend, Mr. Ernest MacDonald. He is without a doubt the most knowledgeable individual I know when it comes to the care and feeding of lawns, shrubs and trees. I call on him when I need such advice and also receive life lessons as a fringe benefit. He is a wonderful Christian who would give you the shirt off his back and always gives sage advice that is spot-on. On a sad note, my thoughts and prayers go out to him and his wife, Marjorie, on the recent loss of their daughter.

Truly, each of us needs somebody we can count on to assist with analyzing the varied circumstances we face in our daily lives. The airmen of the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron (ESFS) currently deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq, are no exception when it comes to requiring dependable advice and counsel. We rely upon a team of quiet professionals in the Intelligence shop to provide us with sound information and feedback on a daily basis.

In an ever-changing world, there are hundreds of pieces of information critical to the successful operation and defense of a deployed military unit. All matters of intelligence, including human intelligence, imagery intelligence and counter-intelligence operations contribute to the appreciation for a mission which is always in the “on” position. Intelligence gathering and analysis is a never-ending job requiring skill, perseverance and a whole lot of preparation.

Imagine preparing for a final exam every time you show up for work and you have no idea what the exam will cover. Imagine the pressure of knowing that in your profession, failure is not an option! Threat analysis is the constant theme. What weapon might an opposing force use and how they might use it are always questions on the table when it comes to the quest for useful information.

The collection and analysis of intelligence data is becoming an increasingly complex task. This demanding task, however, is in the hands of a capable Intel staff led by 1st Lt. Kristopher Juhl of Valdosta. Juhl explains his “crew functions like that of a group of college football scouts looking to gather information on what the opposing team is doing.” He adds their “real-time capability and analysis of the battle space” definitely enhances the commander’s situational awareness and further contributes to meeting the commander’s intent.

Together with Master Sgt. David Kiesling of Alamogordo, N.M., Tech. Sgt. Michelle Arnott of Kaiserschlautern, Germany, and Airman 1st Class Christopher Dennis of Chicago, Juhl has an incredible team performing meritorious work with more than 25 years of combined professional intelligence-analysis service. Kiesling, the Intel (S-2) shop non-commissioned officer-in-charge (NCOIC), is quick to point out “their work is unlike that of the Hollywood James Bond stereotype, and is actually extremely tedious — our glamour is more akin to finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.”

Arnott, who runs the midnight shift, knows all too well the importance of her work and reminds me her husband is a flight engineer aboard an HH-60 Pave Hawk assigned to the 41st Rescue Squadron, 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base who “consistently refers to the Intel shop for updated information.”

Dennis, the youngest airman in the S-2 shop, was with me on my return trip from Afghanistan last year and has since developed quite the reputation for consistently going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure troops receive the latest Intel reports.

The culmination of their efforts is readily obvious as they deliver daily intelligence briefings to the airmen of the 887th ESFS prior to their departure for daily “outside-the-wire” operations. Relevant intelligence gathering is the stated goal of the S-2 shop which hopes to provide something meaningful to protect our airmen. One such dramatic “score” was the direct result of a human-intelligence source tip-off resulting in the surveillance and successful detection of a large IED (improvised explosive device) on a previous deployment. The detection, discovery and post-investigative analysis of opposing threats is where the intelligence shop continues to successfully downgrade the effectiveness of the tactics of a force seeking to do us harm. The efforts of the Intel shop continue to bolster our readiness and are a critical part of our overall mission success.

The 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron knows who to call when they need answers to the tough intelligence questions. Thanks to the men and women of the intelligence shop for all of your hard, dedicated and professional work. We are proud you are part of the Security Forces team.

Go Air Force!

Write Greg Laffitte: Lt. Col. G.S. Laffitte, Camp Bucca, 887th ESFS, APO AE 09375; or e-mail greg.laffitte@gmail.com