'Wikipedia' for pilots: CIC provides Red Flag Intel Needs Published Feb. 8, 2010 By Tech Sgt. Chris Stagner Red Flag Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Hollywood glamorizes fighter pilots. It paints a picture of brazen men and women who put their lives on the line to do anything from combating terrorists to playing beach volleyball in cowboy boots. Wearing combat boots instead of cowboy boots, Airmen across the world put their lives on the line every time they take off to fly, fight and win. But pilots don't leave airfields with an innate knowledge of what to expect; someone has to prepare them for the dangers they might face. That's why they have such in-depth mission planning, and that's something they can't do alone. Whether it's in combat or training, pilots always have intelligence specialists there to educate them on any threats they might face. At Red Flag, this mission falls to the Airmen of the Core Intelligence Cell. While they might not be in the habit of physically flying and fighting first-hand, they're certainly involved in winning by making sure each and every pilot who leaves Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for a Red Flag mission is prepared to accomplish their goals and come home safely. For every mission a pilot at Red Flag flies, the CIC briefs them three times, and the briefers adopt a special mentality to do it. "We have to try to outsmart the bad guys," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Dyck, Red Flag CIC night NCO-in-charge deployed from the 48th Operations Group at RAF Lakenheath, England. "We try to figure out what they're going to do next so the pilots know what to expect. If we've done our jobs right, they'll always succeed." Sometimes referred to as 'the Wikipedia for the pilots', the intelligence Airmen spend countless hours reviewing and analyzing information so aircrews leave Las Vegas with aces up their sleeves. They research the routes the pilots are going to fly and what threats and weaponry they might encounter. If a pilot asks a question, they have to be prepared to answer it. As studied as the intelligence specialists are, they don't know everything, and they rely on the pilots to provide the tactical information needed so future missions are better prepared. "The pilots debrief with their squadron intelligence officers, and then bring that information to us," said 2nd Lt. Loren Voss, CIC night officer in charge deployed from the 48th OG at Lakenheath. "We use the information that's provided to us to analyze tactics, because that's something only the pilots have seen." Though the intelligence Airmen at Red Flag are considered subject matter experts, they still benefit from the Red Flag experience. "This is the first time I've worked in this environment," said Airman 1st Class Robert Gause, CIC Order of Battle manager deployed from Lakenheath. "I feel better prepared because I have a better knowledge of what the pilots need."
