Commentary: Intel personnel carry out pivotal tasking

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jerry Lee
  • 482nd Operations Support Flight
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  The 482nd Operations Support Flight's Intelligence personnel worked around the clock to complete 400 "Isolated Personnel Reports" in October 2008 while preparing for the 482nd Fighter Wing members for deployment to Iraq in January.

Recently, "Isolated Personnel Reports" (ISOPREPs) were mandated for all deploying Airmen going to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Our Intelligence personnel had to find innovative ways to coordinate and complete 400 ISOPREPs with a new system called Personnel Recovery Mission Software (PRMS) too meet the 482nd Fighter Wing's war time tasking.

Here's a little background for those who are unfamiliar with the acronym "ISOPREP." The ISOPREP is a data card maintained on all "High Risk" and "Medium Risk of Isolation" personnel. It's an operational authentication tool containing personal information is known only to the isolated individual and is used by recovery forces to positively authenticate isolated personnel in enemy controlled or contested areas. Once completed, the ISOPREP is classified "Confidential" and is maintained by the appropriate operations personnel.

PRMS is the database for ISOPREP development, storage maintenance and access by recovery forces. Information collected by PRMS is the most important source of authentication data in use by the U.S. (and some allies) that directs the user to provide statements and a number containing information known only to them. These statements and number must be "durable," able to be protected, and easily remembered by the individual. Additional information is also collected on the ISOPREP's such as profile information, scars, allergies, front and side photographs and survival training.

One can see the tasking of accomplishing 400 ISOPREP's was daunting. A normal ISOPREP takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete per individual. Not only are the reports confidential, they require two digital photos per person; and fact the majority of the people requiring the ISOPREPs were part-time reservists with little of no knowledge of this particular report.

Master Sgt. John Ertel, Staff Sgt. Elliott Lonz, and Staff Sgt. Brian Gilbert of the 482nd Operations Support Flight were able to set an all time Department of Defense and consequently an Air Force record of completing over 400 ISOPREP's in only a day-and-a-half, according to Mr. Jeff Fields, Department of Defense PRMS User Lead with L3 Communications. The flexibility the Homestead ARB leadership affords individuals in cultivating solutions to seemingly impossible taskings, such as the one above, is what is making Homestead ARB become a showcase base. The coordination and support of Col. William Binger, 482nd Fighter Wing commander, Lt. Col. Ross Anderson, 482nd Operations Group commander, all other group and squadron commanders, and each individual member of the 482nd FW family, was absolute and cohesive. With feats like this, it's no wonder that more and more people are being attracted to Homestead ARB - not to mention the warm weather, sandy beaches and swaying palm trees.