26th Intelligence Group: Tearing down the walls

By SMSgt. Gary Parks
426th IS
Ramstein Air Base, Germany

The 26th Intelligence Group and the United States Air Forces in Europe intelligence staff have proven the newly constructed Intelligence and Operations Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, works.

The new I-OC consists of 28 members from the intelligence and communications career fields and forms the core for conducting information operations in the European theater; providing intelligence products and services to the warfighter.

MSgt. Rick Rylance, a 26 IG civil engineer, provided self-help construction in the USAFE Headquarters’ building.

He demolished mortar walls dividing Air Intelligence Agency and USAFE office spaces … a symbol of division with long-standing significance for the members of both commands.

The open atmosphere arising from the dust marks a new era of cooperation between AIA and USAFE.

Members of the 426th Intelligence Squadron now work side-by-side with USAFE personnel, providing signals intelligence products and services for day-to-day and contingency operations.

Their expertise and resources are highly regarded by their USAFE brethren.

This team of experts has become an essential part of USAFE operations.

“The Intelligence-Operations Center provides fused, all-source information to USAFE warfighters. This cannot be done without fully integrating AIA personnel into USAFE’s overall intelligence efforts,” SMSgt. Gary Parks, superintendent of the newly chartered I-OC stated.

Construction of the I-OC was completed just prior to the start of Operation ALLIED FORCE in Serbia and Kosovo. The design of the I-OC facilitated the rapid integration of AIA and USAFE personnel into a cohesive, synergistic team and contributed greatly to the success of the air war in Kosovo.