MICs provide vital support to Predator, Reaper mission

  • Published
  • Courtesy of 432d Operations Group
CREECH AFB, Nev. (ACCNS) --  MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper crews at the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing fly combat operations 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year in support of coalition ground and air forces operating in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A Predator or Reaper crew consists of three Airmen: a pilot, sensor operator and mission intelligence coordinator (MIC). While many are familiar with the role pilots and sensor operators play in providing real-time armed reconnaissance, surveillance and precision attack, few understand the role of the third crewmember, the MIC.

"The role of MICs as crewmembers on Predator and Reaper missions is indicative of the changing nature of modern war, and the increasingly operational focus of intelligence personnel assigned to Creech," said Lt. Col. Robert Kiebler, 15th Reconnaissance Squadron commander. "There has been a blurring of the traditional lines between operations and support, and the 432d MICs have a unique opportunity to conduct operational missions."

MIC's are assigned to every squadron in the 432d Operations Group. Their duties include diverse mission coordination with ground forces, collecting target information and ensuring the rest of their crew understands the mission flow and tasks.

MIC's coordinate with a myriad of other agencies to include command centers, joint terminal attack controllers, airspace control authorities and a host of other operations and intelligence agencies around the world to ensure the mission is successful.
While some mission responsibilities are familiar to intelligence personnel, many are not. As a result, all MICs are required to attend the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Intelligence Formal Training Unit course. Once successfully completed, MICs enter Predator or Reaper mission qualification training (MQT). Only after concluding MQT are they certified combat mission ready and considered operational Predator or Reaper crewmembers.

"The rewards for successfully completing the training are great," said Chief Master Sergeant Shawn Smith, 432d Operations Group superintendent and chief enlisted manager.

"Unlike traditional intelligence specialists, MICs at Creech have the opportunity to be in the position to receive instant feedback," Chief Smith said. "A lot of times, a customer may never give you feedback on how the intelligence they received was used. Here, our MICs know when they go home at night how successful they were that day. There's no lapse time on how well they did, they are watching the mission and receive instantaneous feedback from the supported unit."

Airman 1st Class Mary Bourgeois, 42nd Attack Squadron MIC said it's a privilege to be a part of a new and evolving mission.

"Being a MIC, you're directly supporting MQ-9 Reaper missions, and it enables us to see the impact of our support to U.S. and coalition forces immediately. Our role is quite different from that of intel in other operational squadrons," Airman Bourgeois said. "We see what is going on as it happens and have the ability to directly impact missions while they are actually occurring. Knowing that we have this responsibility and opportunity makes it even more exciting to come to work and perform our best." 

Along with the rewards of the job, Capt. Brandon Middleton, 15th RS lead MIC said one of the challenges is that you never know what is going to happen next. 

"MICs must be dynamic and able to quickly think on their feet. If they don't do that, our pilots and sensors won't be able to get the aircraft where it needs to be to employ weapons or collect critical intelligence for future action," Captain Middleton said. "At the end of the day, the most rewarding aspect of being a MIC is the fact you know you may have prevented Coalition forces from being injured or killed." 

The unique mission of MICs also benefits the Air Force as a whole. Lieutenant Colonel Pete Ornell, 432d Operations Group Deputy Commander said the skills they learn here are critical to building a dynamic, well-trained officer and enlisted intelligence corps. 

"Future Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance leaders are being built at Creech," Colonel Ornell said. "When they leave us, they will have a thorough understanding of Predator and Reaper operations and will have dealt first-hand with Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Sailors, and our NATO and host-nation partners. Their understanding of how UAS fits into Air Force and Joint operations will be second to none."