Intelligence matters Published Jan. 31, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Rachelle Elsea 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force's only F-22 Raptor Intelligence Initial Qualification Course has called Tyndall Air Force Base home since 2006, and has produced more than 200 students to add to the strength of the F-22 fleet. The school falls under the F-22 Intelligence Formal Training Unit, 325th Operations Support Squadron, which conducts five IIQC classes per fiscal year with the capability to add additional classes as Air Force contingency and manning needs dictate. Each F-22 IIQC consists of a maximum of seven students selected from each F-22 Combat Air Force unit. "The F-22 intelligence community is relatively small. With only 184 aircraft, our class size of seven students per class allows us to meet the training requirements for the F-22 CAF units which we support," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Sweat, 325th Operations Support Squadron F-22 Intelligence Formal Training Unit NCO in charge. "We also emphasize quality over quantity in our approach to intelligence training. Because of this, our small class sizes are ideally suited to allow us to provide more one-on-one targeted training with our students based on their own individual backgrounds and experience levels." Both officers and enlisted are selected to attend the F-22 IIQC after graduation from technical school and upon being assigned to an F-22 unit. On average, 25 to 35 students per year attend the F-22 IIQC. These F-22 Intelligence analysts support five Air Force major commands: Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Pacific Air Forces, Air National Guard Bureau and Air Force Reserve Command, which includes five F-22 fighter wings and 13 F-22 fighter squadrons. "F-22 intelligence analysts are assigned to every combat and training F-22 fighter squadron and operations support squadron in the Air Force," Sweat said. "Active-duty F-22 units belong to ACC and PACAF. In addition, Guard and Reserve F-22 units are co-located with the active-duty units. The F-22 IFTU is the primary training location for active duty, Guard and Reserve F-22 intelligence analysts. The F-22 IFTU is also actively supporting AETC as it prepares to stand up its F-35 IFTU at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla." The students undergo a five week-intelligence course with training combining in-depth academics, tours, labs, exams and practical exercises emphasizing individual research and analysis. Upon graduation, students possess a thorough understanding of F-22 unit level responsibilities in supporting fighter aircraft in the aerial combat environment. "The first half of the course focuses on the capabilities of F-22 avionics, weapons systems and tactical employment," Sweat said. "This provides the students with a baseline to apply to the intelligence specific training, which they receive later in the course. This training includes threat academics, targeting, combat mission planning, pilot debriefing and mission reporting. Throughout the course, the students will complete two combat mission planning exercises in which they will prepare, plan and debrief a simulated F-22 combat mission." Teaching the students are the instructor cadres, consisting of three enlisted intelligence instructors. F-22 IFTU instructors provide in-depth F-22 mission planning and threat academics during all phases of the course. Additional expert guest instruction during the course is also provided by F-22 subject matter experts from the 325th Training Support Squadron, F-22 instructor pilots from the 43rd Fighter Squadron and air battle managers from the 337th Air Control Squadron, all located here. "F-22 intelligence analysts' support an F-22 fighter squadron in a variety of ways, including training pilots on threats, providing mission planning support and producing mission reports for each combat mission flown," Sweat said. "It is imperative that qualified personnel are available to fill these roles in the fighter squadron. The mission of the F-22 IFTU is to ensure that intelligence analysts are trained and qualified to perform their combat mission."