Aviano Intelligence analyst arms leaders downrange

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Fighting on two warfronts where anything goes from suicide bombers to cell phone detonated improvised explosive devices, timely, well-researched, intelligence gathering is critical to winning the war on terror.

This is why Tech. Sgt. David Maurice, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Intelligence NCO in charge, takes his job so seriously both at home station at Aviano Air Base, Italy, and downrange at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

"I have to always know what's going on," said the San Antonio, Texas, native. "In my career field, not being on your 'A game' puts other people in danger. My flight ensures all parties have timely and accurate intelligence. This allows leaders to make accurate decisions and operators to work with the right information."

As an intelligence analyst, Sergeant Maurice spends his time researching and analyzing activity within the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility, mostly in the form of intelligence reports.

"I compile my analyzed information and brief leadership daily on threats to our mission to include our aircraft, convoys and force protection and any other activity within the AOR that might have an impact," he said.

The 11-year Air Force veteran said the last five months of his deployment here have been routine for the most part.

"The cycle of my job begins in the afternoon, when I research strategic level topics for the next day's briefing," said the sergeant. "In the morning, I compile and analyze tactical level activity from the previous day.

"If any activity occurred that might affect wing operations, I coordinate with that specific unit to ensure their mission operators are fully aware of what happened and how it affects their mission," he said. "After I gather all necessary information, both strategic and tactical, I compile the data into one briefing for wing leadership. After my briefing, the cycle starts again."

The sergeant, now on his seventh deployment, said that while time away from home and family can become daunting at times, it is a necessary part of military life and something all Airmen should experience.

"Deploying is an invaluable experience," he said. "We spend most of our time at home station training for locations like these, but the training has nothing on the real experience."

It was this exact experience, working as part of a provisional reconstruction team in southern Afghanistan this past year that led to Sergeant Maurice being recognized as the 2009 U.S. Air Forces in Europe Outstanding Active Duty Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance NCO of the Year. He is now in competing at the Air Force-level.

"I was really shocked when I heard the news," said the humble NCO, who found out while deployed here via a phone call from his home station office on speaker phone. "It took a long time to sink in. I've never met anyone in my career field who has won at that level. It was a personal victory."

Sergeant Maurice said that over the last 11 years in the intelligence career field he has found that there are certain qualities Airmen must possess in order to meet mission success.

"To do this job, you need self motivation," he said. "Most of the time, we work by ourselves, so no matter who else motivates you, there are going to be times that you've got to keep yourself going."

The NCO added that a common misconception about his career field is that analysts simply gather information and report it.

"Intelligence is analysis of information, not just information itself," he said. "Someone who briefs you on what happened without adding their analysis is a newscaster, not intel."

As the NCO's time here comes to an end in the coming weeks, he said he is looking forward to finally settling into his Italian "casa" and enjoying his last two years on station, working for the first time in support of F-16s.

"At Aviano, my flight is the primary intelligence support for F-16 operations; however, since being assigned there, I'm on my second straight deployment and have not had the opportunity to work in my flight yet," he said. "It'll be nice to finally settle in for awhile, learn my job at Aviano and enjoy some time at home with my family."