Guard team takes silver at intelligence competition
The United States Army’s most qualified uniformed interrogation teams met at Fort Bragg, North Carolina to compete in the inaugural Army Interrogation Olympics to determine the Army’s Best Interrogation Team of the Year. Military Intelligence Soldiers from Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard components met and thrived in an austere field environment while refining and improving individual and collective HUMINT, analytical, leader, and Soldier skills. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Meaney
Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs
PINEVILLE — A team of five Louisiana National Guardsmen assigned to the 415th Military Intelligence Battalion (MI BN) and the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took second place in the inaugural Interrogation Olympics, code named Lightning Storm, hosted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in August.
A total of 13 teams participated in the competition. The Soldiers who represented the LANG were: Staff Sgt. Cody Gonzales, of Bridge City; Sgt. Taylor Slaughter, of West Monroe; Sgt. Julian Johnson, of Baton Rouge; Sgt. Joshua Gregg, of Monroe; and Staff Sgt. Michael Celestin, of New Orleans.
The Interrogation Olympics is a multi-component, multi-echelon event created to challenge intelligence Soldiers in leadership, tactical and technical tasks in a simulated large-scale combat operating (LSCO) environment while fostering cohesion and esprit de corps all while determining the Army’s best interrogation team. “The creation of this competition was a collaborative effort between four organizations: the 525th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade (E-MIB), Army Interrogation Group ( AIG), Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) and INSCOM Intelligence training Center (I2TC),” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chuck Damboise, Lightning Storm exercise director. “The 525th E-MIB worked closely for over a year planning and coordinating on a monthly basis to prepare for our hosting responsibilities.”
Units from all Army components containing interrogation collective tasks received an invitation to compete.
“The number of teams participating was generally driven by the amount of resources in personnel and equipment that the 525th E-MIB could provide. Over 300 personnel were required to conduct this event,” said Damboise. “Each unit was authorized to provide a team of five personnel that consisted of four human intelligence collectors and one all source analyst.”
The LANG’s team was selected by the company commanders, first sergeants and platoon sergeants of Soldiers that volunteered to compete.
“ Team members were selected based on experience, prior performance at training exercises and how each one’s individual strengths would mesh and contribute to overall team success,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Clifford Evans, a Lake Village, Arkansas native, and advisor and action officer for the competing team.
The LANG’s team had approximately two months to prepare for the event.
“Information on what to expect during the competition was purposely kept from the competitors,” said Celestin, an intelligence analyst with the 415th. “We knew we would be in the field for three to four days and possibly conducting an unmounted patrol, so this is what we prepared ourselves for.”
Over the course of three days in an austere field environment, the Interrogation Olympics tested Soldiers’ human intelligence (HUMINT) collection skills on six separate lanes.
These lanes tested Soldiers on HUMINT key training mission essential tasks: conduct intel interrogation planning and preparation, conduct screening, question sources for intel information, prepare intelligence/ tech reports, conduct intel analysis in support of operations, conduct HUMINT operational planning, review reports and determine threat course of actions.
As a team leader and interrogator with the 415th, Gonzales had to ensure his team was prepared for any situation presented on the lanes.
“I had three primary responsibilities: receive the mission brief, employ the subsequent troop leading procedures and manage our time and resource allocation, which in this case meant ensuring everyone had enough time to prepare and submit all necessary reports,” said Gonzales.
