TIGR - COIST

Infantrymen learn ins, outs of intel 12/18/2008 #2150

Fourteen Soldiers from several companies with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were selected to participate in a week-long Company Intelligence Support Team training, otherwise known as COIST, Dec. 8-12, at Fort Riley. The purpose of the training was to employ intelligence capabilities to both intelligence and non-intelligence Soldiers at the company-level.

The 1st Infantry Division first began COIST training at Fort Riley in February 2008. Since that time, Soldiers with the 2nd and 3rd brigades received the training prior to their deployments, but this was the first time Soldiers with the 4th IBCT received the training at Fort Riley, said Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Gouge, 1st Inf. Div. mentor for the program.

Soldiers selected for the team were screened at the company level and certified by battalion senior intelligence personnel, who also helped facilitate the training. A minimum of six Soldiers from each company is the optimal number for the continued operation of the program, however, four representatives can be effective for a limited duration, Gouge said.

“For 4th Brigade, this is their first training event. They had some COIST training when they were deployed, but they didn’t have any training prior. They just implemented COIST while they were in theater,” Gouge said. “COISTs are intelligence cells at the company level, because right now the only formal intelligence cell that is conducted is at the battalion level. The companies now are taking non-military intelligence Soldiers through this course and giving them basic 35 Fox (all-source analysts) skills so they can do the analysis for the company.”

The job of COIST members is to assist the company commander in developing and maintaining situational awareness of his or her area of responsibility; develop lethal and non-lethal courses of action based on the commander’s desired effect; manage collection assets, develop priority and specific intelligence requirements and identify second and third order effects of company operations; and work closely with the battalion intelligence officer to facilitate information from the lowest to the highest levels.

While in theater, COIST members will analyze information stored on Biometric Automated Toolsets, which Soldiers on the ground have collected through Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment. Additionally, COIST members will use the Tactical Intelligence Ground Reporting system for ground operation plotting and route analysis and will conduct the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance plan for the company.

 “One of the things they’ll do that no one else does is pre-brief the patrol before they go out,” Gouge said. “When a patrol is about to go out, they will get the latest SIP (special intelligence processing) notes and enemy threats. They’ll get enough information coming into them so they can make a picture for the patrols. When the patrols come back, they also debrief them.”

Unlike regular military intelligence Soldiers, COIST members will still perform the daily duties of their primary jobs until they deploy.

Once in theater, the COIST becomes the Soldier’s full-time job.

While most of the Soldiers viewed the training as a good opportunity, Spc. Charles Rennix, Company D, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, said he felt more comfortable as an infantryman.

“It is a good opportunity to learn some essential reconnaissance intelligence, but I would rather be on the ground clearing houses and what not. But if that’s what I need to do, that’s what I need to do,” he said. “I think it is definitely important. Besides the infantry, it’s probably close to being the backbone of the whole operation. It will help. We will know what’s going on, what to do and where to go, but it’s a lot of variables to digest.”

Spc. Gary Cosper, Company G, 701st Brigade Support Battalion, looked at the training as a way to enhance his leadership skills.

“I was thinking about getting out of the military because I was a mechanic. When I originally signed up, I went from the Explosive Ordnance Division to mechanic. I was bored and I wanted to get out. Then I got put on a MiTT team and was out in charge of the S-1,” Cosper said. “It’s nice to find out there is still stuff out there that can spark your interest. The COIST training is definitely an incentive to re-enlist. If you got stuck in a job in the military that you don’t like, all you are doing is waiting for that re-enlistment to be over with. So it’s nice to be able to come to work now and say, ‘Oh yea, I get to do something fun today instead of turning wrenches.”

In addition to receiving an overview of what to expect as a COIST member, the Soldiers also received hands-on training on some of the equipment they will use and demonstrations of how to operate the HIIDE and BAT.

Training on the equipment is extremely important to learn how to better support company operations, said Warrant Officer Thomas Fieber, 1st Inf. Div. trainer and program manager.

“There has been a big push (at Fort Riley) for the training at this level. The whole point behind the COIST is to provide organic intelligence support to the company that might not otherwise have the intelligence assets,” Fieber said. “The reception that I have gotten as a trainer and as a program manager for this division has been outstanding. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from everyone we’ve trained. They’re all pretty excited about getting the training and being able to use this stuff when they deploy. I think it’s definitely going to be good and it’s definitely going to be a good force multiplier.”

By Dena O’DellStaff writer