The United States Army Europe (USAREUR) routinely deploys a four-person analytical intelligence team in support of an infantry (IN) company (CO) from 1-4 Infantry (IN) Battalion (BN) to Zabul Province, Afghanistan. The team mission is to provide direct intelligence support to the infantry company's platoons, which are independently located on remote Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). The direct support mission requirements entail Intelligence, Synchronization, and Reconnaissance (ISR) planning and execution, creating and production of the daily Intelligence Summary (INTSUM), and management of the local national interpreters for the United States Army Forces.... With a determined focus on quality information and timely dissemination of intelligence products, my intelligence team was the focal point for all intelligence information within the AOR. While they endured the rigors of 16 to 18 hour days, these young analysts were the provincial subject matter experts. They received praise for their level of detail and quality analysis from all forces operating in the province, to include the RC-S level, and the 1-4 IN BN leadership headquartered in Germany. While during the onset of the deployment I was apprehensive about deploying with three junior analysts tasked to provide operational intelligence support. Through it, all the Soldiers erased that apprehension and replaced it with admiration to a job well done based on their competence, diligence, and never say never attitude.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.