317th OSS wins AMC Intel Unit of the Year Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 317th Operations Support Squadron intelligence unit was named Outstanding OSS/Information Warfare Flight Intelligence Unit of the Year by Air Mobility Command for 2006.

Now, the 317th OSS will compete with other commands for the Air Force-level award.
"We support (the 317th Airlift Group) as it flies missions in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East as part of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom," said Maj. Christopher Boring, 317th OSS intelligence flight commander. "The mobility mission is global. As enablers, we are not part of traditional AEF deployment cycles; every 120 days, one of the two flying squadrons here (the 39th Airlift Squadron and the 40th Airlift Squadron) is deployed."

He said the unit is responsible for the manning and running of C-130 intel operations in Iraq, providing training to aircrew on enemy dispositions, weapons, tactics, and geographic and political stances. All aircrew have annual intel training requirements, and the intel shop also briefs senior leadership on the status of flying operations.

"We use a combination of open-source press, messaging traffic, and linguistics' bi-products, take that (classified) information, and meld it into a big picture for key staff members so they're able to make decisions," said Master Sgt. Bradley Langley, 317th OSS intelligence flight chief.

"The saying goes, 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,'" Major Boring said. "That's true for this flight, certainly. We all do what we need to do to support the mission, in-garrison and out. We go above and beyond to support combat operations not only for the C-130 but also for the global mission - the Global War on Terror."

The dedication of the folks here and their professionalism - being ready to go any time - enables the mission, Sergeant Langley said.

One such person, Staff Sgt. Scott Dougherty, the flight's deployed noncommissioned officer in charge, won the AMC NCO of the Year Award and will be returning from the area of responsibility shortly, Major Boring said.

"Sergeant Dougherty is in harm's way daily, outside the wire," Major Boring said. "He is basically in charge of improvised explosive device exploitation, which takes into account all of the evidence gathered during an event and sending the information to the fusion cell, resulting in a course of action."

Sergeant Dougherty is renowned for his excellent work; he won the same award as an Airman, Major Boring said.

"Sergeant Dougherty showed us he was a hard-charger from day one and has deployed more than anyone else in the flight," he said.

"It's an honor working in AMC because of its diverse mission," Sergeant Langley said. "This team works together to get the mission done and definitely deserves the credit for it. I'm excited to see us go on to compete at the Air Force level."