Content area
Full Text
The Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A) is a collection of systems, services, and capabilities that, when correctly employed, gives intelligence Soldiers access to, and the ability to, process intelligence information with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The well-documented complexity of the system necessitates a comprehensive, cradle-to-grave training strategy that emphasizes career-long growth that eventually results in all intelligence Soldiers mastering the fundamentals of their weapon system. Despite considerable resources dedicated to training Soldiers in the application of DCGS-A systems at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE), Foundry courses, New Equipment Training and Tactical Engagement Teams, significant knowledge gaps remain across the Army. These knowledge gaps create systemic and persistent frustration among intelligence Soldiers, preventing the effective employment of the DCGS-A family of systems and limiting intelligence readiness across the force.
To address these knowledge gaps, in October 2015, the U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) G2, directed the creation of the Digital Intelligence Systems Master Gunner Course (DISMGC). It quickly became clear that to successfully create such a course would require a collaborative approach leveraging expertise from across the intelligence enterprise. Over the next four months, FORSCOM, in partnership with the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), USAICoE, and the Joint Forces Headquarters Indiana Intelligence Center, recruited 25 intelligence warrant officers who are recognized experts and innovative practitioners with the DCGS-A family of systems. These warrant officers collaborated to construct a comprehensive program of instruction (POI) that is adaptable to cover the full spectrum of DCGS-A enabled operations, and academically rigorous to justify the Master designation.
The three week POI prepares Military Intelligence (MI) Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) immaterial Active Component/Reserve Component/Army National Guard senior noncommissioned officers, junior, and mid-grade warrant officers and officers to assist in planning and developing a customizable unit intelligence framework to support mission requirements, as well as supervise and inspect DCGS-A related training plans within their unit footprint.
The vision and intent is to place a minimum of one DISMG at USAICoE, the Joint Indiana Intelligence...