Hello Eric,

You pose a great question. Transitions are tough, especially in your situation with the lack of battle handoff. I agree with Mark that you have to establish a knowledge baseline and learn effectively.

Expanding on Mark’s PIR comment, what exercises and/or deployments are on the short-range/long-range training calendar? What other units will you be supporting? I would contact your adjacent unit S-2s to coordinate products/ scenarios. This will help you allocate time and resources to ensuring your team produces intelligence products (IPOE) that effectively drive training.

The amount of time allocation will depend on the appetite of your leadership. I’ve had leaders who don’t request much from the intel section. However, I argue that this is where you add value to training. As an S-2, I had monthly briefings to the aviators that focused on an emerging threat in the region. The Brigade S-2 also had monthly S2 professional development meetings that helped.

As an aviation S-2, your personnel security processes are also critical. For one, most aviators require a secret clearance which requires an organized approach to in/out-processing personnel. How does your unit conduct their S2 processing/ out-processing? How can it be streamlined?
How do commanders communicate derogatory information to the S2 and to the commander?

These are some initial thoughts. Feel free to reach out with more questions at george.l.gurrola.mil@mail.mil.

Good luck and congrats on your new position.

George