25th Intelligence Squadron

The 25th Intelligence Squadron (IS) is based at Hurlburt Field, FL and is commanded by Lt Col Jared B. Patrick. The squadron has an authorized strength of 252 airborne, ground, and support personnel assigned to the unit headquarters at Hurlburt Field as well as at four geographically-separated detachments. The 25 IS reports to the 361st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Group and Air Force ISR Agency, Lackland AFB, TX and is under the operational control of the 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL.

Mission
The 25 IS is a selectively-manned and uniquely tasked unit, chartered to provide specialized intelligence across the spectrum of conflict. Squadron personnel are qualified to operate as aircrew on board every combat aircraft within the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) inventory. By integrating all-source intelligence and electronic combat capability for special operations forces (SOF), the 25 IS has made Air Force ISR Agency resources integral to SOF mission planning, rehearsal, and execution.

Unit Origins
The 25 IS originated as the 6th Photo Laboratory Section on 28 January 1944 when it activated at Fort Campbell Army Airfield, KY. The unit had two other designations: the 6th Photographic Technical Unit on 30 November 1944 and the 55th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron on 4 March 1949 through its inactivation on 16 June 1952. In that period, the unit also accomplished its specialized intelligence mission at DeRidder Army Air Base (AAB), LA; Stuttgart AAB, AR; Brooks Field, TX; MacDill Field, FL; Wright Field (now Wright-Patterson AFB), OH; Topeka AFB (later Forbes), KS; Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico; and finally Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field #9 (now Hurlburt), Fla.

On 1 October 1993, the Air Force activated and redesignated the unit as the 25th Intelligence Squadron at Hurlburt. That renewed life can be traced to events that occurred during Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama in 1989 and emerging AFSOC requirements after Operations DESERT STORM in 1991. The manpower and resources that later formed the 25 IS came from an Air Force Intelligence Command (AFIC) Liaison Office (OL-MH) at AFSOC and from a 693rd Intelligence Wing detachment (Det 7) that provided Direct Support Operator (DSO--pronounced "dizzo") support to AFSOC operations. As a result of an Air Force reorganization, AFIC became the Air Intelligence Agency (AIA) on 1 October 1993. That reorganization included the activation of the 25 IS. Subsequently, the Air Force changed its name to the 25th Information Operations Squadron on 1 October 2000 and back to the 25 IS on 4 May 2008.

Operations Today
The 25 IS flies its DSOs on all AFSOC platforms on four continents to provide real-time threat warning and enhanced situational awareness to AFSOC aircrews and ground assault forces. Flying as AFSOC aircrew members during training, exercises, and real-world contingencies, DSOs use SILENT SHIELD to exploit information and keep AFSOC aircrews and joint special operations forces inside the enemy decision loop. Unit analysts are also a fundamental part of the mission planning process, providing key information to both DSOs and special operations task forces. Other personnel handle mission support activities to comply with AFSOC flying regulations for training and proficiency, standardization and evaluation, flight scheduling, mobility, and other key areas. Since the initial flights in Operation DESERT STORM, the 25 IS DSOs have logged combat hours with AFSOC in virtually every major military operation around the globe.

In order to provide tailored SIGINT support to AFSOC units across the globe, the 25th IS has a unique section of Network and Signals Analysts. Their charter is to provide direct support to deployed airborne operators, feed tailored SIGINT into special operations mission planning and targeting, and enable airborne precision geo-location operations.

In 2009, the 25 IS stood up a new mission: Tactical Systems Operators (TSO--pronounced "tizzo"). The Squadron is now executing an airborne precision geo-location capability vital to worldwide AFSOC missions. TSOs fly as primary aircrew onboard a wide variety of aircraft to operate, evaluate, and manage airborne ISR information and related ground processing systems. Their primary mission is to provide precision geo-location, interface with other units, and perform and assist with mission planning.

25 IS Detachments
Detachment 2, 25 IS is located at RAF Mildenhall, UK. It is operationally tasked by 352d Special Operations Group (AFSOC). The team at Det 2 is made up of DSOs, analysts, military and contractor maintenance technicians, and staff personnel. It is through the SS teamwork that aircrew on AFSOC aircraft are supported in exercise, training, and in combat with real-time threat warning and enhanced situational awareness. To this end, RAF Mildenhall DSOs have flown several thousand combat hours starting in the mid-1990s and in most AFSOC operations since then, supporting EUCOM, AFRICOM, and CENTCOM AORs.


Detachment 3, 25 IS is located at a classified location and provides Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) with specialized intelligence in support of ongoing contingency operations.

Detachment 5 and Detachment 6, 25th IS are located at Bagram Air Base and Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan. These units are in direct support of joint special operations task forces deployed for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. The operators, analysts, and maintenance personnel provide threat warning and specialized intelligence to special operations aircrews and ground strike forces, and have flown tens of thousands of combat operations since the beginning of OEF.

Operating Location - Alpha (OL-A) is co-located with the 19th Special Operations Squadron on Hurlburt Field, and provides the Flight Training Unit for all DSO students across the 361st ISRG. The OL-A is staffed with a combination of permanent party Instructor cadre and contractors, and is critical in creating and sustaining our ISR Commando enterprise.

Maintenance and Mission Support
The 25th enterprise is reliant on a diverse team of professionals to enable combat operations across the globe. Personnel assigned to the Logistics Support Flight ensure all mission equipment is properly configured, loaded on AFSOC aircraft, maintained, and repaired across 4 continents. Additionally, our maintenance personnel manage an extensive supply system and serve as a direct evaluation and training component to liaise with vendors and equipment program managers.

Our Mission Support Flight comprises an impressive mix of combat enablers that ensure our operators head out the door on time and with proper training. The Flight is comprised of communications and computer professionals, logisticians, planners, deployment managers, unit training managers, and Resource Advisors. Together they maintain classified networks, execute funding, push deployers out the door, and ensure that the unit is trained and ready to fight.


Unit Awards
DoD Command Language Program of the Year, 2000
NSA Travis Trophy Winner, 2001
Pitsenbarger Award (individual honor, TSgt Navid Garshasb), 2001
NSA Director's Trophy, 2003
Air Force Command Language Program of the Year, 2000-2003
DoD Linguist of the Year, 2005
ACC Language Program of the Year, 2005
AFISRA Squadron of the Year, 2009
AFISRA Command Language Program of the Year, 2010
AFISRA Squadron of the Year, 2010
NSA Director's Trophy, 2010
NSA Director's Trophy, 2011

Lineage
Constituted 6th Photo Laboratory Section on 15 Jan 1944. Activated on 28 Jan 1944. Redesignated 6th Photographical Technical Unit on 30 Nov 1944; 55th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron on 4 Mar 1949. Inactivated on 14 Oct 1949. Activated on 1 Nov 1950. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952. Redesignated 25th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron on 16 Oct 1984. Redesignated 25th Intelligence Squadron, and activated, on 1 Oct 1993. Redesignated 25th Information Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 2000. Redesignated 25th Intelligence Squadron on 4 May, 2008.

Assignments
74th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 28 Jan 1944; 311th Reconnaissance Wing (later, 311th Air Division), 15 Apr 1947; 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 4 Mar-14 Oct 1949. 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium, 1 Nov 1950-16 Jun 1952; 67th Intelligence (later, 67th Information Operations) Group, 1 Oct 1993; 55th Operations Group, 5 Jul 2006; 361st ISR Group, 17 Oct 2008.

Stations
Campbell AAF, KY, 28 Jan 1944; DeRidder AAB, LA, 19 Apr 1944; Stuttgart AAB, AR, 5 Feb 1945; Brooks Fld, TX, 7 Dec 1945; MacDill Fld, FL, 22 Mar 1946; Wright Fld (later, Wright-Patterson AFB), OH, 22 Sep 1947; Topeka (later, Forbes) AFB, KS, 16 Nov 1948-14 Oct 1949. Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, 1 Nov 1950-16 Jun 1952. Eglin AF Aux Fld #9 (Hurlburt Fld), FL, 1 Oct 1993-.

Service Streamers
World War II American Theater

Campaign Streamers
Liberation of Iraq 2003
Transition of Iraq 2003-2004
Iraqi Governance 2004-2005
National Resolution 2005-2007
Iraqi Surge 2007-2008
Liberation of Afghanistan 2001
Consolidation I 2001-2006
Consolidation II 2006-2009

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers
Global War on Terrorism

Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V Device
17 Jan-1 May 2003
1 Jan 2009 -31 Dec 2009

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards
1 Oct 1993-30 Sep 1994
1 Oct 1994-30 Sep 1995
1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1996
1 Oct 1996-30 Sep 1997
1 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1998
1 Oct 1999-30 Sep 2000
1 Jun 2001-31 May 2002
1 Jun 2003-31 May 2005

Meritorious Unit Awards (MUA)
1 Jun 2006-31 May 2007
1 Jun 2007-31 May 2008
1 Jul 2008 - 30 Jun 2009
1 Jan 2010 - 31 Dec 2010

Emblem Significance
Blue and yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The wings represent the unit's airborne mission. The dagger reflects the Squadron's lineage as a support unit to tactical and Special Operations Forces. The chess knight symbolizes the unit's function in intelligence gathering.

(Current as of June 2012)

Units