08/02/05

Submitted by Bob Boyd

STRATCOM J2 Divestiture Update - From All Hands 14 July

Attended the J2 All Hands today that was led by Len Brown (Acting J2) to place the most current information forward to the J2 workforce regarding the expected changes --and they are quite significant in scope.

1) STRATCOM HQ is moving quickly towards capability provider and advocate instead of warfighting headquarters and will not require very much internal intelligence support. Decision was made by Gen Cartwright on Friday to divest the major portion of the J2 organization in order to move the command towards more process and methodology support, and to eliminate most functions associated with intelligence trend analysis and command centered situational awareness. Gen Cartwright has received significant inputs from the IC and USD (I) leadership in making the decision last week to divest over 80% of his intelligence support.

2) The current 804 intelligence billets (604 of which are funded by DIA/GDIP) will be drawn down to just 150 that directly support the command, with an additional 120 sub-allocated to the new Joint Functional Component Commands. 450 GDIP funded billets will go directly back to DIA.

3) Of the remaining 150 billets, very few will stay in the same positions or functions --with the exception of SSO, Imagery Management, and Mapping, Charting, & Geodesy personnel in "housekeeping services" that will be retained. Most will move to new positions in J5 & J8 that are more centered on advocacy and operational process management. However, new areas for increased intelligence support (and business) include the Global Innovative Strategy Center, War Plan Support, and Strategic Communications (strategic influence operations). These are not analytical in nature, but pulling from various production centers and coordinating intelligence products.

4) All former DIA production work at STRATCOM will be moving to new centers at DIA or out to other commands and service intelligence organizations. Intelligence systems personnel are already moving to the DIA "IT Way Ahead" Program and will be incorporated into the DIA IT Enterprise but for the time being remaining located at Offutt AFB.
STRATCOM is not alone among COCOMs in being forced to divest their GDIP supported billets, but will be the worst hit of all unified commands.

5) Impact to uniformed personnel is expected to be minor, with most just changing jobs until their tour expires at STRATCOM. Civilians will be more affected, but command is focused on eliminating the need for any RIF. Furthermore, there are no monies available to support either buy-outs or early retirement programs. Those who want to move to either DIA or out to the JFCC locations are being encouraged to do so, but are not required at this time.

6) The Global Analysis Center (GAC) will expand somewhat and continue to feed information into the intelligence watch (which will also grow) located in the Global Operations Center, but increasingly, the real intelligence needs are going to come directly from the Joint Functional Component Commands to the national production centers and receive direct responses. GAC will never be a middleman function, but may assist in this process if needed. One of the open questions for STRATCOM though is where the targeting and target folder production process will actually reside.

7) The expected timeline for the completion of the divestiture is three years, with all vacant billets moving immediately to either DIA, JFCCs, or to other elements of STRATCOM. All internal to Offutt AFB moves are expected to be complete by Fall 2005. Other elements of the three year moves are pending decisions by DIA as to where these functions will actually reside. For example, 25 billets will move from DIA to Vandenburg to support AF Space Intelligence.

8) The former Joint Intelligence Center (Building 515) will become a new two level STRATCOM Conference Center.

9) Gen Cartwright is particularly displeased with the functionality of Collection Management in terms of ability to support warfighter operational needs. Major changes are predicted in this area. JFCCs will perform their own collection & RFI management functions.

10) Contractors and contracts will be aligned or transferred under wherever and whatever organization will be conducting the work.

11) Reserve component support will be similarly realigned. Navy is forming a new reserve unit to support JIOC, and another to support Global ISR

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Obituaries:
Tribute to John Diesem
Col. Roy Jonkers
Col. Charlie Hoy
Major General Ratkovich
Col. Gus Planchon