SENTINEL FOCUS identifies best practices, areas for improvement Published March 1, 2010 JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii -- SENTINEL FOCUS 10A took place last week in the 8th Intelligence Squadron of the 692nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Hickam and in similar ISR Squadrons and groups of the 480th ISR Wing across the globe. SENTINEL FOCUS is the vision of Col. Dan Johnson, 480th ISR Wing commander, and it will influence the way the 692nd ISR Group and the 480th ISR Wing conduct ISR operations for years to come. "SENTINEL FOCUS 10A should give us operational insight into Air Force DCGS enterprise best practices that need benchmarking and operational challenges that need addressing," said Colonel Johnson. "With this insight, we can formulate solutions that will allow us to further develop competencies vital to sustaining full-spectrum ISR capabilities for the warfighter and our nation." The 692nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Hickam is one of several DCGS units across the Air Force observed under the SENTINEL FOCUS program. The program is designed to monitor teams as they execute real-world operations for five days. During this observation period, best practices and areas for improvement will be identified. Col. Aldon Purdham, Jr., 692nd ISR Group commander, stated that SENTINEL FOCUS 10A should further enable the 692nd ISR Group's DGS to provide the best possible intelligence to 13th Air Force, PACAF and PACOM. "The successful tactics, techniques, and procedures that were identified during SENTINEL FOCUS 10A will enhance the support our ISR capabilities can provide to Air Force and joint operations in the Pacific Theater," Colonel Purdham said. Capt. Phong Thach, 692nd ISRG Chief of Operations Readiness, said the 692nd's role in collecting imagery produced by unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Predator, Global Hawk and other ISR assets are vital to keeping Air Force leaders in the Pacific region informed as well as putting on display the skills of local Intelligence analysts. "The images we retrieve directly support the Pacific Air Forces and 13th Air Force commanders," Captain Thach said. "[SENTINEL FOCUS] was an opportunity for us to show our capabilities and what we bring to the fight while giving our Intel analysts a sense of ownership. This hard stare at the important roles we play will reassure the analysts that lives really are saved through their efforts." SENTINEL FOCUS began Feb. 22 and concluded Feb. 26 and was deemed a "complete success."