SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Air National Guard recognized the stand up of a new unit, the 151st Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard base here on March 4.
The 151st ISRG, an expansion of the 169th Intelligence Squadron, will provide remote processing, exploitation, and dissemination of intelligence information as part of the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System.
Although the transition to group status has brought no change in the unit’s mission, it will bring some new opportunities for the unit and the Utah Air Guard, said Lt. Col. Darrin Ray, commander of the 151st ISRG.
“The 151st Air Refueling Wing now includes five groups and the presence of a group commander in the 151st ISRG gives the organization a seat at the ‘Big Table’ in the Air Force DCGS community, where policy is often set for the community that we had very little say in previously,” said Ray.
The 169th IS, first established in the Utah Air National Guard in 1987 as an electronic security squadron, began the formal process to become a group in 2011. They became federally recognized as the 151st ISRG on Feb. 17. This new group consists of the 169th Intelligence Squadron, the 151st Intelligence Support Squadron and the group command staff.
“The group construct allows for more focused efforts for each squadron in their respective mission sets,” said Ray.
He added that it will also open up new opportunities for leadership positions for both officers and enlisted personnel.
“Utah is well postured to accept an increase in any of our primary missions, including intelligence support, should the U.S. need it to strengthen national security,” said Col. Kristin Streukens, commander of the 151st ARW. “History has proven that if you give a mission to the Utah Air National Guard, we will accomplish it well.”