Instructor teaches students more than intelligence

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Amanda Ferrell
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Ongoing readiness exercises and deployment training are constant reminders that Tyndall Airmen are poised and ready to engage in the Global War on Terror. 

Intelligence trainees from the Special Operations Command Intelligence Formal Training Unit, which is attached to the 325th Fighter Wing and located at Hurlburt Field, Fla., gain the knowledge and insight needed to navigate today's battle space, which is riddled with anomalous threats and cultural differences. 

For one particular instructor, preparing intelligence professionals for their role in the Global War on Terror is a pressing responsibility, and it one he proudly accepts. 

Master Sgt. Jason Olszewski, AFSOC IFTU superintendent, has been an instructor at the largest intelligence formal training unit in the Air Force for two years. 

"Master Sgt. Olszewski brings 14 years of intelligence experience to the table," said Ralph Wade, a fellow AFSOC IFTU instructor. "His attitude and enthusiasm concerning the value an intelligence specialist brings to the fight are infectious." 

Sergeant Olszewski's past experience as an intelligence professional at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England and Kadena Air Base, Japan has provided students outstanding insight into the intelligence requirements of special operations units, said
Mr. Wade. 

"In Korea, I gained experience operating under the 'total war' concept, whereas my experience at Mildenhall was with more 'low intensity' operations," said Sergeant Olszewski. "It gave me a broad perspective, and I pass that knowledge onto my students here." 

"The intelligence business is founded on credibility," said Maj. Andres Nazario, 720th Special Tactics Group director of intelligence. "Master Sgt. Olszewski has the operational experience and credibility needed to teach a crop of new special operations intelligence professionals the ropes." 

The need for intelligence professionals has increased since initial GWOT operations began more than five years ago. With eight classes, producing 96 graduates a year, the special operations intelligence community at Hurlburt, is working to provide experts to meet the current and future demand for Air Force intelligence personnel. 

"For eight months, Master Sgt. Olszewski was the acting director of the AFSOC IFTU, and led an initiative to 'surge' training operations in order to reduce the backlog of special operations intelligence personnel and meet the growing demands of special operations in the GWOT," said Maj. Kenneth Cushing, AFSOC IFTU Operating Location-B commander. "The AFSOC IFTU has been lauded as the intelligence training 'model' due in large part to Master Sgt. Olszewski's outstanding leadership." 

The sergeant's leadership style has made a tremendous impact on both his students and peers. 

"Professionally, Master Sgt. Olszewski is an ideal senior non-commissioned officer - one who inspires you to perform to a higher standard," said 1st Lt. Jennifer Phillips, AFSOC IFTU student. "As an instructor, he works diligently to ensure his students learn the material, and he pushes his students to perform to the next level. He's willing to go that 'extra step' to take care of his students." 

"Master Sgt. Olszewski wants students to learn from his mistakes so they don't make the same ones in the field during live combat operations," said John Smith, AFSOC IFTU instructor. "He tries to create an environment as realistic as possible to the one they will be operating in." 

Sergeant Olszewski, along with his fellow instructors, remains the foundation of the special operations intelligence community by producing capable war fighters who will support the GWOT following their graduation from the four-week intelligence course. 

"All students, both officer and enlisted, benefit from the experiences Master Sgt. Olszewski relates to in the classroom," said Mr. Wade. "He provides examples of intelligence support successes and failures, highlighting the failures as lessons learned and not to be repeated." 

Serving as an example himself, the sergeant's experience and enthusiasm for special operations intelligence enables students to successfully carry out their mission and serve as the Air Force's newest special operations intelligence professionals. 

"This is the best job I've ever had," said Sergeant Olszewski. "I enjoy being able to relay my experiences to students in a way that offers perspective and helps them see how supporting the special operations intelligence mission differs from other intelligence missions in the Air Force."