In addition to operating its own Predator unmanned aerial vehicle squadron—the 3rd Special Operations Squadron at Creech AFB, Nev.—Air Force Special Operations Command has just taken charge of a reactivated 11th Intelligence Squadron to process and disseminate Predator data tailored to special operations forces. The Air Force reactivated the 11th IS earlier this month at Hurlburt Field, Fla., with about 38 members initially and plans to grow it to 135 airmen by 2008.
The U.S. military is carrying out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions along the southern border and off the coast of Mexico using U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint and U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft as part of the Pentagon’s effort to secure the southern border at the direction of President…