"Status quo, you know, is Latin for 'the mess we're in,'" President Ronald Reagan said. Though not in a mess, National Guard Counterdrug Analysis and Fusion section had been maintaining the status quo by teaching the same Criminal Analyst Phase II course for the past seven years.
"We have wanted to make changes for a while now. We think this updated product is just what our analysts need to succeed." Capt. Mesha Cichon, Analysis and Fusion section chief, said.
The contemporary operating environment has changed over time. As technology changes so do the techniques criminals use to distribute and sell narcotics. In order to effectively support law enforcement the National Guard Criminal Analysts need to stay current in their field. NGB conducted an in-depth review of current law enforcement analytical training standards as set forth by the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit.
Following the review, the National Guard Counterdrug Analysis and Fusion team wanted to change the status quo of their Criminal Analyst Phase II course. They wanted to establish a baseline and standardize the training and in so doing raise the bar.
"If we had continued with the status quo, we wouldn't have a relevant program," Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Anda, Florida National Guard Counterdrug Counter Threat Finance Analyst, said.
The Analysis and Fusion section's goal: Make Counterdrug analysts and counter threat finance analysts the number three and number four-hitter on the team. The team member counted on to hit the ball out of the park and drive in the runs. In this case, drive a case home by building solid case analysis to support their law enforcement partners.
"As Einstein said, 'You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.' The NGB Analysis and Fusion team aimed to expand the criminal analysts' knowledge of the rules of the game, Cichon said. "Our ultimate goal is to be more effective for our law enforcement partners. The National Guard is a key player supporting law enforcement efforts; we need to be at the top of our game."
"We put our collective heads together to put out the best product to our Soldiers and Airmen," Sgt. 1st Class Steven Sparks, Michigan National Guard Counterdrug senior analyst, said.
The Analysis and Fusion team put their new course to the test March 23-29 in Crystal City, Virginia. Instructors were comprised of Counterdrug analyst's subject matter experts and two contractors, James Lewis and Matt Canovi, who come from a well traveled law enforcement background.