Despite much publicized troop withdrawals from war zones, United States Special Operations Forces are more active than ever in the identity intelligence (I2) collection space worldwide, according to a U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) official.
In the past year, I2 collections by Special Forces are up 380 percent from the previous year, a “very significant” achievement due to the Defense Department “bringing I2 to the plate” doctrinally, Craig “Archie” Archer, said at the Global Identity Summit in Tampa, Fla., last Thursday. “It’s that simple.”
“We now have doctrinally categorized this capability into the DoD so that throughout the unholy peace, which will continue for quite a while, whether there’s funding or not, the DoD is required to plan and conduct these operations,” Archer said. “And that’s a very important point.”
I2 refers to biometrics, forensics and document and media exploitation, all of which picked up dramatically to help deny anonymity to insurgents and terrorists after U.S. and allied forces began fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq more than a decade ago.
Special Forces operate in support of U.S. Combatant Commands (COCOM) and Archer said SOCOM forces are collecting biometrics and other identity data in over 100 countries daily. “And when you look across the globe, when you see a country’s name, I’m collecting there,” he said during a panel discussion that included representatives from a number of COCOMs.
Archer also said that SOCOM has orders to remain Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom through FY ’19. The command will maintain of its Exploitation and Analysis Centers (EAC) in Afghanistan during that time, although its footprint will be somewhat downsized, he said. An EAC is a shelter equipped with tools to analyze identity data that has been collected.
Through its own buying power, SOCOM procures, operates and maintains a range of biometrics, forensics and other I2-related collection equipment. For biometric-related operations, SOCOM forces use Cross Match Technologies’ SEEK II handheld fingerprint, iris and face collection devices as well as the company’s live scan fingerprint scanner. SOCOM also operates with DNA, explosives detection, digital intelligence and other equipment.
The command currently has two I2 programs of record and expects to have a third within a year, Archer said, adding that it has about $400 million in baseline funding.
“We have funding reaching out to FY ‘21 and it’s a continual buildup every year,” he said.
Archer also said that SOCOM will soon be “sun-setting” its inventory of tactical collection biometrics devices and purchasing new systems that are close to one-third of the size as the current systems.