ST. LOUIS -- Missouri Army and Air National Guard military intelligence units from across the state conducted joint training at Jefferson Barracks Air National Guard Station and Whiteman Air Force Base, Sept. 5-7, 2025.
The joint training was an opportunity for Missouri Army and Air Guard members to come together and report on what their respective units have done throughout the year, including military intelligence exercises and missions they completed.
This exposure to and understanding of the differences in intelligence operations helps better prepare intelligence units to work cohesively in a joint environment. The training showed participants what is working well between the Missouri Army and Air National Guard and what they can improve on.
“In a joint fight, it’s important for me to help my Air counterpart and really understand what they are looking for,” said U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Seth Miller, an all-source analyst with the 35th Infantry Division. “So, learning what we provide to them in a joint environment is super beneficial.”
Airmen and Soldiers learned more about current geopolitical challenges, the developing state and role of artificial intelligence, and how military intelligence supports America's warfighters during peace and wartime operations.
“It definitely showed us how we as guardsmen are taking part in real-world missions,’” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 William Jones, lead intelligence trainer for the Missouri National Guard Bureau Joint Intelligence Directorate. “I think it was some extremely good stuff.”
The training brought together Airmen with the 131st Bomb Wing’s 157th Air Operations Group and with the 139th Airlift Wing, and Soldiers with the 1107th Aviation Group, 35th Engineer Brigade, 203rd Engineer Battalion, 35th Infantry Division, and 35th Combat Aviation Brigade. Missouri National Guard military intelligence guardsmen at all levels participated in the joint training.
The Missouri Army and Air National Guard intelligence units plan on conducting more joint training to actively strengthen their partnership and capabilities.
“One of the most important things in my job is to bring Air and Army MI folks together to see how we can better support each other,” said Col. Al Wirth, commander of the 157th Air Intelligence Squadron. “Any fight we engage with our adversaries in is going to be a joint fight. That’s the whole point.”