The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 123rd Intelligence Squadron has become one of a handful of ANG units that provide real-time intelligence data from their home base to warfighters in Southwest Asia. Unit airmen have been in the intel business for years—from five to 15—but just started processing “live” data last month from their own facility. In the past, the 123rd airmen would travel to an active duty base to ply their trade. Arkansas ANG commander Brig. Gen. Riley Porter calls the new capability “an awesome responsibility.”
For millions of Americans, downloading smartphone apps and quickly allowing them access to the phone’s location data has become a daily routine. But for service members and their families, every download can offer U.S. adversaries a chance to threaten their personal safety, information security experts warn.