U.S., United Kingdom Reserve analysts deliver real-world intelligence for NATO
RAF MOLESWORTH, United Kingdom, GBR — U.S. and Royal Auxiliary Air Force Reserve (RAuxAF) intelligence analysts collaborated to produce real-world intelligence products supporting NATO requirements during an annual exchange at the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre’s (NIFC), Hybrid Analysis Division (HAD) at RAF Molesworth.
The joint intelligence products were presented July 17, 2026, to leaders from the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (ISRW) and Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez, command chief of Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC).
The exchange, conducted through the Reserve Allies and Partners Program, demonstrated how years of relationship building have evolved into real-world intelligence production for NATO. History of the exchange
The partnership traces its roots to Lt. Col. Bobby Hollis’ participation in the Military Reserve Exchange Program at RAF Wyton in 2019. During the visit, Hollis recognized that the Royal Air Force Intelligence Reserve Wing mirrored the structure and mission of the 655th ISRW.
“I immediately saw the opportunity to have a direct relationship,” said Hollis, commander of the 718th Intelligence Squadron.
The two organizations conducted a leadership engagement in 2021, followed by analyst exchanges in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
One of the largest barriers to expanding the partnership beyond leadership engagements and analyst exchanges was finding an operational environment where analysts from both nations could gain systems access and work side by side.
The NIFC provided that environment, allowing the partnership to evolve from relationship building into collaborative intelligence production.
“When we realized that we wanted to actually produce intelligence together and have a true exchange where we learn from one another and exchange tactics, techniques, procedures and best practices, we landed on the NIFC,” said Capt. Shaun Loveless, a 718th IS flight commander who served as the U.S. exchange lead.
Over several years, leaders from both nations invested in building relationships before expanding the exchange into operational intelligence production at the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre.
“For them to have formal intelligence production that gets disseminated to the larger intelligence community and combatant commands is the absolute perfection and culmination of the effort,” Hollis said.
What is RAPP? The Reserve Allies and Partners Program, or RAPP, is an Air Force Reserve Command initiative designed to develop enduring relationships with allied and partner forces to address emerging threats. The program operates through four lines of effort: key leader engagements, exercises, military-to-military engagements and force development.
This engagement incorporated two complementary lines of effort: operational intelligence production and leadership collaboration.
“This exchange is a ‘train as we fight’ concept,” said Maj. Curtis Nielsen, 655th ISRW international engagements lead. “The overarching goal is combined production while increasing our level of interoperability.” Reserve advantage
The leadership visit also included a tour of the Pathfinder facility at RAF Wyton, the United Kingdom’s combined intelligence operations center and the location of 7006 Squadron.
Reservists at Pathfinder integrate with Royal Air Force units in a manner similar to a classic associate unit. The 7000-series intelligence organization includes 7006, 7010 and 7630 squadrons, which focus on targeting and all-source analysis.
Because the 655th ISRW and Royal Auxiliary Air Force Reserve intelligence organizations share similar missions and capabilities, the partnership provides a rare opportunity for reserve-to-reserve collaboration between allied intelligence organizations.
“We can’t underestimate the force multiplier that working with our partners is,” said Col. Jennifer Mulder, 655th ISRW commander. “We all bring something different to the mix, allowing us to approach problem sets from different angles. We understand how each other operates, and we know that our Airmen have the capability to move into a NATO environment and operate seamlessly.”
While the exchange strengthens interoperability between partner nations, it also provides Reserve Airmen with operational experience they might not otherwise receive.
“We can’t be siloed,” said Nuñez, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the Air Force Reserve and command chief of Air Force Reserve Command. “Our Airmen need to have experiences very similar to their active-duty counterparts, and working with our NATO partners is going to help them be ready because, down the road, they may deploy in a similar environment.”
This year’s exchange brought together Reserve intelligence professionals from across the 655th ISRW and members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Intelligence Reserve Wing.
U.S. participants included Loveless and Senior Airman Matthew Meisner from the 718th IS; Tech. Sgt. Javonn Liner from the 50th IS; Tech. Sgt. Kevin Weng from the 38th IS; and Tech. Sgt. Edgar Guzman Uribe from the 23rd IS. Participants from the Royal Auxiliary Air Force included Sgt Stephen and Air Specialist Ist Class David from 7006 Squadron.
The exchange also provided participants with an opportunity to compare how each nation’s reserve forces overcome similar challenges while sharing tradecraft and best practices.
“We have so many things in common and learning how we overcome those things through the sharing of knowledge and best practices is what has made it so successful for me,” said Squadron Leader Brian, a RAF Full-Time Reserve Service officer.
As the partnership has matured, the exchange has evolved beyond relationship building into the production of operational intelligence supporting NATO requirements.
“In the last two years, because of the collaboration we’ve had, we’ve started to deliver actual products,” Brian said. “Last year, it was targeting for SHAPE J2T. This year, it’s a joint product within the Hybrid Analysis Division at NIFC Molesworth. It will become quite routine for U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force personnel to work alongside each other so that, should we ever need to do that in conflict, both sides will be better prepared and better understand each other.”
Brian also noted that one of the greatest strengths Reservists bring is their willingness to question established processes by drawing upon their civilian experience.
“Reservists will ask, ‘Why do we do it that way?’” he said. “They’re challenging appropriately but bringing solutions and improving as well.”
Operational impact The exchange culminated in the presentation of two jointly produced intelligence products: a placemat and a focused intelligence assessment.
A placemat is a long-form intelligence product designed to brief senior leaders within the NATO sphere of influence on developments of strategic importance. A focused intelligence assessment is often used to inform commanders about targetable entities and highlight potential vulnerabilities for exploitation.
The Airmen brought a wide range of experience from their civilian careers, including data science, graduate-level research focused on the area of interest and regional expertise. Their contributions demonstrated the Reserve advantage in action.
“When they bring on Reservists, they’re getting the A-team,” Loveless said. “They’re getting so much more than an Air Force specialty code. They’re getting the Reserve advantage of experience from across the civilian sector. When they bring on Reservists, the work is going to get done at the highest tier.”
NIFC leaders also recognized the unique value Reserve Airmen brought to the mission.
“It’s the incredible perspective that we get from the Reserve community,” said Col. Karson Kuhlman, NIFC commander. “They have these very rich, real-world backgrounds that they can bring, which makes them more well-rounded and relatable to their coworkers.”
The products were forwarded to Maj. Gen. Richard Angle, commander of Allied Special Operations Forces Command and U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, and Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, for further action.
The team’s research remained with the NIFC Hybrid Analysis Division and will inform future iterations of what has become a new analytical line for the center.
Analyst perspective Beyond producing operational intelligence products, participants said the exchange exposed them to new approaches, workflows and allied perspectives they plan to bring back to their home units.
“Being able to see how they integrate and are flexible with those workflows has been instrumental, and it’s something we can bring back to increase our operational capacity,” Meisner said.
Analysts from both nations said the exchange strengthened their tradecraft by exposing them to different analytical approaches and allowing them to combine their strengths to develop stronger products.
“The exchange is really valuable,” said AS1 David, a Royal Auxiliary Air Force analyst assigned to 7006 Squadron. “The sharing of our intelligence, our expertise and our tradecraft — we learn so much from one another. If we take what we do well and what you do well, and we work on the things we each do less well together, we’ll end up with great products and great outcomes.”
Looking ahead As the partnership continues to mature, the exchange is strengthening readiness today while laying the foundation for future coalition operations.
“If we are going into major combat operations, the U.S. will not do it alone,” Nielsen said. “We will need our partners and allies to be successful. The Airmen who participate in RAPP serve a real purpose in building interoperability with our partners.”
Nielsen said the benefits extend beyond operational readiness by increasing motivation and retention among participating Airmen.
“Members from both the U.S. and U.K. are excited and motivated to participate in the events,” Nielsen said. “The exchange is a morale-boosting event that pays dividends in many ways, especially when it comes to retention. I have had several Airmen tell me these international exchanges have reinvigorated their desire to serve in AFRC.”
The NIFC commander and the 655th ISRW commander have expressed their intent to continue identifying opportunities for future collaboration.
“I hope that we can continue the relationship because it’s paid dividends,” Mulder said. “Looking at the bigger picture, if something happens in the future where we are required to work together in a very short period of time, we have interoperability with our partner nations that allows us to seamlessly jump in and start working.” Exchanges like this demonstrate how Reservists leverage their military training and civilian expertise to strengthen allied partnerships and deliver real-world operational effects.
“The sum of the parts is better than the individual every time,” said Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command. “Whenever we’re able to build that interoperability, we’re able to leverage what we know and what our partners know to make both of our formations stronger and more effective in the future.”
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