PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – In the aftermath of the devastating January 12th earthquake in Haiti, rapid deployment and effective intelligence were paramount to successful relief operations. Among the crucial elements contributing to this effort were teams led by agents from the Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program (MICECP). This article sheds light on the critical role MICECP agents played in providing on-the-ground intelligence during this challenging humanitarian mission.
Edgardo Ortiz, an agent with the Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program from the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade, spearheaded one of two counterintelligence (CI) teams deployed to Haiti. These teams were instrumental in supporting the XVIII Airborne Corps, which took on the mantle of Joint Task Force (JTF) Haiti. The JTF’s mission was clear: to deliver essential humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, working in concert with the United Nations to maximize impact and reach those most in need.
The speed of deployment was remarkable. Within 24 hours of notification, equipped with advanced mobile communications technology, the two MICECP-led teams were en route to North Carolina. By the afternoon of January 18th, they were integrated with the XVIII Airborne Corps intelligence staff at Fort Bragg, ready to strategize and plan their Haitian mission. Just two days later, military airlift transported the teams to Haiti, where they immediately commenced a mission analysis, leveraging existing intelligence and the rapidly evolving situational reports.
Initial briefings and guidance from the JTF staff quickly led to a mission pivot. The counterintelligence teams, originally prepared for traditional CI roles, adapted to a “non-traditional” mission set. Their expertise was redirected to become the eyes and ears of the JTF commander. This involved delivering real-time, accurate assessments – the “ground truth” – concerning the immediate threats faced by the Haitian population and the effectiveness of the burgeoning relief efforts. They focused on the rapidly changing conditions within and around the heavily impacted city of Port-au-Prince.
Ortiz emphasized the demographic realities on the ground. Despite the overwhelming destruction that had crippled Port-au-Prince, the majority of its residents remained or swiftly returned to the city. This was due to the concentration of government functions and essential services in the capital. Crucially, Port-au-Prince became the central hub for aid distribution.
The immense scale of displacement led to the spontaneous emergence of Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps throughout Port-au-Prince. Assessing these camps became a priority mission for the counterintelligence teams. These assessments were not merely observational; they were operationally vital. Ortiz explained that the information gathered by the MICECP teams provided critical insights for decision-makers at the World Food Program (WFP). This intelligence directly informed the WFP’s strategic planning for food distribution, enabling them to efficiently select effective food distribution points (DPs) and reach the most vulnerable populations.
Once the initial DPs were established, the MICECP teams continued their crucial work by assessing these locations based on specific criteria set forth by the WFP. This ongoing evaluation ensured the effectiveness and safety of aid distribution.
Gathering information required direct engagement. The CI teams spent countless hours driving throughout Port-au-Prince, visiting IDP camps, and, most importantly, engaging directly with the Haitian people. “We asked them how things were going, if support was getting to them, what had they heard,” Ortiz recounted. He highlighted a significant information gap: while radio broadcasts were disseminating information about aid locations, many Haitians lacked access to radios, underscoring the need for direct, on-the-ground intelligence gathering.
Operating under incredibly challenging conditions, facing constant aftershocks and witnessing profound human suffering, the MICECP teams worked tirelessly. Their 24/7 operations were dedicated to keeping the JTF-Haiti commander and staff informed about the evolving situation. This included providing up-to-the-minute reports on local conditions, escalating medical risks, increases in criminal activity – exacerbated by escaped prisoners – and significant internal and external migration patterns. Ortiz emphasized that all of these factors posed threats to the overall relief effort and, more critically, to the Haitian people’s ability to recover and return to a semblance of normalcy in their devastated nation.
Colonel Jim Lee, then brigade commander, lauded the efforts of Ortiz and his team. “These CI teams, like the one Ed Ortiz led, exemplify the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade’s expeditionary capability to rapidly deploy intelligence support teams anytime, anywhere around the world,” he stated. “He and others performed superbly.” The deployment to Haiti underscored the vital expeditionary role and adaptability of the Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program in providing critical intelligence support during humanitarian crises.
