Tracking the enemy with the BAT of an eye
Submitted by: II Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by:   Computed Name: Cpl. Christi Prickett
Story Identification #: 200532711342

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(March 27, 2005) -- Stopping terrorists and
insurgents is not an easy task. Part of the problem is positively
identifying and keeping track of them, but with the help of modern
technology the task is getting much easier.

To assist in the large mission of finding insurgents, the Marines and
local citizens here have to look Marines in the eye.

Biometrics Automated Toolset, otherwise known as BAT, is being used
throughout Afghanistan and Iraq to keep a database of the terrorists,
insurgents,local workers and detainees.

Jon E. Davis, field service representative for BAT in the Anbar
province, manages the BAT network, trains users and administrators and
fixes the gear. He has been based at Camp Fallujah since November.

"The first few weeks I was here we did a whirlwind trip around Iraq,"
said Davis, a Titusville, Va. native. "I went with my predecessor to
Ramadi, Blue Diamond, Al Asad and Al Qaim to install very high quality
fingerprint scanners per Department of Defense regulations."

The system works by scanning the iris of an eye to take a unique
picture and storing it with other information like names, front facial
pictures, and fingerprints to form a profile. The profile also
provides information about an individuals past record, for example, if
the person had been detained before or has been wanted for illegal
activity.

Davis said, detainees held more than 72 hours must be fingerprinted 
on the better of two fingerprint scanners capable of working with the
computer.

"The normal small one just takes single finger flat prints vice the
slap and roll print," he said.

The BAT system recently underwent a major upgrade, completed in
November, which now allows BAT to store more records than the previous
version.

In a matter of seconds, a Marine working at a gate or check point can
collect biometric data from an individual, search the database in the
computer, and look for a match with the many other records already in
the database.

Some of the factors in the accomplishment of the program are the
equipment and the results.

"Success with BAT comes from the relative ease of collecting good
quality biometric data and then searching for a person using that
data," Davis said.

Biometrics also solves the current problem of matching the spelling 
of local names, which is often encountered even when an interpreter is
available.

The majority of Marines working the gates are able to learn how to
operate the system in a matter of days.

"It took me less than a week to learn the computer. The iris scanner
is also easy to use," said Lance Cpl. Ivan O. Galvan, II MHG
administrative clerk.

Iraqi detention facilities, military and police academies and entry
control points are all using BAT.

"Most of the cities where major units are headquartered have BAT,"
said Davis.

There are six ECPAEs in Fallujah proper alone and seven in Ramadi.

BAT played a major role in the success of the recent elections. About
1,050 election workers came to work the polling stations. It only took
30 hours compared to several days for them all to be identified or put
in the database.

"The election workers came from all over Al Anbar in groups of 30 to
100. In order to get them to their designated polling stations, we had
to hurry the process along. The system and the Marines running it made
it happen," said Davis. "I was shocked at the ease of how the system
kept the workers from waiting in line so long."

Even the Marines using the gear have a good impression of BAT.

Corporal Craig T. Peterson,Chesapeake, Va., has worked with BAT at the
east gate of Camp Fallujah for about three-and-a-half weeks.

"I like the system because it provides positive identification of
everyone that walks in. If the badge and face donAEt match up, we turn
to the iris scanner," said Peterson. "We make sure everyone is good-to-
go before letting them on base."

Overall, the BAT system simplifies the tracking of people in and
around military bases in the Middle East.

                            -==-

Source: USMC ...
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/B7B7503183F0615C85256FD100583AD3?
opendocument


Cheers, Steve...

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