BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Multiple sources report that Capt. William Best, an intelligence operations officer assigned to the 9th Intelligence Squadron, simply will not shut up about that one time his analysis was correct. Although Best usually heavily caveats any predicative analysis with typical terms of art such as “medium confidence,” or “low-to-medium probability,” on one occasion during the past year, he evidently “grew a pair,” said his NCOIC, Master Sgt. David Vicks, and the squadron has suffered ever since.
According to several airmen who not only witnessed the event, but also have heard about it nonstop for nearly five months now, in early April, Best provided a standard weekly intel briefing that included highlights within the Pacific theater. While the details are classified, squadron commander Lt. Col. Travis Davis asked the captain’s opinion on whether a North Korean KN-24 missile test was in the works. While nearly everyone thought the weather would not permit it, Best declared “most likely.” Within 24 hours of his pronouncement, the test launch did indeed take place.
“And we’ve heard about it every day since,” sighed Vicks.
