US ARMY INTELLIGENCE CENTER & FT. HUACHUCA
SHO TNBRSA
Student Handout
MARCH 1995
REQUIREMENTS, SOURCES, AND AGENCIES
1. OBJECTIVES: This instruction prepares you to properly
exploit the six basic categories of intelligence requirements
associated with OOTW; apply IEW correctly to identify the
threat, focus intelligence collection assets and coordinate
and disseminate intelligence; task sources and agencies to
satisfy the requirements associated with OOTW; and
introduces you to operational categories of OOTW.
2. The IEW challenges vary for each category of OOTW
but, in general, they remain the following:
a. Identify the Threat: The threat is often ambiguous
and could be multiple and very complex in nature. The
threat could also be the very organization US forces are sent
to assist. In OOTW the threat is hard to define.
b. Focus Intelligence Collection Assets: Collecting
against the threat is difficult due to the nature of the threat as
well as the nature of US collection systems which were
originally designed against well defined more collectable
threats.
c. Coordinate and Disseminate Intelligence:
Coordinating and disseminating is difficult in OOTW due to
the fact that often OOTW operations are joint in nature, with
Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine forces as well as
non-DOD agencies. Lastly, involvement of a Host/third
country makes dissemination, for security and
communications reasons, extremely difficult.
3. Six basic categories of intelligence requirements
associated with OOTW:
a. Political: Does the government recognize it has a
problem? This is very critical. If they don't, the US forces
could have a major problem in implementing a COIN
operation. How do the political structure, laws and
regulations of the government support or hinder COIN
operations? What are the government's national policies
(foreign and domestic)? What are the significant political
groups? What biographic data is needed on key political
figures? Where and by whom were major leaders taught?
Where did they go to college, if at all, and what university?
b. Economic: What is the status of the country's
commerce and industry i.e., who owns them and where are
they located? What agricultural products are grown and what
percent of land is owned by the population? How is the
labor force broken down by location and skills? What is the
status of economic organizations, investment and aid? Who
does the country trade with? Who has large investments in
the country? What treaties does the country have? What and
where are the natural resources? What types of
communications - civilian domestic and international - does
the country have? Where are they located and who controls
them? How well do they work? How widespread are
various types of media sources (TV, radio, newspaper,
magazines)? Who owns them and what political leanings do
they have?
c. Sociological: What are the country's social structure
and characteristics of the people? What are their customs
and manners? What are the languages and dialects? Where
are they spoken? Who and where are the minorities? What is
the demographic makeup of the population? What is the
literacy rate? What, if any, education programs and
facilities exist? What types of refugee camps exist, where
are they and what is their status? What are the public health
programs and facilities? What are the social ills and how is
the government and public reacting to them?
d. Geographic/Environmental: All standard military
weather and terrain data requirements such as surface
configuration, drainage and vegetation are valid. However,
the country's climate is very important to long range military
and civil affairs projects. The population in remote areas
may be adversely affected by cyclic climatological changes
and become vulnerable to insurgent psyop attacks. OOTW
operations require a detailed analysis of population-related
key terrain and other non-standard terrain factors. Military
maps and charts may be scarce or non-existent.
Additionally, you must ask questions that pertain to use of
the land by government, US and insurgent/terrorist/guerrilla
forces. It is expected that the analyst will examine the
terrain and weather for its impact on friendly and enemy
capabilities and courses of action. However, the difficult
part is to narrow down the actual requirements each side has
in order to fight.
(1) What types of insurgent camps does he need
(training, headquarters, logistics, storage and distribution,
medical, communications, displaced persons, etc.)? Each
type of facility has its own unique requirements. Determine
what those are before trying to template them for enemy
forces locations. Attempt to develop a baseline of
information, by type.
(2) What types of mobility does the host military
have? If the host military does not have a technologically
sophisticated force, it may have the same capabilities and
limitations (weather and terrain) that the insurgents have
(see below).
e. Host Government Military and Security Forces:
Intelligence on the Host nation forces is as important as it is
on insurgent forces. What are their weapons, equipment,
organization, doctrine and tactics? Where were their leaders
trained? From whom do they receive their logistics
support? What is the manpower pool? What is the attitude
of the armed forces? Does the military support the
government or is it infiltrated with insurgents? What
intelligence capabilities does the military have? What are
the national level agencies which support or could support
OOTW operations across the board? What are the military's
training areas and patterns? After requesting all the
information on military forces, you need to gather the same
general type of data on the security forces of a nation; such
as its police, airport security, presidential guards, reserves,
national guard, etc. Not all countries have a separate
security arm. But if they do, often these forces are more
suited toward internal security than the military.
f. Threat: Knowledge of the threat is required in
OOTW as in any situation. But is frequently more difficult
to develop. What and where are the leaders and what is
their philosophy? By whom and where are the insurgents
being trained? What equipment do they have and who is
supplying it? What are their financial resources? What is
their ideology and what, if any, appeal does it have for the
population? What are the sources and types of external
support? What are their tactics and targets? What are their
communications and transportation capabilities?- What are
their sources of internal support? How many insurgent
movements, sub-groups are there and what, if any, are their
goals and timetables for reaching those goals?
4. Categories of intelligence products:
a. Current Intelligence: Essentially day-to-day events
to keep consumers apprised of new developments.
b. Estimative Intelligence: Projects forward using
known facts, analysis and predictions based upon both, as
well as what may not be known.
c. Warning Intelligence: Communicates danger
strongly inherent to US interests in a time, form and fashion
to enable a decision to be made.
d. Research Intelligence: Studies with graphs and
charts relating current and estimative intelligence to deal
with potential capabilities. Two subcategories include:
(1) Basic Intelligence: Geographic, demographic,
social, military, and political data on foreign countries.
(2) Intelligence for Operations Support: Tailored,
focused and rapidly produced intelligence for planners and
operators; to include data for targeting and terrain analysis.
Involves national through tactical input for tactical
intelligence.
e. Scientific and Technical: All-source analysis of a
technical nature which covers the entire spectrum of
sciences and analysis of such things as weapons systems,
technologies and assists in monitoring.
f. Open Source Intelligence: Gaps or shortcomings in
your information can be filled by going to unclassified
sources such as educational institutions, financial institutions
and businesses. Open sources such as weekly news
magazines, encyclopedias, maps and geodetic surveys, wire
services and network TV news can provide near real-time
on-the-spot information to augment classified current
intelligence reporting. Be aware of any tendency toward
bias when using open sources. Many periodicals make it
difficult to separate fact from conjecture or opinion.
5. Register of Intelligence Publications: DIA publishes the
Register of Intelligence Publications which is a
comprehensive list of periodic intelligence reports produced
by the entire range of DOD intelligence activities. Before
going on, lets define collection sources and agencies.
6. Collection Sources and Agencies:
a. Agency: An agency is an organization designed to
collect intelligence or information or perform other official
functions in service of the government. All national
intelligence agencies can support OOTW missions to some
degree. OOTW against conventional threats can count on the
full range of technical collection assets. While high-tech
collection can be brought to bear on insurgents and drug
traffickers, these technical systems will have to be cued and
focused in order to be effective. All the organizations at all
levels we have discussed so far can be considered agencies.
b. Source: A source is an individual or group that
works outside official status, is not formally designed to
gather or produce intelligence, but can provide invaluable
information. Examples include bankers, shop owners,
teachers, host government officials, etc. At the tactical
level, raw information or intelligence can be acquired
through the collection of information from sources vice
agencies.
NOTE: The key to sources and agencies is that agencies
have intelligence collection as a mission and to that extent
can be considered more reliable in satisfying your
requirements. Sources, on the other hand, have another job,
may not be as easy to tap into for information on a regular
basis and are less timely than agencies.
7. National Level Producers: Both DOD and non-DOD
agencies develop and produce the above types of
intelligence products which may answer any of the
intelligence requirements you have identified in OOTW
environments.
8. Service Intelligence Producers: These producers usually
provide service-oriented intelligence products and are the
first step in requests for information (RFIs) which can be
answered from data bases. The Army uses the Intelligence
and Security Command (INSCOM); the Air Force has the
Air Force Intelligence Agency (AFIA); the Navy uses Naval
Operations Intelligence Center (NOIC or NAVOPINCEN);
and the Marine Corps has the MSMC Intelligence Center in
Quantico, Virginia. These organizations do not have
identical missions and capabilities and their focus is
generally on providing intelligence suited for their service.
9. Operational Level (Theater): The tactical analyst usually
ties into the National or service level analysis and collection
capabilities at the operational level. This is also usually the
first level where a joint environment is found, although there
are exceptions.
a. The Joint Intelligence Center: The Joint
Intelligence Center is the analytical effort under the theater
J2 senior intelligence officer (usually a general). The JICs
are found at PACOM, CENTCOM and EUCOM and
represent an effort to bring together all services. JICs
produce finished intelligence and often man a theater-watch
or warning center for I&W. In many cases, the JIC also
interfaces directly with national-level.
b. The Joint Reconnaissance Center: The Joint
Reconnaissance Center is the collection effort under the
theater J2. It coordinates theater-level collection assets of
all the services in theater and in many cases interfaces
directly with national-level.
c. The Joint Special Operations: The Joint Special
Operations is the theater-level coordination focus for all
services special forces (SF) elements in the theater.
10. Operational Level (Army): There are a number of
elements which come under or out of the Corps G2.
a. The MI Brigades: Provide all-source analysis and
collection effort for the army in a theater and are usually
dedicated to a theater (513th MI BDE -- CENTCOM Army
Assets; 500th MI BDE, IX Corps Asset; 501st MI BDE --
US Army Assets in Korea). Their analysis can be single
source or all-source and much of their collection effort goes
into national level.
b. Theater Army Special Operations Support
Command (TASOSC): TASOSC is a potential producer
as well as a consumer of intelligence. The close association
between SOF missions and OOTW can be of benefit to the
intelligence officer of a non-SOF unit who has assumed a
mission in the region/country. Much of the work on
developing and answering requirements might already have
been done by the intelligence officer associated with the
SOF element.
c. The Tactical Analysis Team (TAT): TAT is an ad
hoc organization developed with the mission associated with
US interests with a particular country or region in mind. The
TAT supports the country team, which works for the
ambassador. The TAT has access to national-level
resources and, although they may be difficult for the army
intelligence officer to access on a routine basis, they may
provide a solid foundation of basic intelligence topics
before arrival or immediately upon arrival in country. The
TATs are the focal point of the fusion of tactical intelligence
from national, theater and local assets. TATs are capable of
funneling intelligence support to the host government through
the country team (their primary role).
9. Tactical Level: These are the military intelligence assets
organic or attached to the MI Battalion at division or the MI
company at regiment/brigade. These assets work for the
tactical commander and can be expected to work with the
host nation military and police.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As stated earlier, the information requirements for each
category of OOTW vary.
SUPPORT TO AN INSURGENCY: This category involves
supporting foreign political and military entities engaged in
pro-democracy struggles within their own border. When
deemed appropriate by our national command authorities.
US forces can be tasked to provide training, materiel and
intelligence support to pro-Western insurgents. Although
this mission would probably be assigned to Special
Operations Forces, conventional forces may also participate
in a limited support role. To determine the intelligence
requirements for this operational category, reverse your
perspective and put yourself in the place of the insurgents.
Look at all the issues noted above in COIN and use these
questions to support the insurgents. (NOTE: If the US
supports them, they most likely will not be called insurgents
for political reasons.)
Some specific questions include: Is the insurgency
considered legitimate by anyone ? What portion of the
population supports the insurgents? What are the political
issues which fueled the insurgency? What existing political
organizations share the same views? What is the position of
neighboring countries on the insurgency? What other
regional powers support the insurgency and support US
involvement? What are the economic factors which
influenced the outbreak of the insurgency? What are the
government's economic choke points and other weaknesses
(political, social, military)? Can the insurgents attack these
vulnerabilities without alienating the civilian population?
How long can the government finance its COIN operations?
What ethnic, religious, cultural and other social divisions
exist within the country? Geographical/environmental issues
are the same as in COIN, but from the reverse perspective.
Some factors concerning Host Nation military/security may
not be appropriate as we do not expect support from them.
However, knowledge of their capabilities and
vulnerabilities is necessary to our assisting the insurgents in
fighting them. This overlaps into the Threat category.
Terrorism: Combatting terrorism has two major
components - antiterrorism and counterterrorism. During
peacetime, the Army combats terrorism primarily through
anti-terrorism, which is those passive defensive measures
taken to minimize vulnerability to terrorism. Anti-terrorism
is a form of force protection and, thus, the responsibility of
Army commanders at all levels. Antiterrorism complements
counterterrorism, which is the full range of offensive
measures taken to prevent, deter, and respond to terrorism.
Army elements, such as SOF, assist in this interagency effort
by applying specialized capabilities to preclude, preempt,
and resolve terrorist incidents abroad. Counterterrorism
occurs in conflict and war; antiterrorism occurs across the
range of military operations.
COUNTERTERRORISM: Questions should be similar to
those for Support to Insurgency. Counterterrorism is the
offensive half of the combatting terrorism operations
category. Although the intelligence requirements for CT are
very similar, the offensive nature of this mission requires
target specific information. This includes layout of terrorist
camps, complexes, building interiors, etc. Individual
terrorist habits, traits and characteristics similar to COIN
are needed. Include questions which relate to terrorists
attacks against US interests in retaliation for US support to
CT operations
ANTITERRORISM: This is primarily defensive in nature
and requires an analysis of all the factors considered for CT,
but the perspective is reversed to try and prevent incidents.
PEACEKEEPING: US forces performing these missions
require detailed knowledge of the political and military
aspects of the conflict between the belligerents. Many of the
diplomatic rules that govern them limit our intelligence
collection activities as well as other operations. US forces
must understand what economic and social factors are
influencing the conflict. Is the war over food or other
resources? If so, where are these resources? What are the
economic conditions in the buffer zone, if there is a buffer
zone? What are the significant ethnic or religious problems
and what is the history of these conflicts? Is there any
historical precedent for the conflict?
Geographic/environmental questions are similar to those for
both OOTW and conventional operations, however the
detail will vary with the nature of the peacekeeping
operation. Although there may not be a Host Nation in the
Host sense, questions concerning the belligerent's military
and security forces capabilities are certainly applicable.
The presence of US peacekeeping forces will, under some
circumstances, be under the auspices of the United Nations
world organization and will be deployed as determined by
the world body in many cases. There may also be third
party nations involved in staging base areas and their
attitudes towards the PKO may affect US personnel. The
threat may be more than a military force in PKO. Civilians
of one of the belligerents may attack US PKO forces in
retaliation for assistance to another group. The Threat may
be unarmed civilians who demonstrate or simply throw
rocks.
OPERATIONS OTHER THAN WAR: This category is by
far the most diverse and demanding on the IEW system. The
threats against US forces range from natural disasters to
conventional forces. Although by definition, OOTW falls
short of war, US forces can face anything from a poorly
trained guerrilla group to an elite conventional force. These
operations can occur at any time and at any place on the
globe. When determining requirements, look at all
information requirements and how they apply to the other
categories of OOTW. One specific mission is Counterdrug
which can require additional information. If carried out
within US borders, CD falls under the heading of support to
US civil authorities. Elsewhere, we may become involved
in assisting a Host Nation with developing a CD force or
policy. Some questions include: What are the Host Nation's
political issues regarding US CD assistance? Do the
majority of the people support their government's CD
policy? What is the political sentiment on US involvement?
What natural or preexisting social divisions make a segment
of society more susceptible to the allures of the drug trade?
Does the economic situation offer reasonable alternatives?
Are there signs of unexplained affluence among certain
groups or in certain areas? Where in the country are the
weather and terrain factors favorable to the cultivation of
drugs? When are the growing and harvest seasons? Where is
the terrain favorable to the establishment of processing
plants? What natural and man-made LOCs are available to
the drug traffickers? Is the host government military/security
committed to the war on drugs? Are they trained and
organized to carry out the mission? Can they react to
US-provided or derived intelligence? What is the nature of
the drug threat? Are they narco-guerrillas? Are they purely
drug runners? What is their organization, tactics, weapons,
training, transportation? What is their source of chemical
precursor support, (internal/external)? In addition, you will
likely need some specialized information on what types of
drugs are grown in particular areas and what are the
indicators?
The 13 operational categories of OOTW are:
Noncombatant Evacuation Operations
Arms Control
Support to Domestic Civil Authorities Humanitarian
Assistance and Disaster Relief Security Assistance
Nation Assistance
Support to Counterdrug
Combatting Terrorism
Peacekeeping
Peace Enforcement
Show of Force
Support for Insurgencies and Counterinsurgencies
Attacks and Raids.