Benchmark for intelligence transformation - Intelligence Battlefield Operating System

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, Jan-March, 2003 by Michael C. Taylor

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not supersede approved Army intelligence doctrinal literature. Details of emerging doctrine as reflected in FM 2.0, Intelligence, can be found in this issue in Mr. Chet Brown's article in the Doctrine Corner.

The Army is entering a period of intense self-examination and change that will alter our current understanding and expectations of the Intelligence Battlefield Operating System (BOS). Specifically, the "what" and "how" of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) will change over the next few years as new concepts, doctrine, and materiel transform the Army into the Objective Force (OF). The success of the transformation of intelligence hinges in part on building a common understanding of the fundamental features of the Intelligence BOS. This article attempts to facilitate that understanding and provide a benchmark for analysis by sharing some insights on current intelligence operations developed since the publication of FM 34-1, Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Operations, in 1994.

INTELLIGENCE BATTLEFIELD OPERATING SYSTEM

What is the Intelligence BOS? The Intelligence BOS is one of the Army's seven BOSs. Based on the definition of BOS in FM 3-0, Operations, the Intelligence BOS is a flexible force of personnel, organizations, equipment, tactics, techniques, and procedures that, individually and collectively, provide commanders with the relevant information and intelligence they need to visualize the battlefield, understand the situation, and direct military actions. Inherent within the Intelligence BOS is the capability to plan and direct intelligence operations; collect and process data into information; produce intelligence; and disseminate the intelligence and other critical information in an understandable form to those who need it, when they need it. Additionally, electronic warfare and counterintelligence capabilities within the Intelligence BOS support the commander in achieving information superiority on the battlefield.

Essential Terminology

What are the essential definitions used within the Intelligence BOS? There are several, but in recent years the use of three words has brought both confusion and clarity to Army concepts, doctrine, and training. The terms are intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The confusion stems in part from the challenges inherent within the spiral development of concepts, doctrine, training, force structure, and materiel. The spiral creates a swirling mixture of new, misused, and obsolete terminology that often undermines our ability to understand emerging concepts and doctrine. Common understanding of the meaning and usage of ISR is essential to an objective assessment of how to improve the Army's ability to "See First" and "Understand First."

The May 2002 draft of FM 6-0, Command and Control, clarified the collective use of SR as "an enabling operation that integrates and synchronizes all battlefield operating systems to collect and produce relevant information about the enemy and environment to facilitate the commander's decision-making. "This statement establishes the symbiotic relationship between collection (surveillance and reconnaissance) missions and intelligence production. Simply put, surveillance and reconnaissance are "how" the Army collects information while intelligence is "what" results from the analysis of that information.

With the relationship established, the next hurdle is to define each term. The following proposed definitions attempt to clarify each word by refining, updating, or expanding the definitions found in current Army and Joint doctrine.

* Intelligence. Facts and estimates derived from the evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of information about enemy and other features of the operational environment. The purpose of intelligence is to provide knowledge of the enemy and environment that supports situational understanding and decisive action.

* Reconnaissance. Transitory observation of an enemy and other features of the operational environment within which friendly and enemy forces may operate. The purpose of reconnaissance is to collect information that establishes the current disposition, activity, and capability of an enemy or the current condition of environmental and geographical characteristics of an area.

* Surveillance. Sustained observation of an enemy and other features of the operational environment within which friendly and enemy forces may operate. The purpose of surveillance is to collect information that establishes norms and detects change in enemy, environmental, and geographical characteristics.

It is important to note that intelligence does not equate exclusively to the U.S. Army's Military Intelligence (MI) Branch. Intelligence operations are the missions and actions taken to collect information and produce intelligence on the enemy and operational environment. For the most part, intelligence products do result from the application of specialized skills of MI personnel. The process, however, relies upon MI and non-MI personnel of all military services as well as other federal organizations.