From the editor - Brief Article

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, April-June, 2002

This issue of the Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin (MIPB) focuses on the operations of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), its subordinate the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC), and the support provided to the Army by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). It also looks at the Reserve Components' support to echelons above corps (EAC) and counterdrug intelligence support.

INSCOM units and organizations execute theater- and Department of Defense (DOD)-level intelligence operations and missions that contribute to the security of our nation. Without fanfare, INSCOM personnel worldwide conduct counterintelligence investigations, collect human source information, process signals parametric data, exploit imagery, analyze foreign materiel, and produce all-source ground intelligence products. These operations, coupled with those of Military Intelligence (MI) professionals at corps, division, brigade and battalion, support the Army in training, fighting, and winning against any potential enemy.

As indicated, INSCOM units play a significant role in enabling the strategic response of the U.S. Army. INSCOM's sustained collection, processing, and production of intelligence contribute to our understanding and preparation for operations against potential enemies. In times of conflict, INSCOM units provide the personnel, equipment, intelligence, and infrastructure that assist the Army in rapidly transitioning between operations and acting decisively against threats to our national security and interests.

INSCOM's organization reflects the diverse and worldwide nature of its operations. Some INSCOM units support DOD intelligence operations and missions. Others provide operational and tactical intelligence that supports the Army Service Component Commander (ASCC), subordinate U.S. Army Forces (ARFOR), and joint force commander executing the land component portion of theater campaigns or major operations.

NIMA, with headquarters at Bethesda, Maryland, and the NRO, with headquarters at Chantilly, Virginia, support these INSCOM operations with high-resolution, state-of-the-art mapping and digital imagery products. As we enter the 21st century, INSCOM, NIMA, and NRO will all play an increasingly active role in the Army's Transformation and its ability to address the asymmetric and transnational threats posed by terrorism. This issue of MIPB will address a sampling of INSCOM units and organizations as well as NIMA, the NRO, and others.

Feature articles published in this issue include--

* Colonel Donald Langridge presents an overview of the Army-NRO relationship and the NRO's mission.

* Dr. Robert O'Connell and Lieutenant Colonel John steven White (U.S. Army Retired) introduce the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) mission and organization.

* Mr. Jeffery Reichman comments on NIMA's role in supporting the Army.

* Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Mitchell discusses the structure and mission of the Multi Component Contingency Support Brigade (MCSB), a possible future MI organization.

* Mr. Jerry Jones addresses the sometimes-confusing functions of CI and HUMINT soldiers and potential changes for linguists and interpreters.

* Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Iwicki discusses of the organizations and challenges of the National Counterdrug Intelligence Community and the Services' active participation in its operations.

* Mr. Chet Brown looks at the use of the All-Source Analysis System's relationship with command and control and intelligence in the EAC and Joint environments.

* Warrant Officer One John Berry provides an overview of the 513th MI Brigade.

* Ms. Jamison Jo Medby provides a look at strategic urban intelligence considerations.

This issue also includes our recurring Department articles, an expanded Enduring Freedom section, and a new section called "Our MI Heritage" that addresses the contributions of MI soldiers. We also introduce a new section that provides an overview of foreign weapons and U.S. intelligence and electronic warfare (IEW) equipment.

As a final note, MIPB is your magazine. Without your support and participation in its development we would have little to offer the Ml professional. You can support MIPB by writing articles on tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP), doctrine, operations, MI history, and other aspects of the MI soldiers performing their jobs. This sharing of information is critical to the success of the Military Intelligence Corps. Contact information is on the table of contents page in this issue.

Michael P. Ley