The Military Intelligence Officer in the 21st Century

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, Oct-Dec, 2000 by Charlotte I. Borghardt

As the Army transforms into the Army of the 21st century, Military Intelligence must also evolve. Our MI officers must be able to function in a network-centric warfare environment and be comfortable working with the digital technology revolutionizing the way we do business. MI officers must be able to understand the future battle environment, which will often be in complex urban terrain, and must have a better understanding of national-level intelligence assets and capabilities. Because of improved "reach back" capability, the officer must be able to synchronize multiple systems to ensure adequate coverage with all available intelligence systems. The Officer Personnel Management System (OPMS), training, and professional development of MI officers need transformation to create and maintain an MI Officer Corps capable of meeting these new demands.

One Last Look Back

The last thirty years saw many changes in both OPMS and the requirements for our officers. At one time, all officers were required to have a basic branch and an additional specialty but this proved to be cumbersome, and many officers never served in their additional specialties. The criteria for a normal career progression (formal training and command) made it difficult for the officer to be successful in both the basics and a specialty.

With advances in technology, the Army saw the need for both the traditional officers who can lead, command, and perform in their basic branches, and those officers who have a solid foundation in basic branch functions but focus on specific aspects of the Army like technology, information operations (IO), or strategic intelligence. Thus, the Army developed OPMS XXI to allow these officers to be competitive in either area and still meet the ever-changing demands of the Army.

The Future of the MI Officer Corps

The personnel requirements for our 21st century MI officers will include better management and assignments that allow them to meet the intelligence needs of commanders at every level. As the Army transforms into a more mobile, quick-moving digital force, traditional officer career paths must change to meet these challenges. OPMS XXI will satisfy both Total Army and joint requirements in this century, developing officers who expertly employ appropriate skills, knowledge, and attributes, inculcating behavior that reflects the Army values. This new system will balance the Army's diverse personnel requirements while providing Army XXI with a tactically and technically competent officer corps. While warfighting remains the preeminent skill of the Army, the need for technological skills runs a close second.

Our MI officers now have the opportunity to remain on the traditional MI track, the Operations Career Field (OP CF) or specialize in another CF. A percentage of each officer year-group selected for promotion to Major will receive designation into other CFs. Officers who remain in the OP CF will serve in traditional branch assignments (S3s, executive officers [XOs], battalion and brigade commanders, etc.). They can expect to see more tactical assignments as the Army meets the "manning the force" directive of filling tactical units to 100-percent strength. They will serve more time in MI assignments than in branch immaterial jobs.

Some traditional intelligence assignments will change as we implement the Brigade Combat Team (BCT). For example, a human intelligence (HUMINT) officer (Area of Concentration 35F) may be the BCT S2X, a new concept under the Tactical HUMINT Initiative. We can expect to see an increase in the need for HUMINT-trained officers. The S2X staff officer (35F) will be the single focal point for all counterintelligence- (CI) and HUMINT-associated matters in the area of responsibility. This staff officer will be responsible for coordinating and deconflicting CI and HUMINT activities with national agencies. While MI officers will fill the traditional positions (company command and platoon leader) in the Surveillance Troop of the Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadron, the XO will be an armor officer. This will integrate combat arms expertise within the MI unit.

MI officers designated for CFs other than the OP CF will serve in their previously designated functional areas. (All officers receive a specific functional area designation during their fifth year of service.) These officers will become world-class specialists serving in their designated functional areas only (with the chance of a few tours in immaterial positions). Some MI officers may migrate to other CFs, but because of the closely associated functions and technical nature of the jobs, many will opt to work in the IO CF. It is clear that MI expertise is necessary in these functional areas.

For many years, the MI Corps has struggled with a shortage of field grade officers. While we knew we had an obligation to ensure intelligence support for the combat commander, we also had the majority of the joint requirements. Many times, the joint world won out. We also saw the necessity to train and maintain a population of strategic intelligence specialists who are as proficient as their Navy and Air Force counterparts. The establishment of Functional Area (FA) 34, Strategic Intelligence Officer, will help solve both of these problems. The creation of FA 34 and the resulting recoding of billets allow the Army to address its crucial shortage of field grade MI officers. The ability to assign other than MI branch officers into those echelons-above-corps (EAC) positions will enable the Army to fill more of its TOE (table of organization and equipment) intelligence billets while at the same time "growing" the joint and strategic intelligence officers it requires at EAC.