CI and HUMINT operations in support of operation enduring freedom

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, Oct-Dec, 2003 by Ron Stallings, Michael Foley

Much has been learned in recent years about the value of active counterintelligence (CI) and human intelligence (HUMINT) as they relate to modern conflict. Some intelligence professionals proclaim that CI and HUMINT have accounted for more than 80 percent of the intelligence collection in places such as Bosnia, Kosovo, and now Afghanistan. The introduction of the integrated 2X concept has proven itself to be a major step in the right direction. This concept incorporates management, control, and coordination measures which synchronize and deconflict CI and HUMINT in all directions throughout the theater of operations.

The "Draft" 2X Handbook continues to serve as the guide for 2X and CI and HUMINT operations in the deployed and tactical environment. Basic rules, roles, and responsibilities have proven to be "spot on." This document, coupled with experiences and lessons learned in Bosnia, Kosovo, and now Afghanistan, continue to produce a more refined concept. It outlines procedures and relationships involving national, strategic, and coalition CI and HUMINT assets. We clearly need to form and train tactical 2X officers and sections at various echelons throughout our military forces. Tactical CI and interrogation operations have vastly improved since the incorporation of the 2X concept.

Vital to the success in the process are the 2X, CI Coordinating Authority (CICA), and the HUMINT Operations Cell (HOC) chief. Led ultimately by the 2X, who serves as the Director of CI and HUMINT activities, these three individuals are charged with coordinating, managing, deconflicting, and properly reporting--

[] CI investigations.

[] CI force protection (and HUMINT) source operations.

[] Mobile and sporadic team-level operations.

[] Interrogations and debriefing results.

[] Certain other overt HUMINT operations, as required.

[] All covert and/or special compartmented HUMINT operations.

This harmonious relationship fully incorporates the primary HUMINT analysis and requirements management and totally complements intelligence centers, especially the Coalition Joint Intelligence Support Element (C-JISE) in Afghanistan.

The XVIII Airborne Corps headquarters deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) in May 2002 to establish the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF-180) headquarters. Under the Director of Intelligence, initially COL Mike Flynn and later COL Ted Nicholas, the CJ2X section was understaffed, but filled with experience and expertise. MAJ Ron Stallings, the CJ2X, with over 10 years' experience in CI and HUMINT, had commanded an interrogation company, served as a G2X in Bosnia, and as the S3 of a Tactical Exploitation Battalion. SFC Michael Foley, serving in a field grade officer position as the Task Force CICA (TFCICA), had served for over 16 years in every progressive CI role from agent, to CI Operations non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Haiti, to Special Agent in-Charge of a forward deployed INSCOM Military Intelligence Detachment, and as First Sergeant of a CI and HUMINT Company. MAJ (Ret) and former XVIII Airborne Corps G2X, Don Gardner, who was responsible for training eight Balkans rotations on CI and HUMINT operations, also deployed as a part of the team. Additionally, the Defense Intelligence Agency's Defense HUMINT Service provided two very seasoned and experienced HOC Chiefs.

Prior to the arrival of CJTF-180, INSCOM's 202d Military Intelligence Battalion of the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade led the CI and HUMINT efforts. Their outstanding efforts established tactical CI and HUMINT collection and interrogation operations in Afghanistan. They had produced nearly fifteen hundred Intelligence Information Reports (IIRs) in just over seven months. Their reports database was absolutely superb and was instrumental during the hand-off to CJTF-180.

Immediate CI and HUMINT challenges included improving reporting timeliness and procedures, developing and managing source administration and records, redesigning the CI and HUMINT force structure, and focusing and synchronizing all related operations throughout the theater.

With a tremendous amount of support, CJTF-180's CJ2X team acquired authorization to publish and release IIRs locally, thus reducing reporting timelines significantly. It required an incredible work ethic and unbelievable numbers of work hours from the CJ2X and TFCICA; however, their commitment to "from collection to the community in less than 12 hours" was an internal slogan. Draft reporting and CI and HUMINT products were posted to Web pages (SECRET and TOP SECRET levels) within six hours of receipt, focusing primarily on units on the ground in Afghanistan. Final IIRs followed in less than six hours and were distributed to the intelligence community via standard intelligence reporting methods (AMHS-M3). Once the CJ2X became the release authority for the theater's tactical CI and HUMINT reporting, no longer did collected information have to leave the area of operations (AO) and return prior to being released to units and intelligence analysts throughout the intelligence community. This initiative made CI and HUMINT reporting a critical player in the targeting process and helped to synchronize all intelligence efforts in theater.