BASIC INTELLIGENCE

DEFINITION OF TERMS:
1. Military information – means all facts, documents, materials, photographs,
diagrams, maps and reports of observation of any kind which increases our
knowledge of a possible or actual enemy or area of operations.
2. Military Intelligence – is a knowledge acquired through the collection, evaluation,
and interpretation of all available information concerning a possible or actual enemy
or area of operations, including the weather terrain.
3. Combat Intelligence – is that knowledge of the enemy, weather and terrain required
by a commander in planning and conducting tactical operation. It is developed during
the conduct of the operations modification of the original operation plan which may
be appreciated.
4. Counter intelligence – is an aspect which comprises civil and military measures,
including the collection, processing and distribution of information and executive
actions, designed to counter enemy or to prevent sabotage or subversion activities.
5. Intelligence axiom – are facts that require no doubt because the truth of these
statements is obvious.
In the study of intelligence cycle is not important which please is considered, first
information or intelligence can be inserted in any phases as appropriate. The
intelligence cycle has no beginning and no end. Any sequence which is logically
organized through processes is workable.
The four (4) phases of intelligence cycle are as follows:
a. Planning of the collection effort.
the commander must make certain that he has what he needs, when he needs
it. He is continually wondering what the enemy is doing, thinking, and planning for the
future operations, and about the nature of the terrain not under his control. These
questions are all part of the “fog of war” and this “fog” does not leave automatically.

1. Planning of the collection effort consist of the five (5) steps:

a. Determination of intelligence requirements.
b. Determination of intelligence priorities.
c. Determination of those enemy activities of characteristics of the area
of operations which would indicate the answer to the intelligence
requirements.
d. Selection of collection agencies to the employed and the issuance of
the necessary orders and requests for information.
e. Supervising the execution of order and request.
 2. Depending on the mission The commander and his staff require
intelligence information.
a. To arrive at sound and timely decisions in preparing plans and
estimates for future operations and in conducting current operations.
b. To protect the command by avoiding surprise and denying the enemy
information concerning his own forces.
c. To assist in the processing of the information.

Also, in the commander’s estimate of the situation, three of the five steps involved
in the active participation of the intelligence effort. The commander should have readily
available the information required by the first two steps of the estimate of the situation - the
mission and the friendly capabilities. The information required in the last three steps -
knowledge of the weather, enemy, and terrain – must be provided by the intelligence
officer.
After the intelligence requirements have been determined, and priorities have been
established, the intelligence officer must determine what indications will answer questions
about the requirements. He must then select the agencies that will actually collect the
required information. There are four criteria for the proper selection of collection agencies,
capability, suitability, multiplicity and balance.
To ensure a logical, orderly process in his search for the answer to the essential
elements of information the intelligence officer develops a collection plan. He analyzes the
essential elements of information for possible indications of enemy activities, determines
the collections agencies he will use, directs these agencies in the search for information
by using specific orders and requests for information to be reported. During this entire
process, the intelligence officer is continually supervising the execution of the orders and
requests which have been issued.
b. Collection of information
Collection of information - Is the system exploitation of sources of information by
collection agencies and the delivery of the information obtained to the proper intelligence
section.
Intelligence officers must be insured of a continuous input of reliable information
concerning the disposition, strength, composition and movement of the hostile forces, as
well as information concerning weather and terrain. He must use every means at his
disposal to gain information on the enemy forces within the area of interest which may
affect the preparation and execution of his plans. Failure to exploit every source of
information may deny important information of hostile capabilities, vulnerabilities, probable
courses of actions. Because the intelligence officer's primary functions are to keep the
commander, staff and higher subordinate units informed of the enemy and the areas of
operations, he is faced with the continuous problem of efficiently employing all available
agencies to gather and provide the necessary information.

Sources of information – are persons, things or actions from which information

about the enemy, weather or terrain is derived. At the beginning of an operation the
intelligence officer does not lack information from which to produce intelligence for initial
estimates because many sources will be available to him. These sources will include
maps, air, photos, enemy documents, enemy materials, prisoners of wars, and weather
forecasts.
Collection agency – is any person, unit or activity that collect and/or processes
information by research, surveillance, interrogation or other exploitation of resources.

It is the responsibility of everyone to collect information. Collection’s agencies

include of military intelligence specialists, troops and special units (military police, signal
ordinance. Etc.)
c. Processing of information
Processing – is the step which intelligence is created from the raw materials of
information. It consists of three distinct steps:
1. The recording of information so that it can be compared with
other items on hand.
2. The evaluation of information or order to determine its
intelligence value.
3. The interpretation of the information in relation to other
information and
intelligence on hand in order to draw conclusions regarding its meaning.

In a tactical situation the commander wants intelligence not just information

which to base his decision or plans. The intelligence officer is not performing his job if he
merely presents his commander with a compilation of information without determining its
significance. In this case, he becomes nothing more than a situation.

Evaluation – information is of small value unless it has been analyzed with

respect to its pertinence, the reliability of the officer and agency and its pertinence, the
reliability of the officer and agency and its probable accuracy. The intelligence officer must
examine each item of information as soon as it is received to determine its intelligence
value. This examination may be either elaborate or instant depending upon the
circumstances. Is the information needed immediately or at some future time? Are the
source and agency reliable? Is the information confirmed or collaborated by previous
received information or previous produced intelligence?
 Interpretation of information consist of determining its significance with respect
to other information or previously collected and processed intelligence, and finally, drawing
conclusions as the possible meaning of the information.

d. Dissemination and use of intelligence

Dissemination and use of intel – intelligence is the product of all intel activities.
To be used must be disseminated to the commander, his staff, and others who require it
in proper form and in time serve the purpose.

The comadr received from an intel officer in the form of intel estimate. The intel
estimates give the comdr the best possible picture of the area of operation and the enemy
without irrelevant details.

The intel estimate brings together significant aspect of the weather, terrain and
the enemy. It enumerates and discusses the enemy’s capabilities, his weakness as well
as his favorable qualities and their effect on our mission.

Dissemination to other user are accomplished by means of radio message,

messenger, or by any rapid means of signal communication and personal contact
(telephone, personal reports)
Principles of intelligence
1. Intelligence is continuous
All intelligence activities follow a four (4) stage cycle; planning, collections, evaluation
and dissemination.
2. Intelligence operations and tactical operations are independent.
3. Intelligence must be useful.
Otherwise, what do operating troops need it for? It focuses on a certain intelligence
requirement of a comdr or his operating troops.
4. Intelligence must be timely.
The best intelligence is worthless if it does not reach the user in time for appropriate
action.
There must always be an effective system of disseminating intelligence, as the
timelessness of each bit of information must be exploited.
 5. Intelligence operations must be flexible
Intelligence activities are always based on logical steps. Standard intelligence
procedures make intelligence operations effective, but must be followed blindly.
Procedures can be changed to meet requirements.

Intelligence axioms
A. Axiom nr 1 – intelligence is crucial to internal security.
B. Axiom nr 2 – intelligence is essential to all types of operations.
1.) Internal defense operations.
2.) Internal development operations.
3.) Psychological operations.
C. Axiom nr 3 – intelligence is the responsibility of all govt. agencies.
D. Axiom nr 4 – intelligence of the government must be superior to that of the enemy.