Gathering & UsingIntelligence

The great thing is to get the true picture, whatever it is.

Winston Churchill, 1940

What we have is information but what we need is understanding!

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• Information—Knowledge or news of an event or situation

• Intelligence—Product of specific information related to the situation at hand

• Information is raw data, Intelligence is processed data

• The primary aim of intelligence is to support effective decision making

Information vs Intelligence23

Information or Intelligence22

• Objective —Free as possible from distortion or bias

• Thorough —Comprehensive enough to be useful

• Accurate —Factually correct and reliable

• Timely —Too late is the same as absent

• Usable —Clear, concise and easily understood

• Relevant —Fitting for the purpose at hand

Good Intelligence21

• Initially, nearly all information has value and requires little effort to obtain

• As the situation progresses, valuable information is more difficult to obtain

Value

Effort

Point ofDiminishing

Returns

Point ofDiminishing

Returns

Anything that decreases the effort, automatically increases the value.

TimeIn

form

atio

n

Intelligence Axiom20

• Expedite Access♦ Capture and arrange predetermined valuable information

• Incorporate Specialized Skills and Expertise♦ Trained staff are more adept and resourceful in gaining relevant

information while avoiding ineffectual searches and duplication of effort

• Use Technology♦ Computers, databases, spreadsheets, cellular phones

• Use Tools of Analysis♦ Standard formats most critical because information is

“automatically” arranged♦ Matrices, charts and graphs are only a few others

Decreasing the Effort19

The better the intelligence predicting an undesirable event, the less likely it is to occur if properly acted upon

Intelligence indicates theprobability of an adverseaction or event occurring

Actions taken to reducethe impact or eliminate

it altogether

Intelligence Paradox18

• Passive Intelligence - the traditional law enforcement method

♦ Relies upon field units♦ Intelligence function is a collateral duty

• Active Intelligence - the traditional military method♦ Relies upon assigned units♦ Intelligence function is the primary duty

Passive vs Active Intelligence17

• Essential Elements of Information (EEIs)♦ Critical facts that a commander must have to make a

decision

• Other Intelligence Requirements (OIRs)♦ Information that is needed to provide a more

comprehensive picture

• Assumptions♦ Anything taken for granted or accepted as true without

conclusive proof♦ Performs the role of a “substitute” for an EEIz

The Intelligence Picture16

IntelligenceCycle

Collection

Processing &

Production

Dissem

ination

• Intelligence attempts to provide commanders both awareness and perspective

• The intelligence function is too important to leave to chance or a haphazard approach

• Four interrelated steps,each supports and is supported by the others

The Intelligence Process

Direction

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• Stems straight from the operational mission

• Function of command♦ What information is needed?♦ How badly is it needed?

• Identifies Essential Elements of Information (EEIs) and Other Intelligence Requirements (OIRs)

• Prioritization will be required

Direction

IntelligenceCycle

Collection

Processing &

Production

Dissem

ination

Direction

14

• The efforts to obtain the information and make it available for processing and production

• Collection plan is a function of the intelligence component♦ Provides guidance and focus

of effort to efficiently obtain the information

♦ Will change with the tactical situation

IntelligenceCycle

Collection

Processing &

Production

Dissem

ination

Collection

Direction

13

• This is where information first becomes intelligence

• Processing takes the loose data and organizes them into a usable format♦ Allows the significance of the

data to become conspicuous♦ Data is analyzed for relevance,

reliability and accuracy

• Production evaluates (determines value), integrates (compiles related data), and interprets (conceptualizes significance) the data

IntelligenceCycle

Collection

Processing &

Production

Dissem

ination

Processing & Production

Direction

12

• Ensures that the various agenciesor organizational components get the intelligence in an appropriate form and in a timely manner

• Large operations will make intelligence contextual, in that not everyone needs (or wants)to know everything

IntelligenceCycle

Collection

Processing &

Production

Dissem

ination

Dissemination

Direction

11

• A systematic approach focused on reducing the “Intelligence Gap”♦ The gap between what you know and what you need to know

• Four Critical Factors♦ Trends—combination of measurement and prediction used to

identify a general tendency, inclination or predisposition♦ Potentials—ability or capacity of something. Potentials sets limits on

the possibilities ♦ Capabilities—provide an estimation of sophistication and ability with

adversaries, or with natural disasters, probable behaviors and consequences

♦ Intentions—identify the aims of an adversary, or with natural disasters, provide a calculation of the degree of impact on a region, function or organization

Collection Plan10

• Without orderly reporting system, facts are jumbled together♦ Gaining intelligence made more complicated and difficult

• Tried and True Field Observation Report is “SALUTE”♦ Comprised of Six Components

Size Activity Location Unit or Uniform Time Equipment

Intelligence Reporting

SALUTE

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• Identifies the size, extent or magnitude of the event

• Must identify what is being measured♦ Examples:

Civil disorder — the number of members of a mob

Fire — number of acres or structures involved

Size

SALUTE

8

• Identifies the particular activity, event or situation observed

• Should be described clearly but concisely. One or two words are preferable.♦ Examples:

Fire Flood Rioting and Looting

Activity

SALUTE

7

• Identifies the location of the observed activity as precisely as possible♦ Depending upon the circumstances, may be an

address, map coordinates, geographical region, polar shift or prominent terrain feature

• If activity is dynamic, it should also provide speed and direction of movement

Location

SALUTE

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• If recognized, identifies “Who?”♦ Unit—Agency, individual, gang, department,

etc. involved

• If unrecognized describes “What is being observed?”♦ Uniform—What are they wearing? What does

it look like?

Unit or Uniform

SALUTE

5

• Defines the time and duration of the observation♦ Avoids intelligence based upon “stale” information♦ Used to separate multiple reports of a single event by

multiple observers

• Duration is important because it may establish a “life expectancy” of episodes

• May be any of the following:♦ Time observer first observed activity (most common)♦ Time observer determined activity began♦ Duration observed♦ Expected duration

Time

SALUTE

4

• Describes the equipment or weapons involved

• In natural disasters, this component may not be applicable, in which case the observer sends “None” or “Not Applicable”

• No component should be left blank—ever!♦ Otherwise if is impossible to determine

whether it was unobserved or missed

Equipment

SALUTE

3

• Intelligence efforts are more encompassing than just the current situation♦ Historical information is

extremely beneficial

• Simple Format♦ Item or Issue - one sentence♦ Discussion or Description -

several paragraphs♦ Recommendation –

one paragraph

After Action2

Questions?