BASIC INTELLIGENCE

Definition of terms:
1.

Military information means all facts, documents, materials, photographs,

diagram, 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 and terrain.
3.

Combat intelligence is that knowledge of the enemy, weather & terrain

required by a comdr in planning & conducting tactical operation. It is developed during

the conduct of the operations modification of the original operation plan which may be
apprciated.
4.

Counter intelligence is an aspect which comprises civil & military

measures, including the collection, rpocessing & distribution of information, & executive
actions, designed to counter enemy or to prevent sabotage or subversion activities. .
The intelligence cycle.
5. Intelligence axiom are facts that required no doubt because the truths of these
statements are obious.
In the study of intelligence cycle it is not important which phase 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 logically organize
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 fogs of war and this fog does not left automatically.

1.

Planning of the collection effort consist of 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 request for information.

e.
2.

Supervising the execution of order and request.

Depending on the mission. The commander and his staff require

intelligence information.
a.

To arrive at sound and timely decisions in preparing plans

and estimate 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 other information.

Also, in the commanders 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 requirement 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 insure 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, direct these agencies in the
search for information by using specific orders and request for information is to be

reported. During this entire process, the intelligence officer is continually supervising the
execution of the orders and request 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 officer must be insure 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 of 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 primary
function is to keep the commander, staff and higher and subordinate units informed of
the enemy and the areas of operations, he is faced with the continuous problem of
efficient employing all available agencies to gather and provide the necessary
information.
Source 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
war, 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
agencies include all military intelligence specialists, troops and special units (military
police, signal, ordnance, etc).
c.

Processing of information

Processing is the step which intelligence is created from the raw

material 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

3.

The interpretation of the information in relation to other information

value.
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 statistician.
Evaluation information is of small value unless it has been analyze 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 elaborated 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 probable meaning of the information.
Evaluation and interpretation together are the essential steps in
processing. Keep in mind that the commander wants intelligence and not merely a
compilation of information.
d.

Dissemination and use of intelligence

Dissemination and use of intel intelligence is the end product of all intel

activeties. To be used it must be disseminated to the comdr, his straff, and other who require it
in proper form & in time serve the purpose.

The comdr received intel from intel offr in the form of intel estimate. The intel
estimates gives 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 & the
enemy. It enumerates & discusses the enemys capabilities, his weakness as wells as
his favorable qualities & 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 & personal contact
(telephone, personal reports

Principles of intelligence
1. Intelligence is continues
All inttelligence activities follow a four (4) stage cycle: planing, collection, evaluation &
dissemination.
the cycle is continouos & all steps are carried out in an orderly fashion. We cannot
afford to have unsystematic & inefficient of information. Any lead mus be followed
vigorously.
check the reliability of the source to verify the raw of information. Do anything to
make that information available is useful form.
2. Intelligence operations and tactical operations are interdependent.
3. Intelligence must be useful.
Otherwise, what do operating troops need it for?

It focus on a certain intelligence

requirement of a comdr or his operating troops.

the intelligence operation is not terminated, until positive results come out.
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 dessiminating intelligence, as the
timeless 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 not 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 typs of opns.
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 govt must be superior to that of the enemy.