A Guide to Intelligence Collection Methods
A Guide to Intelligence Collection Methods
The Intelligence Process
The process of creating reliable, accurate foreign intelligence is
dynamic and never ending The intelligence
process or cycle begins with questions -- the answers to which
inevitably lead to more questions. So,
essentially, the end of the cycle is the beginning of the next cycle
Through planning and direction by both collection and production
managers, the intelligence process
converts acquired information into intelligence and makes it available
to policymakers and other consumers.
One depiction of the intelligence process is shown here:
The intelligence process starts when consumers -- generally,
policymakers or military commanders --
express a need for intelligence information to help them accomplish
their missions. These needs are
expressed as requirements levied on the intelligence agencies serving
particular customers, or on joint
organizations established at various levels to serve the customers'
needs.
The intelligence agencies use the customers' needs in giving planning
and direction to guide collection
strategies and the production of appropriate intelligence products.
Collection
There are five basic intelligence information sources, or collection
disciplines
1. Signals intelligence (SlGINT) includes information derived from
intercepted communications, radar, and
telemetry.
2. Imagery (IMINT) includes both overhead and ground imagery.
3. Measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) is technically
derived intelligence data other than
imagery and SIGINT. It employs a broad group of disciplines
including nuclear, optical, radio frequency,
acoustics, seismic, and materials sciences. Examples of MASINT
might he the distinctive radar signatures of
specific types of aircraft or the composition of air and water samples.
4. Human-source intelligence (HUMINT) involves clandestine and
overt collection techniques to obtain
information Some of the principal types of collection associated with
HUMINT are:
Clandestine source acquisition of information (including
photography, documents, and other material) of
intelligence value. Overt data collection by civilian and military
personnel assigned to US diplomatic and
consular posts. Debriefing of foreign nationals and US citizens who
have traveled abroad or have access to
foreign information. During military operations, this would also
include the interrogation or debriefing of
prisoners of war or detainees. Official contacts with foreign
governments, including liaison with their
intelligence and security services.
5. Open-source information is publicly available information
appearing in print or electronic form. It may be
transmitted by radio, television, and newspapers, or it may be
distributed through commercial databases,
graphics, drawings, magazines, or books.
6. Geographic Intelligence is information about the geographic
features of the area of interest. This can
include information on the buildings, road systems, manufacturing
plants, and water treatment facilities.
7. Open Source Intelligence is information collected using overt
means. This can include information from
Libraries, trade journals, News services, television.
It is important to understand that information from collection sources
is information, not intelligence. Raw
information is often incomplete or -- taken out of context or without
understanding its origin and purpose --
possibly misleading. It can be subject to misinterpretation, or just
plain wrong. Information becomes
intelligence through processing, exploitation, and analysis.
Processing and Exploitation
A substantial portion of US intelligence resources is devoted to
processing and exploitation -- the synthesis
of raw data into a form usable by the intelligence analyst -- and to the
secure telecommunications networks
to carry these data. Interpreting imagery; decoding messages;
translating foreign-language broadcasts;
reducing telemetry to meaningful measures; preparing information for
computer processing, storage and
retrieval; placing human-source reports in a form and context to make
them more comprehensible -- these
are all processing and exploitation.
Analysis and Production
Intelligence analysts are generally assigned to a particular geographic
or functional specialty. Analysts
obtain information from all sources pertinent to their area of
responsibility through the collection,
processing and forwarding systems. Analysts may tap into these
systems to obtain answers to specific
questions or generate information they need.
Analysts absorb incoming information, evaluate it, test it against
other information and their knowledge and
expertise, produce an assessment of the current state of affairs within
an assigned field or substantive area,
and then forecast future trends or outcomes. The analyst also
develops requirements for collection of new
information.
Analysts almost never work alone, but instead operate within a system
of peer review and oversight by more
senior analysts.
During periods of international crisis or on occasions when
intelligence support is critical to high-level
negotiations, an interagency task force is often created under the
auspices of the Director of Central
Intelligence (DCI) to address critical intelligence needs. The DCI will
direct a particular agency to serve as
executive agent for task force support and other agencies will
contribute in line with their capabilities.
When an international crisis involves the US military, the Director of
the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
establishes an Intelligence Task Force (ITF) dedicated to round-the-
clock intelligence support of the
operational and combatant commands involved. The intelligence
components of the military services and the
other interested intelligence agencies will contribute analysts and
other experts to the ITF.
US Intelligence Agencies
NCIS-Naval Criminal Investigative Service - Naval Counter Intelligence
OSI- Office of Special Investigation - (Air Force) - Air Force Security and Counter Intelligence
AFMIC- Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Agency
AIA- Army Intelligence Agency
BATF- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
CIA- Central Intelligence Agency DIA- Defense Intelligence Agency
DEA- Drug Enforcement Agency
FBI- Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Counterintelligence Center (NCC)- Part of the FBI
National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC)
National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)
National Maritime Intelligence Center (NMIC)
NRO- National Reconnaissance Office
NSA- National Security Agency
Naval Intelligence Operations Group (NIOG)
Naval Intelligence Support Center (NISC)
Naval Security Group - Naval Signal Intelligence (Naval Arm of the NSA)
Office of Export Enforcement - Intelligence Division
Secret Service - Office of Protective Intelligence
State Department's Bureau of Intelligence & Research (INR)
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