https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated December 10, 2021
Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations
Much of the Intelligence Community (IC), nine of 18 total
elements, resides within the Department of Defense (DOD).
This includes the National Security Agency (NSA),
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Geospatial-
Intelligence Agency (NGA), and the intelligence
components of the Navy, Army, Marines, and Air Force.
Non-DOD IC elements, however, also provide support to
the military. Integrated IC support of the military includes
strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence activities,
products and services that are necessary for military
strategy, planning, and operations.
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) serves as
community manager for the IC and the principal
intelligence advisor to the President. The core mission of
the DNI is “to lead the IC in intelligence integration” to
ensure the IC’s 18 elements operate as one team. The Under
Secretary of Defense (Intelligence and Security)
(USD(I&S)) manages the DOD intelligence elements. His
position is dual-hatted. When acting as the USD(I&S), the
incumbent reports directly to the Secretary of Defense and
serves as the Secretary’s principal staff assistant on
intelligence, counterintelligence, security, and other
intelligence-related matters. When acting as Director of
Defense Intelligence (DDI), the incumbent reports directly
to the DNI and serves as principal advisor on defense
intelligence matters. Together, the DNI and USD(I&S)
coordinate a number of interagency activities designed to
facilitate the integration of national and tactical-level
intelligence.
Types of Military Operations
The IC supports the entire spectrum of DOD missions, from
peacetime operations to war. Joint Publication 2-0, Joint
Intelligence, loosely groups DOD missions under three
headings:
Military Engagement, Security Cooperation, and
Deterrence. Examples include military exchanges, arms
control verification, sanctions enforcement, protection
of shipping lanes, shows of force, and support to
insurgency and counterinsurgency operations.
Crisis Response and Limited Contingency
Operations. Examples include noncombatant
evacuation operations, stability or peacekeeping
operations, humanitarian assistance, personnel or
equipment recovery operations, and chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear response actions.
Major Military Operations and Campaigns. These
types of operations include U.S. operations in Iraq
where military forces generally have a lengthy,
multidimensional presence. The examples listed above
(associated with more limited operations—such as
humanitarian assistance) may also occur within this
category as part of a larger military operation.
Intelligence Support
Table 1 summarizes the responsibilities of joint intelligence
to assist commanders in deciding which forces to deploy,
when, how, and where to deploy the, and how to employ
them in a manner that accomplishes a specific mission.
They are based upon development of an understanding of
the commander’s priorities.
Table 1. Joint Intelligence Responsibilities in Military
Operations
Source: Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, Figure 1-2, p. I-3.
Intelligence to “inform the commander” may include
providing information about actual and potential threats,
terrain, climate and weather, infrastructure, cultural
characteristics, medical conditions, population, and
leadership.
Intelligence that “describes the operational environment”
may help in identifying and characterizing variables such as
the political context; governance; economy; social stability;
critical infrastructure; communications; physical setting;
and military capability, intentions, and tactics.
Intelligence to “identify, define, and nominate objectives”
includes creating an intelligence collection plan based on
the commander’s priorities, and creating possible battlefield
targets focused on achieving the commander’s objectives.
Intelligence to “support planning and execution of
operations” may include enhancing information sharing
across departments and agencies of the government, and
with international partners; allocating intelligence platforms
to provide optimized support, establishing mutual support
arrangements with host country nationals; and providing
indications and warning of attack.
Intelligence to “counter adversary deception and
surprise” may include providing information on an
adversary’s capabilities and vulnerabilities; estimates of
when, where, and how military forces could exploit their
information superiority; and the threat an adversary poses to
friendly information and information systems.
