Intelligence collection plan

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An intelligence collection plan (ICP) is the systematic process used by most modern armed forces and intelligence services to meet intelligence requirements through the tasking of all available resources to gather and provide pertinent information within a required time limit. [1] Creating a collection plan is part of the intelligence cycle.

Intelligence agency Government agency responsible for the collection and analysis of secret security or political information

An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, and foreign policy objectives.

An intelligence requirement (IR) relates to any form of intelligence (information) required by a decision maker. Once an intelligence requirement is identified, it is the responsibility of the decision maker's intel staff or if requested, supporting intel organization(s), to collect and disseminate the required information. The identification of intelligence requirements and the collection and dissemination of the required information are parts of the intelligence cycle.

The traditional Intelligence cycle is the fundamental cycle of intelligence processing in a civilian or military intelligence agency or in law enforcement as a closed path consisting of repeating nodes. The stages of the intelligence cycle include the issuance of requirements by decision makers, collection, processing, analysis, and publication of intelligence. The circuit is completed when decision makers provide feedback and revised requirements. The intelligence cycle is also called the Intelligence Process by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the uniformed services. The intelligence cycle is an effective way of processing information and turning it into relevant and actionable intelligence.

Contents

While an ICP has no prescribed doctrinal format, it must use all available collection capabilities to meet the decision maker's priority requirements. It must be precise and concise, yet a working document that is flexible enough to respond to changes as they occur. [2]

Process

Developing an ICP typically involves five stages:

Requirements

Identifying the intelligence requirements or the decision maker’s intent ensures that information collected is pertinent and that time and resources are not wasted. [3]

Assets, resources, and deterrents

At this stage, assets, resources, and obstacles are determined to help guide collection. Assets and resources are broken down into categories of sources and contacts and the value and extent of use for each asset and resource is evaluated. Deterrents to collection are identified and plans are developed to address deterrents. Travel plans are designed to overcome geographical barriers and emergency plans are conceived to address possible problems that may be encountered. [4] [5]

Priorities

A strategy is then devised based on the previous steps to prioritize collection. [5] This ensures that all requirements are adequately addressed, and that more important requirements receive an adequate amount of attention.

Taskings

Those who will do the collecting are then given tasks based on the previous steps. This ensures that each collector has a manageable amount of work and that someone is responsible for each requirement. It also makes collectors accountable for their areas of responsibility. [5]

Evaluation and updates

Once collection has begun, it is important to track progress to ensure that the requirements are being appropriately addressed and that time schedules are being met. When tracking progress in collection, there are several stages in which a task may be. It may be pending assignment, in process, on hold, reassigned, completed, or canceled, depending on the stage of the ICP process and any changes that may have occurred during collection. [5]

It is also important to update the plan and keep it current as the situation and the needs and requirements of the decision maker changes. [4] This flexibility ensures that the intelligence needs are better met when dealing with dynamic problems.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Intelligence Collection Plan". About.com. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  2. ↑ FM 34-2: Collection Management and Synchronization Planning. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army. 1994-03-08. pp. Appendix A., made available at "FM 34-2: Collection Management and Synchronization Planning : Appendix A". Federation of American Scientists . Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  3. ↑ "FM 2-0: Intelligence" (PDF). Federation of American Scientists . Retrieved 2008-03-29.[ dead link ]
  4. 1 2 Smigel, Stanley E (1995-09-18). "Some Views on the Theory and Practice of Intelligence Collection". Central Intelligence Agency . Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Intelligence Collection Plan". lawenforcementintelligence.com. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
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