INTELLIGENCE AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE SUPPORT
The ARSOF commander
employs the IEW system throughout the operational continuum. This chapter
describes how the total IEW system works with ARSOF to accomplish the mission.
ARSOF commanders have limited organic IEW assets and depend highly on
connectivity with theater and national level intelligence agencies for
operational intelligence support. Figure 2-1 lists these assets by organization and echelon.
All intelligence
operations follow a four-step process known as the intelligence cycle. The
mission drives the intelligence cycle. Supervising and planning are inherent in
each step of it. Figure 2-2 shows ARSOF unit intelligence cycle functional
responsibilities.
The intelligence cycle
is continuous. Even though the four steps are conducted in sequence, all are
conducted concurrently. While available information is processed, additional
information is collected, and the intelligence staff is planning and directing
the collection effort to meet new demands.
Previously collected and
processed information (intelligence) is disseminated as soon as it is available
or needed. Often this process must be compressed to meet mission requirements.
For example, ranger battalions must deploy and be target-bound within 18 hours.
Products resulting from this process are used to support the ARSOF commander's
changing PIR and IR.
Intelligence planning
begins concurrently with other staff planning. Until an intelligence estimate
is available, detailed operational planning cannot be completed. The SIO must
be ready to provide an estimate for the next operation and revise the current
estimate to meet changing operational conditions.
As planning progresses
and operational details are developed, the commander continues the
decision-making process. As a result, intelligence plans are either
substantiated or changed. The farther an operation is projected into the
future, the more likely it is that changes in the situation will alter
intelligence plans. The commander's intent, concept of the mission, and the
intelligence estimate are the basis for allocating resources. Intelligence
planning and supervising must remain flexible. IPB is an integral part of
planning and supervising throughout the intelligence cycle.
Both the intelligence
cycle and the IPB process are cyclic in nature. Just like the intelligence
cycle, all IPB functions are performed continuously and simultaneously to
support the commander's concept and mission. The estimate is developed from
conclusions derived from the IPB process and from information drawn from
intelligence data bases.
DIRECTING
The commander, through
the SIO, directs the intelligence effort. The ARSOF S2 performs collection
management planning before the operation begins and guides the effective
employment of collection resources during the operation. The graphic data bases
are developed and maintained through research and IPB. IPB, coupled with
available data bases, provides a foundation for situation and target
development. This provides a means for projecting battlefield events and
activities in the operational area and for predicting COAs. By comparing these
projections with actual events and activities as they occur, the SIO can
provide the commander with timely, complete, and accurate intelligence.
Intelligence agencies
from national level down constantly develop and maintain intelligence data
bases. The SIO accesses these data bases to prepare initial intelligence
estimates and to analyze the area of operations (AO) showing probable foreign
COAs. This analysis is based on mission requirements and the commander's PIR.
The product resulting from this guidance is an intelligence estimate. (See FM 34-1, Appendix B.) The intelligence estimate is
integrated with other staff estimates. It is presented to the commander who
decides what actions are needed to accomplish the mission.
Based on the commander's
intent, PIR, and initial intelligence estimate, the SIO determines the specific
IEW assets needed to satisfy the commander's requirements.FM 34-2, Chapter 2; and FM 34-130, Chapter 5, discuss IPB collection management.
The commander's PIR
drives the SIO collection and dissemination efforts. Based on thorough
knowledge of all operational factors, the SIO develops recommended intelligence
requirements to support the commander's concept of the operation. The
intelligence staff--
PIR and IR are the basis
for intelligence collection and production. ARSOF PIR are as concerned with
host nation and local populace as they are with the threat and the other characteristics
of the AO. The commander approves PIR and the SIO approves IR. These IR reflect
some of the intelligence requirements that are less critical to the commander's
decisions, but still include information to support the operations. Once
approved, PIR and IR are integrated into the all-source intelligence collection
plans that drive situation and target development.
As these mission
requirements change or as old requirements are met and new requirements are
established, the SIO develops new PIR and IR to answer them.Appendix A contains a sample collection plan and a chart
that lists sources and agencies with the units and activities that fit into
each category.
COLLECTING
Collecting entails
gathering information from all sources. Collection operations are guided by PIR
and IR. The SIO focuses them on named areas of interest (NAIs), which are
points or areas where activity confirms or denies a particular COA; or on
target areas of interest (TAIs), which are engagement points or areas. These
areas usually are along an avenue of approach (AA) mobility corridor where the
interdiction of a threat force by fire, maneuver, or jamming will reduce or
deprive that force of a particular capability.
ARSOF TAIs include
population groups, installations, and critical facility nodes within a
strategic target system. Some examples are key bridges, assembly areas,
transportation systems, and air defense artillery (ADA) systems. See Chapter 10 for more information on NAI and TAI.
For ARSOF, the
collecting phase of the intelligence cycle begins as soon as mission area
requirements are identified. The collection process is conducted using all the
means available within the IEW system -- both internal and external to the
ARSOF organizations. Collected information is reported to the collection
management and dissemination (CM&D) section of the MI detachment. As
incoming reports are received, they are matched with the collection
requirements they satisfy and forwarded to the all-source production section
(ASPS) for processing.
PROCESSING
Processing is the phase
of the intelligence cycle where information becomes intelligence. Processing
results finished intelligence products the ARSOF commander and staff use for
planning and executing the mission. Processing consists of the three operations
discussed below.
Recording
Recording converts
information into writing or other forms of graphic copy and then arranges it
into groups of related items. Recording can be done manually or by computer and
ranges from the simple logging-in of incoming message traffic to preparing IPB
terrain products. Posting on an incident map or overlay would be recording.
Evaluation
Evaluation determines if
the information is pertinent, reliable, and accurate. The analyst can rule out
or confirm the validity of the information by applying his knowledge of the
terrain or other conditions. However, this process can require the
reorientation of collection assets to confirm or deny the validity of a given
report. This is criticaI for ARSOF units preparing to operate against targets
deep behind enemy lines or in denied areas.
Analysis
Analysis determines the
significance of the information, based on information and intelligence already
known, and then draws conclusions about the probable meaning of the evaluated
information. Analysis is a continuous process applied to all available data.
However, it becomes critical during the threat integration function of the IPB
process. During threat integration, the friendly commander and staff analyze
all available information against all possible enemy and friendly COAs. An
important task performed through the evaluation and processing operations is
indications and warnings (I&W).
DISSEMINATING AND USING
The final part of the
intelligence cycle is disseminating and using. Intelligence and combat
information are of little value if they are not delivered when and where they
are needed. Failure to do this defeats a thorough and successful collection and
processing effort. Since most intelligence and combat information is time
sensitive, intelligence products must be disseminated to the ARSOF operations
officer and commander when they need it and in a form they can use. Report
formats are discussed in FM 34-1, Chapter 3 and Appendix G, and are shown in FM 34-3, Appendix A.
Disseminating is driven
by ARSOF operation requirements. The fast-moving nature of ARSOF operations
dictates the need for transmitting information quickly. Electrical message,
data link, secure voice radio, and courier are the primary means of
dissemination during ARSOF operations. Spot reports can be transmitted quickly
and contain the bulk of combat information.
Combat information and
operational data are the mainstay for ARSOF commanders. ARSOF commanders use
this data to accomplish their mission. Any element that obtains combat
information must disseminate it by the fastest, most direct means available. In
an ARSOF unit, this is done by entering the appropriate net. ARSOF commanders
must ensure that intelligence nets are established. If direct communication
over these nets is not possible, information should be passed through any
available communications net to a relaying headquarters.
Combat information also
is reported through intelligence channels for processing and disseminating.
Intelligence, combat information, and targeting data are disseminated based on
established requirements stated in unit SOPs. Although these requirements may
vary, each unit must use a system that establishes priorities to distribute the
most critical information first.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES COMMANDER'S INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS
Because the intelligence
cycle is predicated on the commander's intent, the ARSOF commander executing a
mission is best suited to define his intelligence needs. When the commander
clearly identifies and prioritizes the PIR, MI assets can provide the type and
amount of intelligence needed to direct the operation.
To best support their
commanders, ARSOF collection managers must identify and prioritize their
standing and time-sensitive collection requirements. They must then forward
these requests for intelligence information (RIIs) to their higher headquarters
to be incorporated into the theater and national requirements list. The Joint
Tactical Exploitation of National Systems (J-TENS) Manual and FM 34-2, Appendix C, specify request formats to get
support from national systems. Other support requests should use
theater-specified formats.
The five IEW mission
tasks, which are shown at Figure 1-4, are discussed below.
Situation development is
the process resulting from colllecting and integrating intelligence and combat
information into all-source products that provide an estimate of the situation
and a projection of foreign capabilities and intentions. These products let
ARSOF commanders see and understand the operational environment in sufficient
time and detail to employ their forces effectively. Thus, a picture is
developed based on an analysis of intelligence holdings which are continuously
updated by collecting and processing information. Situation development
incorporates all four steps of the intelligence cycle.
During situation
development, the SIO uses IPB in the mission planning process to provide
systematic and continuous analysis of all the operational factors in specific
geographic areas.
The following types of
ARSOF analytical products are integrated into the IPB product to support
situation development.
GENERAL AREA STUDY
General or specific area
studies provide broad background knowledge of an area, region, or country. Each
ARSOF unit performs a general area study to orient its members on potential
operational areas. With ASPS support, the unit's area specialist team (AST)
manages the area study program and assists the ARSOF element with its general
area studies. Appendix B provides a sample outline for a general area
study.
PSYOP ESTIMATE
A PSYOP estimate is an
analysis of the current situation from a psychological viewpoint. It considers
all of a commander's feasible COAs, analyzes and compares them, and then
recommends key PSYOP factors affecting accomplishing the overall mission. Appendix C provides a sample outline for a PSYOP estimate.
TARGET INTELLIGENCE PACKAGE
TIPs containing
operational area intelligence are detailed studies of specific targets within a
designated joint special operations area (JSOA). The special forces group (SFG)
and battalion ASTs and ranger order of battle (OB) sections maintain libraries
of approved special operations mission planning folders (SOMPFs). With ASPS
support, they continually review and update TIPs to provide the latest
operational area intelligence to deploying SOF units. Once an ARSOF unit
deploys, the supporting AST or OB section continues to search for intelligence
of interest to the ARSOF team. The AST monitors RIIs submitted by the deployed
ARSOF unit and ensures timely answers to the unit's questions.
Multiple military and
national intelligence agencies prepare TIPs to satisfy ARSOF planning needs for
specific targets. Each TIP includes data on the target and important
installations in the surrounding area, military aspects of terrain, and forces
near or at the target that could affect accomplishing the mission.
TIPs are specially
designed to support SOF requirements; however, they should also be useful to
any services' ground forces, or air targeting forces with a mission against the
target. TIPs include but are not limited to--
AREA ASSESSMENT
ARSOF area assessments
are internally generated. The area assessment is a continuous process that
confirms, corrects, refutes, or adds to previous intelligence gained before
deploying. The ARSOF unit transmits the results of the area assessment to its
operational base only when there is new intelligence that differs significantly
from the intelligence they receive before deploying. By conducting an area assessment,
a deployed ARSOF unit continually adds to its knowledge of the JSOA. The ARSOF
unit begins its area assessment as soon as it enters its operational area.
There is no rigid format
for making an area assessment, but the area study outline at Appendix B provides a guide. The area assessment serves as
the basis for the commander's estimate of the situation. Some major aspects of
the area assessment include--
CIVIL-MILITARY OPERATIONS ESTIMATE
The civil-military
operations estimate aids commanders in accomplishing their missions while
minimizing civilian interference and reducing collateral damage to the civilian
populace and economy. These estimates include information concerning civilian
population density, configuration, public health, public safety, and probable
routes and numbers of dislocated civilians. Appendix D contains a sample outline for a civil-military
operations estimate.
Target development for
ARSOF is conducted during peacetime, conflict, and war. ARSOF employs two
distinct target development processes which overlap:
The MI concept of
targeting most closely parallels the SOF adaptive targeting process.
DELIBERATE TARGETING PROCESS
In the deliberate
targeting process, ARSOF missions focus on facilities, installations, and
system components which are critical to a nation's warfighting capabilities,
infrastructure, or internal stability. This target selection program must
examine all potential target systems to determine which are best suited to
accomplish the supported CINC's objectives. Since the deliberate targeting
program occurs prior to hostilities, critical node selection is based on
peacetime data bases and analysis.
ADAPTIVE TARGETING PROCESS
In the adaptive
targeting process, target selection goals are not confined to destroying or
damaging a freed target. The major goals are to alter, affect, impede, or
report threat activity. Movers, shooters, emitters, and sitters which are
identified and located by ARSOF in the JSOA become a critical set of target
categories.
However, while a
conventional forces targeteer can task units to actively pursue threat forces
-- much as a hunter stalks prey -- the ARSOF targeteer must approach the deep
battle adaptive targeting process from the mindset of a trapper. The ARSOF SIO
examines the JSOA and its adjoining areas to predict threat force movement
patterns and to assess their speed of movement. These analyses result in
identifying NAIs which the ARSOF commander can nominate as future TAI or future
JSOAs to his theater special operations commander. These TAIs can then become
assigned JSOAs for ARSOF target missions.
It is important for the
ARSOF SIO to know that the deliberate and adaptive targeting processes depend
on effective and timely use of the intelligence cycle. ARSOF target development
is the result of complete and accurate situation development during peacetime
contingency planning and battlefield analysis during conflict or wartime. IPB
supports target development programs and provides the ARSOF commander with the
intelligence needed to select valid target nodes for his operational elements.
EW coordination is a
shared responsibility of the ARSOF staff. This staff consists of the S2, S3,
signal officer, and MI detachment commander. The commander uses EW to
determine, exploit, disrupt, and deceive foreign C2 systems whale protecting friendly use of the electromagnetic
spectrum. EW can be defensive or offensive. It contributes significantly to
command, control, and communications countermeasures (C3CM). ARSOF commanders consider integrating Air Force and other
non-SOF EW support into special operations. EW support is used--
DEFENSIVE EW
Defensive EW, or
electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), protects friendly C2 systems. ECCM include such passive procedures as emission control
and terrain masking. They also include immediately identifying and reporting
meaconing, intrusion, jamming, and interference (MIJI) of a friendly C3 facility. The signal officer has staff responsibility for ECCM.
However, ECCM is the responsibility of every soldier who uses or supervises the
use of communications and noncommunications emitters.
OFFENSIVE EW
Offensive EW exploits,
disrupts, or deceives threat command, control, communications, and intelligence
(C3I) systems. There are two types of offensive EW:
electronic countermeasures (ECM) and electronic support measures (ESM).
Electronic Countermeasures
ECM systematically
disrupt hostile C3I systems by jamming and deception. Selective
jamming and imitative deception can disrupt and delay foreign reaction to the
presence of SOF on the ground at the objective. The S3 has staff responsibility
for ECM. The SF group has a very limited organic tactical jamming capability so
it relies primarily on theater systems to provide ECM support for its
operations. The S3 EW officer (normally an additional duty) plans and
coordinates this support with the help of the S2. One of the major duties is to
protect friendly frequencies. The Joint Restricted Frequency List (JRFL) is a
time and geographically oriented listing of taboo, protected, and guarded
functions, nets, and frequencies. It is compiled and managed by the signal
officer, coordinated with the intelligence officer, and approved by the
operations officer. The JRFL is limited to the minimum number of frequencies
necessary for friendly forces to accomplish assigned missions. It facilitates
friendly EW actions by placing the minimum number of restrictions on ECM systems.
Electronic Support Measures
ESM intercept, identify,
and locate threat emitters. ESM provide information required for ECM, ECCM,
targeting and situation development, and operations. ESM resources provide
information to support EW activities like avoidance, targeting, and homing.
Such resources may also be a source of information for loc electronic order of
battle (EOB) development, target surveillance, and EW mission control. In the
process of performing the functions listed above, ESM also provides intercept,
location, and identification of hostile signals by using equipment and
techniques similar to those used to produce SIGINT. ESM may also draw on data
bases produced by other SIGINT activities and intelligence sources.
CI provides analysis of
foreign intelligence threats to include espionage, sabotage, subversion,
assassination, terrorism, and other threats. This is accomplished through the
four major CI functions: investigation, collection, operations, and analysis
and production. (See FM 34-60, and FM 34-60A, for more information on CI.) CI operations--
CI does not include--
MDCI analysis provides
ARSOF commanders with detailed assessments of foreign all-source intelligence
and security threats near their operational bases and in their operational
areas. These foreign threat assessment are critical to the unit's OPSEC and
base defense programs.
MDCI analysts also
support ARSOF deception operations by determining foreign intelligence
collection assets. MDCI analysts provide the S3 with recommendations of
friendly activities to support the deception; if these activities are employed,
they will help evaluate their effectiveness. See FM 90-2 and FM 90-2A for details on battlefield deception and
electronic deception principles and TTPs.
I&W is a critical
subfunction of the processing step of the intelligence cycle. This is where the
intelligence community monitors threat activity to ensure that their political,
military, economic, or diplomatic actions are not a prelude to hostilities or
other acts contrary to US interests. Analysis of I&W reports can alert the
system to possible threat activity and can be used to refocus and adjust intelligence
requirements and collection efforts.
At the national level,
the Department of Defense (DOD) performs I&W by using the Worldwide Warning
and Indication Monitoring System (WWIMS). Under the auspices of WWIMS, the
national intelligence agencies, service branches (Army, Air Force, Navy), and
unified and specified CINCs maintain 24-hour I&W watch centers.
At the theater level,
I&W analysis allows commanders to better anticipate and understand NCA
actions which may lead to the decision for military involvement. In order to
impede a threat attempt at strategic surprise, theater-based all-source
intelligence analysis is vital to the theater commander and to the NCA.
High-intensity conflict
in a theater of war would be preceded by a failure on the part of the countries
involved to adhere to long-standing rules of behavior.
Once a theater
intelligence staff has discerned the threat's political designs, the
information gleaned during the performance of the second and third functions of
operational level of war IPB yields a broad picture of how a threat could be
expected to fight and to what objectives.
ARSOF is both a consumer
and producer of I&W reporting. It uses I&W reporting on world
military-political developments to focus and refine its intelligence collection
priorities and update and guide its operational and contingency planning. This
becomes increasingly critical once an ARSOF element enters the final mission
preparation and execution stages.
Once deployed, ARSOF
elements can provide unique, first-time I&W reporting from denied areas,
and can confirm or deny I&W reporting from other sources. Although WWIMS
supports all of DOD, the SOF-specific I&W centers are located at the Joint
Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC, and at US Special Operations
Command at McDill AFB, FL. For ARSOF, the USASOC EOC monitors the I&W
system from its headquarters at Fort Bragg.
ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES INTELLIGENCE AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE
TEAM
The IEW team that
provides dedicated support to ARSOF operations is led by the ARSOF commander.
Under the C2 and guidance of the ARSOF commander, the S2, S3,
and the supporting MI unit commander work together to provide the information
and intelligence the ARSOF commander needs to support the concept of the
operation.
The MI commander
executes the SOF commander's I&W directives. The ARSOF commander leads the
IEW team. The commander provides team leadership, motivation, focused
perspective, and direction. He provides the SIO with initial guidance on his
intent and concept of the operation and identifies his PIR. The SIO evaluates
the commander's PIR and recommends adjustments if needed. The commander then
approves the final PIR and the intelligence cycle begins.
The SIO manages and
supervises SOF intelligence operations and security programs. Based on
intelligence requirements, the SIO develops intelligence collection
requirements and tasks subordinate elements, including organic and supporting
MI units.
The S3 plans and directs
EW and OPSEC based on mission requirements. The S3--
