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H100 Compare and Contrast Essay

MSG Pedro Guevara

United States Army Sergeants Major Academy

SGM Turpin

14 December 2010

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Actionable Intelligence

Intelligence has always been valuable in order to achieve mission success. There have

been various techniques used by military units to obtain actionable intelligence. Today’s

techniques have changed compared to those used in earlier conflicts.

Obstacle Considerations

Collecting intelligence may differ depending on the environment. The terrain plays a

huge factor on how military forces collect intelligence. It may be slightly difficult collecting

intelligence in the jungles of Vietnam, Panama, or the mountains of Afghanistan than it would in

Kuwait, Germany, or Bosnia. If satellite images or other aerial capabilities hinder the ability to

collect intelligence due to terrain, combatant commanders will not have the information to assist

in making sound decisions.

In Iraq, it is a unique conflict compared to any war in the past. In past, American forces

could identify the enemy forces by their uniforms and vehicles. When fighting insurgents, it is

difficult for American and Coalition forces to distinguish who the enemy is. They usually wear

the same clothing as local nationals.

Culture can assist in collecting actionable intelligence by interacting with the populace.

In order for that to take place, American forces have to win the hearts and minds of the people.

Local nationals are a good source of information whether in small villages, towns, or large cities.

Some people are afraid to say anything in fear for their lives. These types of cultures

tend to remain silence and attempt to go on with their everyday lives. They would rather look

the other way and deny assistance to friendly forces making it difficult to collect any valuable intelligence.

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Favorable Techniques

Reconnaissance continues to be an effective way to collect intelligence as it was during

the Civil War. The Union used their cavalry to find the Army of Northern on its

invasion of the North. At the same time, the Confederate’s cavalry employed counter-

reconnaissance to screen the Union in attempt to hide Robert E. Lee’s movements.

The purpose for Reconnaissance remains the same today as it did the past. That is to

collect enemy intelligence to determine their location, their disposition and intention, to collect

their capabilities and possible future activity. Visual means was a way to collect intelligence as

Soldiers crossed behind enemy lines.

Although today Reconnaissance teams conduct their mission on foot, light-armored vehicles or helicopters instead of horses, it remains as crucial component of the military.

Developed in 1986, the Long Range Surveillance Leaders Course was to train Airborne, Air

Assault, Light and Special Reconnaissance in the latest reconnaissance techniques.

In July 2002, the course was renamed the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader

Course. It continues to develop Officers and Noncommissioned Officers whose primary mission

is to conduct reconnaissance operations. Today, Reconnaissance operations include patrolling

by troops such as rangers, scouts, or military intelligence. Ships or submarines, manned or

unmanned aircraft, satellites are other means of Reconnaissance.

Interrogation is one of the most sought out ways to collect information from captured

enemy personnel. There are three purposes for conducting interrogation. They are to collect

military information, converting the individual or breaking his will.

War World II was the first time that the United States used trained interrogators. The

training was located in Camp Ritchie, and initially consisted of Germany Natives who

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had fled to America in the early 1930s. They were very successful in their abilities to obtain

information from Nazis Soldiers.

Most people associate interrogation with torture. In July 1929, the United States signed

the Geneva Convention. of the Ritchie Boys had a theory that using torture can be

ineffective. A prisoner may say anything to relieve himself of the pain of torture even give false

information.

During the Vietnam War, many Americans were tortured while they were prisoners of

war regardless of the Geneva Convention. Clubs, rifle butts, rubber whips, and other means that

inflicted pain were used in hopes to uncover information from the Americans.

Measure of Effectiveness

In the early wars, American forces relied heavily on intelligence gathering. They used

reconnaissance teams, informants, local nationals, and interrogation to obtain information about

the enemy. They were successful in many ways but very limited on the type of intelligence they

gathered compared to today’s ability to collect actionable intelligence.

Prior to collecting intelligence, there were lessons learned before anyone considered how

valuable intelligence can be for mission success. For example, during the War of 1812,

American Soldiers crossed into Canada without maps that ended in a fiasco. General Zachary

Taylor’s lack of reconnaissance allowed his forces to be taken by surprise at Buena Vista.

The gathering of intelligence in the early days continues to play a major role during those

conflicts. Commanders exploited whatever intelligence their reconnaissance teams could gather

and used that information to assist in them in making decisions.

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Today, the methods of collecting actionable intelligence have increased dramatically.

Today, there are intelligence analysts, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), satellites, electronic

warfare, cryptography and reconnaissance teams just to name a few.

The methods have changed compared to the early wars, thus, giving commanders a larger

vast of intelligence. Many times one or more methods are use simultaneously. They continue to

give commanders valuable intelligence in order for commanders to plan their missions.

Actionable intelligence continues to be valuable in finding many high value targets in

Iraq. Saddam Hussein, who hid in a hole in the ground, was later captured by information

collected by American forces. Saddam’s brothers were also found and killed during a firefight

by intelligence report that witness them going into a house.

Conclusion

Actionable intelligence continues to be as important today as it was during the earlier

wars. It is valuable information that commanders can use to assist them in making critical

decisions. The culture and environment play a vital role in collecting intelligence.

Reconnaissance and interrogation are two ways to collect enemy information. Many wars have

been successful due to the gathering of intelligence. As intelligence continues to improve, the

measure of effectiveness also improves.

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References

Citing information. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches

/mia.htm

Citing information. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.army.mil/books/Lineage

/mi/ch1.htm

Citing information. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cavalry_in_

the_American_Civil_War

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