The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the eighteenth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by a former Senior Intelligence Trainer, COL John Ives, on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. This is part one of a two part series with COL John Ives.

In this episode we discuss the best practices for the intelligence warfighting function as with most of our discussions it focuses on brilliance in the basics. The best practices for the intel WfF within a BCT formation are as follows:

• Led by an S2 with a clear understanding of the 4-core competencies (Synchronization; Operations; PED; Analysis) and the intelligence process: articulates, trains, and stresses the steps and output of IPB.


• Rehearse, exercise, and maintain intelligence systems and team development at home-station; maximizes training time and incorporates intel systems in all activities.


• Establish and maintain the intelligence architecture: plan, validate, and rehearse by phase, collector, and capability.


• Conduct rehearsals and describe the intelligence cycle for each named area of interest (NAI) or high payoff target (HPT); emphasizing PED directly impacts the sensor-to-shooter integration.


• Resources and train the intel collection management team to leverage Echelons Above Brigade (EAB) and organic collection, coordinate PED (processing, exploitation, and dissemination) capacity, and integrate into the operations planning process.


• Plan and coordinate organic collection capabilities (recon, human intel collection teams, signals intel collection teams, and unmanned aerial systems platoon) including security, communications, and command support relationships.


• Maintain an intelligence common operational picture (COP) in both analog and digital form and actively disseminate fighting products, including battle damage assessment (BDA) charts and intelligence collection and synchronization matrix (ICSM).


• Operationalize RSOI (reception, staging, onward movement, and integration) including pack-out at home-station to set conditions for synchronization, PED, and intelligence operations.

Specifically addressed in this episode are the core intel competencies, conducting intel preparation of the battlefield, and home-station training good habits.

Part of S10 “Out-Thinking the Enemy” series.

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