Company Level Intelligence Cell
Encyclopedia
A Company Level Intelligence Cell is a United States Marine Corps
program that both pushes down 0231 Intelligence Analysts from their Battalion
S-2 down to the rifle companies while simultaneously augmenting them with specially-trained 0311 Infantry who can conduct basic intelligence work.
and OEF
. Junior officers
in both British Army
and US Army
have published professional articles describing this innovation. In the British
and USA
incarnations, though, the cell is fully internal to the Co
unit, drawing only soldiers inside the company with no augmentation from the parent Battalion
S-2.
These junior officers have recommended that the FO lieutenant
take on the duty of the Co
S-2 OIC, and find smart soldiers to staff the cell. They also recommend that the CO
rotate in squad leaders
and team leaders
from the line infantry
squads
, to get a fresh perspective. The OIC should also accompany patrols sometimes to understand what he is studying.
in the area, who's in charge, who are the kingmakers
, etc. Imagine that the cell is a new reporter reporting on the municipal election
of "No-Where, Kansas". The cell should be able to answer, "Who is likely to win the election?" "Why would he win?" "Who are the moon-shiners 'round these parts?" "What are the vendettas here?" "What are some of the past scandals and issues that bear on this election?" That's the level of detail they need to get to. They are trying to figure out who are hostile, who will attack the Coalition Forces
.
The cell should also keep the census record of the area. Otherwise, how will they figure out if "Ahmed" just moved into the village, or if he has lived there the whole time?
If an HTT
passes through the Co's AO, the OIC need to talk to them and compare notes. The cell can help HTT focus their work and maximize their productivity; HTT can help the cell figure out the gaps in their intelligence, and answer some of their mysteries.
Ideally, the Co's predecessors have passed down their intelligence/targeting dossier, so the cell wouldn't have to start from scratch. If they haven't, then the cell need to start cranking.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
program that both pushes down 0231 Intelligence Analysts from their Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
S-2 down to the rifle companies while simultaneously augmenting them with specially-trained 0311 Infantry who can conduct basic intelligence work.
Other Services
Other land services have similar programs, as a result of the innovations of the OIFOIF
-Geoengineering:*Ocean Iron Fertilization, the practice of adding iron or iron compounds to the ocean to stimulate phytoplankton growth-Formats:*Object Interchange Format, a database management protocol developed by the Object Data Management Group-Foundations:...
and OEF
OEF
OEF may refer to:*Operation Enduring Freedom*Operational efficiency factor*Order of Ecumenical Franciscans*Obscene Extreme Festival...
. Junior officers
Junior officer
The term junior officer is sometimes used to make clear that an officer in a military or paramilitary unit is not in overall command. The term senior officer is reserved for the officer in overall command....
in both British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
have published professional articles describing this innovation. In the British
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and USA
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
incarnations, though, the cell is fully internal to the Co
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
unit, drawing only soldiers inside the company with no augmentation from the parent Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
S-2.
These junior officers have recommended that the FO lieutenant
Artillery observer
A military artillery observer or spotter is responsible for directing artillery fire and close air support onto enemy positions. Because artillery is an indirect fire weapon system, the guns are rarely in line-of-sight of their target, often located tens of miles away...
take on the duty of the Co
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
S-2 OIC, and find smart soldiers to staff the cell. They also recommend that the CO
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
rotate in squad leaders
Squad leader
Squad leader in military terminology means a non-commissioned officer who is the leader of a squad . In the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, a squad leader is usually a sergeant , though a staff sergeant may also act as a squad leader.-Other meanings:* Squad Leader * Squadron...
and team leaders
Fireteam
A fireteam is a small military unit of infantry. It is the smallest unit in the militaries that use it and is the primary unit upon which infantry organization is based in the British Army, Royal Air Force Regiment, Royal Marines, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air...
from the line infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
squads
Squad
In military terminology, a squad is a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer that is subordinate to an infantry platoon. In countries following the British Army tradition this organization is referred to as a section...
, to get a fresh perspective. The OIC should also accompany patrols sometimes to understand what he is studying.
Analysis
The primary analysis technique is link analysis. Over time, the Co and the cell need to build up a dossier on all of the leaders in the AO, major and minor. Primarily, the cell is trying to understand the political power structurePower structure
Power Structure may refer to:* Hierarchy* The Establishment...
in the area, who's in charge, who are the kingmakers
Kingmaker
Kingmaker is a term originally applied to the activities of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick — "Warwick the Kingmaker" — during the Wars of the Roses in England. The term has come to be applied more generally to a person or group that has great influence in a royal or political succession,...
, etc. Imagine that the cell is a new reporter reporting on the municipal election
Local election
Local elections vary widely across jurisdictions. In electoral systems that roughly follow the Westminster model, a terminology has evolved with roles such as Mayor or Warden to describe the executive of a city, town or region, although the actual means of elections vary...
of "No-Where, Kansas". The cell should be able to answer, "Who is likely to win the election?" "Why would he win?" "Who are the moon-shiners 'round these parts?" "What are the vendettas here?" "What are some of the past scandals and issues that bear on this election?" That's the level of detail they need to get to. They are trying to figure out who are hostile, who will attack the Coalition Forces
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
.
The cell should also keep the census record of the area. Otherwise, how will they figure out if "Ahmed" just moved into the village, or if he has lived there the whole time?
If an HTT
Human Terrain System
The Human Terrain System is a United States Army program utilizing experts from social science disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, political science, regional studies and lingustics to provide military commanders and staff with an understanding of the local population...
passes through the Co's AO, the OIC need to talk to them and compare notes. The cell can help HTT focus their work and maximize their productivity; HTT can help the cell figure out the gaps in their intelligence, and answer some of their mysteries.
Ideally, the Co's predecessors have passed down their intelligence/targeting dossier, so the cell wouldn't have to start from scratch. If they haven't, then the cell need to start cranking.