The Intelligence Cycle comprises of five fundamental steps (direction, collection, analysis, assessment & dissemination).
The first step of the Intelligence Cycle is direction, it’s all about identifying your Information Requirements (IRs);
This article will unpack Information Requirements and how Intelligence planning works.
But first –
Intelligence Customers & Decision Makers
Important: Intelligence analysis is driven by the needs of the customer.
When we say ‘customer’, we’re talking about the individuals who benefit from our products and people are in a position to use the Intelligence provided.
Decision Makers typically include:
- Military leaders and commanders (from Platoon Commanders to Generals);
- Police or law enforcement;
- Corporate executives, boards and the C-Suite;
- Department heads and high-ranking bureaucrats; and
- Politicians and Ministers.
Commanders Critical Information Requirements (CCIRs)
CCIRs comprise of information a commander needs to make informed decisions.
These include:
- Priority Intelligence Requirements (PIRs),
- Friendly Force Information Requirements (FFIRs),
- Essential Elements of Friendly Information (EEFI), &
- Standing Information Requirements (SIRs).
Priority Intelligence Requirements (PIRs)
Information requirements on the enemy & environment required to accomplish the mission.
Good PIRs have some things in common:
- They ask only one question;
- They focus on a specific fact, event, or activity; and
- They provide Intelligence required to support a single decision.
Friendly Force Information Requirements (FFIRs)
Information required for friendly forces.
Depending upon the circumstances, information on unit location, composition, readiness, personnel status and logistics status could become a friendly information requirement.
Essential Elements of Friendly Information (EEFIs)
Friendly information that must be protected from the enemy.
Key questions likely to be asked by adversary Intelligence about friendly intentions, capabilities and activities, that must be protected to avoid compromise.
Request for Information (RFIs)
Whenever we submit or send a request to another agency or organisation we typically refer to this as a request for information or RFI.
Standing Information Requirements (SIRs)
Standing Information Requirements (SIRs) are the information gaps that continue throughout a campaign or mission.
In essence, a standing IR is never satisfied and continue to be relevant.
Tip for Young Players
When receiving an Intelligence task, use this checklist;
- Get the full picture! Develop your understanding of the situation.
- Understand what Intelligence is needed and how it will be used.
- Determine when the Intelligence is needed by (latest time)
- How the Intelligence is to be provided (written, oral briefing, etc.)
Activity
Using the comments below, provide an example for each of the following in the comments below;
- PIR (Enemy & Environment)
- FFIR (Friendly forces)
- EEFI (Friendly information requiring protection)
- RFI (Request for information)
- SIR (Standing information requirement)
From Information to Intelligence
Would you like to:
- Develop a comprehensive knowledge of the Intelligence Cycle and the Foundations of Intelligence Analysis?
- Learn how to make Intelligence collection plans and write Intelligence Briefs?
- Understand Intelligence Collection methods including HUMINT, SIGINT, IMINT, GEOINT, and OSINT?
- Compile Strategic Analysis and deliver Oral Briefings?
- Apply your Intelligence training to different roles and environments including Law Enforcement, Military, Counter-terrorism?
- Develop your critical thinking and learnt to use various analytical methods?
- Understand the impact of Intelligence in multi-disciplinary roles?
- Then join us in our interactive Intelligence Training Course today.
