Updated December 30, 2020
Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations
The bulk of the Intelligence Community (IC), eight of 17
total elements, resides within the Department of Defense
Intelligence Support
(DOD). This includes the National Security Agency (NSA),
Table 1 summarizes the responsibilities of joint intelligence
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Geospatial-
to assist commanders in deciding which forces to deploy;
Intelligence Agency (NGA), and the intelligence
when, how, and where to deploy them; and how to employ
components of the Navy, Army, Marines, and Air Force.
them in a manner that accomplishes a specific mission. It is
Non-DOD IC elements, however, also provide support to
based upon development of an understanding of the
the military. Integrated IC support of the military includes
commander’s priorities.
strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence activities,
products and services that are necessary for military
Table 1. Joint Intelligence Responsibilities in Military
strategy, planning, and operations.
Operations
Inform the commander
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) serves as
community manager for the IC and the principal
Describe the operational environment
intelligence advisor to the President. The core mission of
Identify, define, and nominate objectives
the DNI is “to lead the IC in intelligence integration” to
Support planning and execution of operations
ensure the IC’s 17 component organizations operate as one
team. The Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence and
Counter adversary deception and surprise
Security) (USD(I&S)) manages the DOD intelligence
Support friendly deception efforts
elements. His position is dual-hatted. When acting as the
Assess the effectiveness of operations
USD(I&S), the incumbent reports directly to the Secretary
Source: Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, Figure 1-2, p. I-3.
of Defense and serves as the Secretary’s principal staff
assistant on intelligence, counterintelligence, security, and
Intelligence to “inform the commander” may include
other intelligence-related matters. When acting as Director
providing information about actual and potential threats,
of Defense Intelligence (DDI), the incumbent reports
terrain, climate and weather, infrastructure, cultural
directly to the DNI and serves as his principal advisor on
characteristics, medical conditions, population, and
defense intelligence matters. Together, the DNI and
leadership.
USD(I&S) coordinate a number of interagency activities
designed to facilitate the seamless integration of national
Intelligence that “describes the operational environment”
and tactical-level intelligence.
may help in identifying and characterizing variables such as
Types of Military Operations
the political context; governance; economy; social stability;
critical infrastructure; communications; physical setting;
The IC supports the entire spectrum of DOD missions, from
and military capability, intentions, and tactics.
peacetime operations to war. Joint Publication 2-0, Joint
Intelligence, loosely groups DOD missions under three
Intelligence to “identify, define, and nominate objectives”
headings:
includes creating an intelligence collection plan based on
Military Engagement, Security Cooperation, and
the commander’s priorities, and creating possible battlefield
Deterrence. Examples include military exchanges, arms
targets focused on achieving the commander’s objectives.
control verification, sanctions enforcement, protection
of shipping lanes, shows of force, and support to
Intelligence to “support planning and execution of
insurgency and counterinsurgency operations.
operations” may include enhancing information sharing
Crisis Response and Limited Contingency
across departments and agencies of the government, and
Operations. Examples include noncombatant
with international partners; allocating intelligence platforms
evacuation operations; stability or peacekeeping
to provide optimized support, establishing mutual support
operations; humanitarian assistance; personnel or
arrangements with host country nationals; and providing
equipment recovery operations; and chemical,
indications and warning of attack.
biological, radiological, and nuclear response actions.
Intelligence to “counter adversary deception and
Major Military Operations and Campaigns. These
surprise” may include providing information on an
types of operations include U.S. operations in Iraq and
adversary’s capabilities and vulnerabilities; estimates of
Afghanistan where military forces generally have a
when, where, and how military forces could exploit their
lengthy, multidimensional presence. The examples listed
information superiority; and the threat an adversary poses to
above (associated with more limited operations—such
friendly information and information systems.
as humanitarian assistance) may also occur within this
category as part of a larger military operation.
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Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations
Intelligence to “assess the effectiveness of operations”
intelligence alert center to provide defense situational
may include conducting surveys of the extent of damage to
awareness, early warning, and crisis management
targets or providing intelligence support to planning for
intelligence support. In addition, DOD joint intelligence
follow-on strikes, deployments of relief forces, or related
centers (JICs) attached to each combatant command
activities.
provide a common, coordinated picture of conditions in
each theater of operations (such as the theater associated
Defense Intelligence Organizations
with U.S. Central Command: southwest Asia/northeast
Table 2 illustrates the variety of ways in which intelligence
Africa) by fusing national and theater intelligence
entities are organized at the service-, joint-, and national-
information from across the IC into all-source assessments
levels to support military operations.
and estimates tailored to the needs of the commander.
Table 2. Selected Defense Intelligence Organizations
Combat Support Agencies (CSAs)
Service Intelligence Components
Combat Support Agencies with an intelligence function
such as DIA and NGA provide intelligence products and
U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance
services to support military planning and operations.
(AF/A2)
Products may include current intelligence briefings;
U.S. Army Intelligence (G-2)
analysis of the geopolitical environment; foreign military
capability assessments; geospatial products such as imagery
U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence (CG-2)
or bomb-damage assessments; targeting recommendations
U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance and
and coordinates intelligence information reports; and
Reconnaissance Enterprise (MCISR-E)
signals intelligence.
U.S. Naval Intelligence (N2)
(Note: This In Focus was originally written by former CRS
Joint Intelligence Elements within DOD
Analyst Anne Daugherty Miles.)
National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center (NJOIC)
Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate (JCS J-2)
Relevant Statutes
Combatant Command Intelligence Directorates (CCMD J-2)
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 21—DOD Intelligence Matters
Joint Force Command Intelligence Directorates (JFC J-2)
Title 50, U.S. Code, Chapter 44—National Security
Joint Intelligence Operations Center (JIOC)
Joint Intelligence Support Element (JISE)
CRS Products
Combat Support Agencies
CRS In Focus IF10525, Defense Primer: National and Defense
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
CRS In Focus IF10523, Defense Primer: Under Secretary of
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
Defense for Intelligence and Security, by Michael E. DeVine
CRS In Focus IF10470, The Director of National Intelligence
National Security Agency (NSA)
(DNI), by Michael E. DeVine
Source: CRS, adapted from Joint Publication 2-01, Joint and National
Intelligence Support to Military Operations, pp. xi-xv and II.
CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense Primer: Budgeting for National
and Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
Service Intelligence Components
CRS Report R45175, Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of
Service intelligence components are designed to provide the
the Intelligence Community: Selected Definitions in Brief, by
service-specific intelligence systems, personnel, training,
Michael E. DeVine
and analytical expertise to optimize military strategy,
planning and operations. This includes responsibility for
providing intelligence assessments of the capabilities and
Other Resources
intentions of potential adversaries to support long-term
DOD, Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, October 22,
defense planning and systems acquisition. Service
2013.
intelligence elements are also responsible for assigning
service intelligence personnel to joint intelligence and
DOD, Joint Publication 2-01, Joint and National Intelligence
combatant command entities and combat support agencies
Support to Military Operations, July 5, 2017.
trained to provide strategic, operational, and tactical-level
intelligence support.
Joint Intelligence Elements
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National
The National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center
Security
(NJOIC) attached to the Joint Staff in the Pentagon
maintains a continuous, all-source, multidiscipline
IF10574
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Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations
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