Updated December 10, 2021
Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations
Much of the Intelligence Community (IC), nine of 18 total
elements, resides within the Department of Defense (DOD).
Intelligence Support
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 the, and how to employ
components of the Navy, Army, Marines, and Air Force.
them in a manner that accomplishes a specific mission.
Non-DOD IC elements, however, also provide support to
They are based upon development of an understanding of
the military. Integrated IC support of the military includes
the 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 18 elements operate as one team. The Under
Secretary of Defense (Intelligence and Security)
Counter adversary deception and surprise
(USD(I&S)) manages the DOD intelligence elements. His
Support friendly deception efforts
position is dual-hatted. When acting as the USD(I&S), the
Assess the effectiveness of operations
incumbent reports directly to the Secretary of Defense and
serves as the Secretary’s principal staff assistant
Source: Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, Figure 1-2, p. I-3.
on
intelligence, counterintelligence, security, and other
Intelligence to “inform the commander” may include
intelligence-related matters. When acting as Director of
providing information about actual and potential threats,
Defense Intelligence (DDI), the incumbent reports directly
terrain, climate and weather, infrastructure, cultural
to the DNI and serves as principal advisor on defense
characteristics, medical conditions, population, and
intelligence matters. Together, the DNI and USD(I&S)
leadership.
coordinate a number of interagency activities designed to
facilitate the integration of national and tactical-level
Intelligence that “describes the operational environment”
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
adversary’s capabilities and vulnerabilities; estimates of
where military forces generally have a lengthy,
when, where, and how military forces could exploit their
multidimensional presence. The examples listed above
information superiority; and the threat an adversary poses to
(associated with more limited operations—such as
friendly information and information systems.
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”
maintains a continuous, all-source, multidiscipline
may include conducting surveys of the extent of damage to
intelligence alert center to provide defense situational
targets or providing intelligence support to planning for
awareness, early warning, and crisis management
follow-on strikes, deployments of relief forces, or related
intelligence support. In addition, DOD joint intelligence
activities.
centers (JICs) attached to each combatant command
provide a common, coordinated picture of conditions in
Defense Intelligence Organizations
each theater of operations (such as the U.S. Central
Table 2 illustrates the variety of ways in which intelligence
Command area of responsibility, ranging from northeast
entities are organized at the service-, joint-, and national-
Africa to the Middle East to Central and South Asia) by
levels to support military operations.
fusing national and theater intelligence information from
across the IC into all-source assessments and estimates
Table 2. Selected Defense Intelligence Organizations
tailored to the needs of the commander.
Service Intelligence Components
Combat Support Agencies (CSAs)
Combat Support Agencies with an intelligence function
U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance
such as DIA and NGA provide intelligence products and
(AF/A2)
services to support military planning and operations.
U.S. Army Intelligence (G-2)
Products may include current intelligence briefings;
U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence (CG-2)
analysis of the geopolitical environment; foreign military
capability assessments; geospatial products such as imagery
U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance Enterprise (MCISR-E)
or bomb-damage assessments; targeting recommendations
and coordinates intelligence information reports; and
U.S. Naval Intelligence (N2)
signals intelligence.
U.S. Space Force Intelligence (S-2)
(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
National Security Agency (NSA)
CRS In Focus IF10470, The Director of National Intelligence
(DNI), by Michael E. DeVine
Source: CRS, adapted from 50 U.S.C. §3003(4), Joint Publication 2-
01, Joint and National Intelligence Support to Military Operations, pp. xi-xv
CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense Primer: Budgeting for National
and II.
and Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
CRS Report R45175, Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of
Service Intelligence Components
the Intelligence Community: Selected Definitions in Brief, by
Service intelligence components are designed to provide the
Michael E. DeVine
service-specific intelligence systems, personnel, training,
and analytical expertise to optimize military strategy,
planning, and operations. This includes responsibility for
Other Resources
providing intelligence assessments of the capabilities and
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
DOD, Joint Publication 2-01, Joint and National Intelligence
service intelligence personnel to joint intelligence and
Support to Military Operations, July 5, 2017.
combatant command entities and combat support agencies
trained to provide strategic, operational, and tactical-level
intelligence support.
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National
Joint Intelligence Elements
Security
The National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center
(NJOIC) attached to the Joint Staff in the Pentagon
IF10574
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Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations
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