FUNDAMENTALS/MISSION/EXECUTION/OBJECTIVES :

FUNDAMENTALS
The company level intelligence cell (CLIC) supports the analysis and exploitation of information collected
at the small unit, tactical level such as companies, platoons, and squads. However, the CLIC is not a substitute
for the unit’s intelligence section. The CLIC serves to enhance and facilitate intelligence operations at
the lowest tactical level. Battalion and company planners must integrate the capabilities of the CLIC into
their operations and information and data management plans. Failure to implement the CLIC’s capabilities
will render ineffective intelligence operations at the company level.
The size and configuration of tasks assigned to a CLIC will vary by mission and commander. Typically,
infantry companies are the primary users of the CLIC. However, other elements of the Marine air-ground
task force (MAGTF) have also implemented the CLIC. Within the ground combat element, light armored
reconnaissance, artillery, assault amphibian units, and tanks have employed their own CLICs. Within the
logistics combat element, the Marine logistics group and combat logistics battalion units have employed
CLICs. Some Marine wing support squadron units within the aviation combat element have also employed
CLIC techniques within a flight line intelligence center.


MISSION
The CLIC’s mission is to provide accurate, relevant, and timely knowledge about the enemy, indigenous
populations, and the surrounding environment to the company and to higher, adjacent, and supporting
units. The CLIC accomplishes its mission by executing the intelligence cycle at the company level, which
provides enhanced intelligence information from the lowest operating level to higher headquarters, reduces
uncertainty, and supports the commander’s decisionmaking process.


EXECUTION
The CLIC is synchronized with the battalion S-2 and fosters mutually supporting relationships with command
and control (C2), intelligence, and operations sections at the lowest level. As a result of the synchronization,
higher headquarters intelligence sections are provided intelligence from units operating at the
lowest level.
The quality and format of the information provided by the CLIC have a direct impact on the success of its
unit. Therefore, in order to support intelligence collection, fusion, and production at the lowest tactical
level, the commander must deliberately plan for, man, train, and equip the CLIC. The CLIC’s effectiveness
is contingent upon its ability to fuse diverse forms of information, from both inside and outside the company
sector, in order to aid the company commander’s decisionmaking process. Company level intelligence
cell analysis focuses on company operations; however, the CLIC also has the ability to report and
 
help populate the overall common operational picture. If managed properly, the CLIC assists the commander
in mitigating battlefield effects and operational expectations across the spectrum of operations.
The CLIC will integrate into the unit planning process and company combat operations center (COC) to
provide timely and relevant intelligence support to future and current operations at all unit levels (see page
1-7 for a discussion on planning). Intelligence support, which includes the threat as well as the physical and
sociopolitical environment, is specifically tailored to the unit’s battlespace. As an integral part of the company
COC, the CLIC facilitates the accomplishment of all intelligence and operations tasks to support the
company’s mission with available resources over the specified period of time. Command and control tasks
resulting from the commander’s mission analysis will determine the final form of the unit’s CLIC and company
COC. For example, units executing light infantry tactics form different CLICs than units conducting
missions from forward operating bases with motorized assets.
The deliberate employment of the CLIC will provide the commander with an organized methodology for
developing situational awareness and intelligence information management as well as strengthen the overall
decisionmaking processes. A well-planned and well-implemented CLIC unit employment will—
• Support the commander’s intent and objectives.
• Assist in the development of the situation.
• Provide indications and warnings of activity and changes in the security environment.
• Provide support for force protection.
• Provide target development and support (both lethal and nonlethal).
• Support combat assessment.
• Integrate subject matter experts and intelligence enablers sent from higher, adjacent, and supporting
units.
• Integrate the CLIC into the unit operational processes with regard to—
—Future operations by generating intelligence requirements (IR) for targeting and mission planning.
—Current operations by conducting mission pre-briefs and performing intelligence tasks in the company
COC.
—Post-mission actions by conducting debriefs and providing intelligence preparation of the battlespace
(IPB) updates.
• Synchronize the CLIC with battalion intelligence operations by—
—Coordinating planning processes at all operating levels.
—Developing a unit information management plan that ensures that the CLIC’s information is collected
and disseminated to support the higher, adjacent, and subordinate units.
—Employing automated intelligence software applications to record, filter, analyze, and disseminate significant
activities and intelligence information.

OBJECTIVE
Developing accurate situational awareness (SA) with limited and uncertain information under severe time
constraints is the fundamental challenge of information management. Some level of SA can be achieved
through the analysis of raw data; however, an intelligence cell can reduce information ambiguity and provide
analysis in order to build SA. As information moves through the intelligence hierarchy, SA is inevitably
strengthened. Enhanced SA enables the commander to assess situations more accurately and visualize
 
future conditions and operations more effectively. The CLIC’s main objective is to provide, at the company
level, an analysis, production, and dissemination capability that gives the commander SA of the battlespace
and enables mission accomplishment.


 The CLIC’s intelligence is intended to support current and future operations and the execution of post-mission
actions. It is also important to note that CLIC intelligence provides integral support to targeting.

The main point is the Company/unit of which the CLIC is organically integrated gets access to rapid , timely , specific and accurate intelligence.This enhanced capability of the Coy/unit is the new dimension in the evolution of modern day military intelligence applied to both conventional and assymetric battlespace.It is very important to properly route CLIC generated intelligence , both horizontally and vertically.Vertically the intelligence should be souted to the Bn Int Sec/Higher HQ Int Branch and mind you also to the Ops section (in fact both staff officers should sit side by side as integration of ops and intel is unquestionably the most important factor that weighs heavily in favour of successful operations.).All CLIC information should be integrated into the intelligence database at every echelon.It is important to note that the CLIC does not replace the Bn Int Sec buit lends support to the latter--in fact most common and everyday intelligence activities are handled by the CLIC personnel thus freeing the limited in strength HUMINT/CI personnel to look after the tasks high up in the Commanders prioritized intelligence requirements list.The Commanders at all echelons need a quick intelligence review to build up a Common operating picture COP.The same COP is visible in graphical/pictorial layout on the terminals of the int section at every level..this will facilitate streamling operations across the entire AO and synchronization /integration of ops and int will result.This comprehensive battlespace picture is extremely essential and the CLIC is a good contributor.Why?Because information feeds from the CLIC not only to its own unit (of which it is an organic part) but also to adjacent and higher units.Here we are in effect inverting the intelligence pyramid..information is flowing up from tactical levels and shared laterally.This helps in building up a comprehensive intelligence picture which aids Commanders and Staff at every level in their echeloned military decision making process.
 



CLIC supports the Commander by focussing  on:

• Current ops (mission pre-brief,requirements and collection planning,intelligence tasks..all these are conducted in the Coy TOC.In addition those field tasks that are associated with the mission are amenable to CLIC Support such as complementing reconnaissance and surveillance teams/.patrols to gather intelligence , and executing site exploitations (CEE DOCEX) , tactical qustioning and on the spot screening to determine usefulness of detainees/apprehended civilians/personnel in providing intelligence related information.All these mission-field-support activities can be learnt easily by infantrymen...keeping in cognizance means/capability analysis...outlined later in this website)
• Post mission actions (mission debrief...returning patrols debrief)
• future ops (updating the intelligence preparation of the battlefield,evaluating the intelligence products derived from the operation and despatching reports to adjacent and higher HQ,updating all intelligence collection plans and studying the requirements -satisfaction-sheet and gauging what is missing and hence updating the  the sheet , making target reduction plans and fresh target acquisition list/nomination list)updating the IPB and collections plans, submitting reports to higher headquarters, and adjusting target packages as appropriate.)