TACTICAL QUESTIONING
TACTICAL
QUESTIONING Collecting Information Soldiers patrol
the
same area day after day. Sometimes
they go in for deep area
patrolling and reconnaissance. All this is done with the intent
to
collect combat information.In any operational environment
soldiers
should always be primed , alert
to collect information.Of
particular mention here is te word
‘’change’’.While patrolling
the soldiers may discern a ‘’change’’
in normalcy of the
surroundings. While studying the surroundings , like the
people,terrain,infrastructure the soldier should recognize any changes
in the environment.Often than not these
changes are important
indicators cof enemy activity or
intent.The soldier may not be
able to find out the reason behind the change , still it’s very
important he report it to the intelligence personnel. Soldiers should
train themselves to become constantly aware of conditions such as •
Armed Elements: Location of factional forces, minefields, and potential
threats. • Homes and Buildings: What is the condition of the roofs,
doors, windows, lights, power lines, water, sanitation, roads, bridges,
crops, and livestock? • Infrastructure: The presence of functioning
stores, service stations, etc. • People: Numbers, sex, age, residence
or displaced persons, refugees, and evacuees status, visible health,
clothing, daily activities, and leaders. • Contrast: Has anything
changed? If everyone is involved in
the collection of combat
information, then everyone must be
aware of the information
requirements. All soldiers who have contact with the
local
population, routinely travel within the area, or frequently
attend
meetings with local organizations must know the information
requirements and their responsibility to observe and report While
handling detainees and EPWs keep the following in mind:1. Segragate the
detainees and EPWs based on nationality , sex , profession , ethnicity
(civilians) and rank , insignia , and regiment (may be belonging to
enemy intelligence unit , thus game for special interrogation )2. While
searching the person of the detainee or EPW search thotoughly.Keep
separate the records of documents , seized equipments and
weapons(capture tags).Describe all documents,equipments and
weapons
as completely as possible.This is
not DOCEX or Captured
equipment exploitation in its entirety—that
will later be done
by trained HUMINT personnel and
with help of technical
assistants.What is being done here is tactical exploitation , just like
tactical questioning—on the spot intelligence extraction. 3.
Intelligence is perishable and combat intelligence is highly perishable
, action is required as soon as possible and for that the intelligence
must reach the targeting platform without any delay.But there are
procedures.The prisoners and detainees
who are felt will yield
more information on further questioning must be moved
as soon as
possible to the rear where interrogators are waiting.Bear in mind that
with time the detainee/EPW emboldens , the initial panic which he had
on point of capture wears away , he gets time to think and also harbors
escapist thoughts—escape from captivity.We are here talking about the
duties of secondary collectors , the line troops who must move
them
fast to rear after ascertaining that they do have information of
value.There are mobile interrogation teams to handle cases right on the
spot at forward areas and copmposed of a mix of HUMINT/CI but that is
tactical HUMINT and will be dealt within my book on
Counterintelligence. 4. Kep a tab on the detaines , EPWs and all others
so that they do not communicate with each other.5. Remember
the
personal safety and protection of
all detained for
questioning can be a cause for
concern under certain
circumstances and hence they must be safeguarded.For example someone
from the line troops may vent his personal anger on the enemy by
attempting rough handle the detainees or prisoners.Sexual harassment is
also an issue.Whatever be the case , they must be treated humanely. Key
Considerations for Talking • You must be aware of the existence, nature
and type of threat in your area and the vulnerabilities of the
protection measures taken by your
commander which are liable
to be tapped. Overall you should know the
force protection
measures taken by your unit. • Be careful about the local culture,
traditions, customs. • Your body language should project a friendlier
flavor, not an intimidating one. Point weapons away from the accosted
person. • Talk to people in normal surroundings.Dont lead them to an
isolated area, an alley or any place which will make them suspicious.
Always be polite. Remove sunglasses. • If you are speaking to a woman
know local courtesies.Questions Questions should be
so structured
so as to be simple,
straightforward, should open and maintain
the conversation, should start with an
interrogative, and
should prompt a narrative answer.
Interrogatives are what, why,
when, who and where. Questions
should not be closes provoking
only an ‘’yes’’ or ‘’no’’ as answer but
should be ‘’open’’.Avoid
asking questions that are confusing. Characteristics of open questions:
• Act as an invitation to talk.• Prompts the person to answer
comfortably and feel encouraged to continue with the conversation.• Not
too specific but broad in nature. • Encourage discussion. •
Creates
a situation favorable for the
soldier to be the listener(and
observer) for a major part of the
conversation.• Does not cause
the person to feel intimidated or threatened.• Invokes curiosity of
others and allows them to get involved in the discussion spiritedly.•
Gives the person the opportunity to tell his opinions, his judgment,
what he feels is important, what he feels should be done. • Should
invoke a conversation, not a question-answer scenario.Be
subtle,
don’t just jot away on paper
the answers –that is not
conversation and always be friendly,
cooperative, observing him
carefully but not arousing any
suspicion, studying his body
language and be courteous and reserved.
Questioning to Fill
Out the Capture Tag You are manning a check post or
roadblock..Before being deployed to do so your unit commander
has briefed you about the intelligence requirements as per current
mission. The Battalion prioritized intelligence requirements lead to
the generation of intelligence requirements for each company
and subunits. These intelligence requirements as spelled out to
you will guide you in framing the questions to be asked of
individuals at the check post/roadblock. Once you, the
soldier, have screened and detained a person categorized either
as a detainee or EPW you must now obtain all possible
details from him so that on subsequent questioning/interrogation
of the person by the HUMINT or CI agent, the latter is well prepared
initially with the information you have supplied. You must fill out a
capture tag which will facilitate further questioning/interrogation.
The capture tag must include:What is your job? What is your speciality?
Are you a combatant? If so what is your rank, number and unit? Who are
in your chain of command? Whom do you report—that is who your immediate
superior is? What is the mission of your unit? Are you a civilian? Then
why are you here? Who is your immediate boss and what is the name of
your company? At the time, place and point of capture, detention what
was your immediate mission—that is to say why were you there and what
were you doing or what were your plans? Were you supposed to conduct
any mission/job when you were captured/detained? What are your
future plans and what is the future mission of your
unit/company? You might note he is carrying documents, maps,
identification papers; photographs.Here is where you might find things
out of the ordinary. The map might be of another place or even this
place: Why are you carrying this map? The photo/s might be of someone
else: Who is this person and why are you carrying his
photograph? The ID papers may belong to other persons and hence
you ask him why is he carrying other peoples identification papers and
why. And where are these persons as they are in a disturbed
area and that too without identification papers. All these
exploitable documents can now be handed over to the MI section together
with the detainee/EPW. Remember your questions should be guided by your
unit’s intelligence requirements and as briefed to you but on no count
should the person being questioned get a whiff of these requirements or
your mission. Everything should be done in an atmosphere of normal
conversation. Example Questions Questions must be framed in such a
manner so as not to elicit vague or misleading answers. They should be
direct, pointed but at the same time broad so that the person being
questioned does not misinterpret it or has any room for maneuver.
For example the following questions were designed for soldiers
manning check posts/roadblocks. Modify them to accommodate
EPWs/detainees, local population as per your mission, situation
and unit requirements. • What is your name (Match this with any
identification document found on his person) Cross-check with CI White
list, Black list and Grey List)• Where do you live and full address,
where were you going and why, how did you arrive here. From here to
your final destination point—what will be the route and why? In what
way is it safer or convenient for you? Who will facilitate your
journey? That reminds me, who facilitated your journey till
here, financially or otherwise? (All these must be specifically
answered or obtained) • What is your present occupation, your
specialty-if any and your qualifications (see if he has any technical
expertise)?• What was the type of physical terrain you travelled to get
here? During your travel what all obstacles you faced and how did you
manage to overcome/circumvent them. While travelling did you
observe anything out of ordinary in your surroundings? Or any unusual
activity?• What currency are you carrying and how much? What is the
money intended for (if found to be a big sum)?• Can you name anyone
whom you know personally who is averse to Indian security measures/ops
here in this area? On being answered immediately follow with ‘’who
else’’.Do you know or are you aware of the nature and type of any
anti-Indian security operation/any other activity here or anywhere else
and dates or time of such activities? Can you tell me the reason for
our forces to be here? Do you support our activities?
DO
NOT’s• Ask questions which might reveal your intent or which
might make him aware of your units mission, intelligence
requirements. • Jot down answers before him.• Don’t resorts to
quid-pro-quo.They are not permanent sources to be given goods/money in
exchange for information and neither are you an intelligence
specialist. The same goes for EPWs and detainees. • Do not resort
to coercion. You may be reported to social media. Or the
police. Remember we are all governed by Geneva Conventions. • If
you are handling EPWs and detainees escort them to the interrogation
center as soon as possible. You are only supposed to ask basic
questions to civilians in conversational mode. Yes if situation is
fluid, like in battle and yu accost suspicious civilians you may resort
to interrogation based tactical questioning, but only to ascertain if
they are of interest to HUMINT/CI personnel and carefully examine any
captured documents. In such cases escort them quickly to detention
centers from where the MP will take them to interrogation centers. •
Pay money for information.• Do not be so cooperative so as to tell them
their rights that can be handled later. First the information from
them. ReportingFor tactical operations, there are four levels of
reporting which assists the Unit intelligence section to factor in
all useful tactical information gained during the small units
activities in the overall planning of the mission (and also
update ISR planning):Reporting immediately any information the soldier
considers of critical tactical value.The soldier may resort to his
commonsense/experience or any predetermined criteria to arrive at his
judgment.•• Normal reporting• Information during normal debriefing
sessions by the intelligence officer.• Follow-up reporting, after
debriefing by the intelligence officer is over. Document Handling When
there are documents on the person of the detainee efforts should be
immediately made to: Classify them Seize , Impound or return them
Determine if they contain information which can be exploited
further by trained intelligence personnel (DOCEX).Remember that
any document, even though it may seem irrelevant on first
sight , may on close inspection reveal information of interest
, might satisfy intelligence requirements and with other seized
documents give a bigger picture of enemy intent.Classification:
Documents can be Personal such as letters, diaries, photographs,
flyers posted in cities and towns, etc ,Identity such as identity
cards , passport, drivers license , ration cards or Official
such as documentation government/military information , for example
military books , field manuals, military reports,files,maps etc.CED
(Captured enemy document) is a piece of recorded informnation seized
from the captured person belonging to the enemy forces or any civilian
in collusion with the latter.We can also name our own military
documents CED that were in the possession of the enemy.DOCEX of such
documents can rev eal what they know about us , or if anyone was
involved on our side in transferring these documents to the enemy then
we are alerted to the fact and going by the nature of the document or
its origin we can put our CI agents to track him down.CEDs can be found
on the person of EPWs/detainees , abandoned military areas , on the
bosies of killed enemy personnel , old enemy command posts , destroyed
enemy forward tactical headquarters.
A CED is defined as any
piece of recorded information obtained from the threat. CEDs can also
be US or allied documents that were once in the hands of the enemy.
CEDs can be found almost anywhere; some locations include abandoned
training sites, old enemy command posts, deceased persons,
cafes, town squares, or in the possession of EPWs/detainees.Written or
typed material, drawings, audio, and/or video recordings, computer
disks,etc can constitute the content of a CED. Once you have critically
studied the CED you have to decide on three actions: Return them to
the owner as they are very personal items and do not
contain any military or governmental information Impound the CED
with the intent to return them later as these documents being of
personal nature contain information pertaining to the military but
which after examination is found not to have any bearing on current
situation or having any affiliation with the enemy. Still
they will be sent for DOCEX and if the initial assumptions are true
, they will be returned. Confiscate the CED as it contains military or
governmental information (all official documents)Every confiscated or
impounded CED must be tagged and logged before being transferred for
DOCEX.The capture tag should contain the 1. Unit details who captured
the CED2. Location of capture : Grid coordinates3. Time and date of
Capture4. Identity of the person from whom it was captured including
brief description (Rank , unit etc)5. Prevailing circumstances under
which the capture was made 6. Description of the CED