Mission Responsibilities of commanders (with
regard to soldiers who are not intelligence personnel, but come across
information on tactical
I have written this particularly from the perspective of our soldiers deployed in Kashmir.
How our soldiers can act as secondary collectors
Squad/Section/Patrol/TCP/Roadblock/Convoy Leader:
1.Patrols, roadblocks, checkpoints,
2.Prepare reports , verbally (debriefing) or written on any observations or information extracted after tactical questioning including being able to recognize any information of so much importance(combat intelligence) that it must be reported immediately without delay.
3.During such activities like patrolling, convoy etc all EPW/Detainee and seized documents must be subjected to exploitation carefully as these are prime sources of intelligence.
4.All the above should be predicated by the Unit intelligence officers tasking of prioritized intelligence requirements but collection outside these should not be ignored if such information is delivered by the source concerned. They might be of tactical value to the Commander or HUMINT officers.
Platoon Leader:
Squad/section/patrol/ CP/roadblocks, and convoy leaders are tasked by the platoon leader based on intelligence requirements as laid down by higher headquarters.
Instruct and see to it that it is followed to the book that all personnel returning from patrolling, manning checkpoints, convoys etc report everything and get subjected to full debriefing.
Highlight before them the high importance of submitting information of immediate tactical value
without ANY delay. Make it very clear this is mandatory. To this effect he should apprise everyone of the procedures laid down by the battalion intelligence staff in this regard.
Company/Troop/Battery Commander:
Squad/section/patrol/ CP/roadblocks, and convoy leaders are tasked by the platoon leader based on intelligence requirements as laid down by higher headquarters.
All intelligence inputs by the personnel involved in patrolling and tasked with collection are reviewed and forwarded to the Bn intelligence staff and Bde staff. While doing this highlight that information that is linked to the current operations or the AO environment.
Make it mandatory for everyone to be debriefed in keeping with the procedures laid down by higher headquarters intelligence staff.
Ensure that everyone understands that it is mandatory to report information IMMEDIATELY of critical value.
Battalion STAFF INT OFFICER and S3 Sections:
Task the company, section, squad commanders on intelligence requirements and guide them through the Staff headquarters.
Push down intelligence information to these command levels so as to enable them to get a better situational understanding and know what is expected of them. Thus they will be able to frame tactical questions better.
See to it that all patrols etc are debriefed and no one is left out.
Establish procedures for immediate reporting of information of critical tactical value.