Wilderness Guide. Providing Intelligence for the Commander in Bosnia.

Abstract

The Intelligence Community has taken on the tough job of reducing the uncertainty that coalition task force commanders must face in conducting military operations other than war (MOOTW). Intelligence support to Bosnia peace operations presents a useful case study. The considerable efforts in Bosnia since 1992 have been well grounded in sound doctrine; however, this is not readily apparent because no subset of doctrine has been promulgated for coalition MOOTW. These precepts of such a needed subset have emerged from the Bosnia experience: (1) create an organization responsive to the commander's requirements that produces timely and accurate finished intelligence; (2) emphasize application of national and operational intelligence resources downward; (3) build communications connectivity up and down echelon to better disseminate intelligence; (4) acknowledge the enemy may be unknown, ambiguous, or not exist; (5) exploit tactical intelligence as it assumes a greater role, at times to the exclusion of national intelligence; (6) expect available resources to be scarce at some level; (7) adjust to national or organizational cultural differences; (8) unify effort; (9) emphasize sharing; (10) provide for complementary operations; (11) conduct liaison exchange; and (12) play the facilitating role of wilderness guide. Because of the burgeoning need for this new doctrine, it is time to codify our Bosnia experience. The coherence this doctrine lends intelligence support will enable the Commander to quickly orient his forces to a situation and step out smartly in the right direction. Intelligence support based on this doctrine will do what it is supposed to do--show the Commander the forest by guiding him through the trees.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 06, 1996
Accession Number
ADA307494

Entities

People

  • Lawrence N. Ash

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artillery
  • Case Studies
  • Doctrine
  • Intelligence Community
  • Joint Military Activities
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Intelligence
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Navy
  • Operational Intelligence
  • Security
  • Tactical Intelligence
  • Task Forces
  • United States European Command
  • Universities
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.