Integrating Social Sciences and Intelligence

Abstract

Army leaders recognize the importance of sociocultural dynamics in Iraq and Afghanistan but are continually facing challenges on how to prepare soldiers for these dilemmas. In 2003, the Pentagon began the Human Terrain System project in hopes of meeting the military's local cultural and ethnographic intelligence needs. Understanding culture in Iraq and Afghanistan is instrumental for the military. With the proper understanding, the military is able to influence the population through nonlethal means by promoting stability, peace, and economic and social development. The purpose of this paper is to highlight a solution to the Army's increasing need for accurate sociocultural intelligence among junior officers and the enlisted ranks by requiring anthropology and sociology training in basic courses.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA494954

Entities

People

  • Lindsey Champion

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anthropology
  • Asymmetric Warfare
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Incapacitating Agents
  • Military Intelligence
  • Military Operations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Sociology
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • United States Military Academy
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Systems Analysis and Design