Military Intelligence Branch
Military Intelligence BranchA symbolic sun, patterned after that of the mythical Helios, god of the sun, who could see and hear everything, provides the base for the Military Intelligence design. The sun's rays indicate the worldwide mission of the branch; the superimposed rose revives the ancient symbol of secrecy; and the partially concealed dagger reminds of the aggressiveness, protection, and element of physical danger inherent to branch operations.
The mission of Army Intelligence is to provide timely, relevant, accurate, and synchronized IEW support to tactical, operational, and strategic commanders across the range of military operations. In war, IEW operations support the winning of battles and campaigns. In Low Intensity Conflicts, IEW operations support the promotion of peace, the resolution of conflict, and the deterrence of war. These operations reduce uncertainty and risk to US Forces and permit the effective application of force.
Military Intelligence is an exciting branch. Because of the historic changes occurring throughout the world, we face more challenges than at any other time in our history. The mission of understanding the threat and advising decision makers about the capabilities and intentions of potential adversaries is expanding at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Regardless of your academic background, we have a career field that can make you a part of this responsibility.
The MI profession is both complex and exciting. Should you choose Military Intelligence and be selected, you will experience a very challenging career in a diversified array of assignments. Your reward will come in knowing that you have played a vital role in maintaining our national security and in keeping our Army and our Corps-Always Out Front!
Selection for service in the Military Intelligence Corps is highly competitive. There is no "sure thing"-no single qualification or course of study that ensures selection for service with Military Intelligence. The branch is looking for dedicated individuals who can work as a part of a team, as well as lead the team. MI personnel must be versatile. They must understand that each assignment offers a different set of challenges and know that a great deal rests upon their shoulders. MI personnel are the only ones on a staff with the specific responsibility to know the capabilities and limitations of our adversaries as well as thoroughly understanding the capabilities of friendly forces. The criteria for selecting ROTC applicants to the MI Corps is essentially the same as for all Army branches. ROTC Cadets have only a few quantifiable qualifications which may be considered for selection. Of primary importance are a cadet's grade point average, advance camp scores, and the evaluation and recommendation by the Professor of Military Science. USMA Cadet selection is based strictly on Cadet Performance Ranking.
MI Officers lead, manage, and direct intelligence planning and operations at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels across the operational continuum. At all levels, MI Officers plan, supervise, and conduct collection and analysis of raw intelligence information. From this information, MI officers produce and disseminate finished all source intelligence products for commanders and other intelligence consumers.
MI Officers command MI units and serve as staff officers at all levels throughout the Army, Department of Defense, and the intelligence community. This includes assignments at national agencies such as the National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency. Intelligence comes in many forms and today's MI Officer is exposed to one of the widest technology bases an Army officer can have. The majority of junior officer positions in Military Intelligence are with the tactical Army, and junior officers should actively seek assignment in tactical units. Military Intelligence is an integral part of the tactical Army. In fact, tactical experience is the base line upon which all MI skills are developed. For that reason, all newly accessed MI lieutenants receive Area of Concentration (AOC) 35D (All Source Intelligence) upon graduation from the MI Officer Basic Course. Selection for advanced MI programs is heavily weighted in favor of officers with solid tactical experience. Challenges facing the Military Intelligence Officer Corps include the growing complexity of international events and the rapid technological sophistication of intelligence collection and analysis systems. These challenges to the MI Corps are compounded by the constraints placed on a smaller, streamlined Army. All MI Officers are expected to know, understand, and function in all intelligence disciplines: Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence/ Electronic Warfare (SIGINT/EW) and Counterintelligence (CI) at all levels-tactical, operational, and strategic. As a consequence, the MI Officer Advanced Course (MIOAC) orients on training highly skilled, multidiscipline intelligence duties, with the primary focus on warfighting and intelligence support to warfighters.
The Army Officer Corps is divided into specific branches. Military Intelligence Branch has an assigned numerical designator of 35. It is further divided into subcategories, or Areas of Concentration (AOC), denoted by additional letters. Each of these specialized areas offers the Ml Officer diversified training in intelligence-related skills.
Strategic Intelligence Officers are trained in the operations and structure of joint and national intelligence systems. They collect, disseminate, and transmit intelligence to key decisions makers at the national and international levels. Their collection and analysis efforts support strategic planning and policy-making.
The Intelligence Center trains IMINT officers to plan airborne reconnaissance and surveillance operations. They also examine photo, radar, infrared, or electro-optical intelligence products. IMINT platforms range from space age technology to high performance aircraft-they see it first.
All Source Intelligence represents the baseline of training for all Military Intelligence Officers. This training is the essence of MI Officer Basic Course and MI Officer Advanced Course. The MI Officer performs multidiscipline collection management, coordination of surveillance activities, and advises on the use and employment of intelligence resources at all echelons. Intelligence officers must possess a solid understanding of the maneuver commander's intelligence requirements, how to task collection resources, and analyze their products in support of the maneuver commander's mission.
Counterintelligence Officers are trained to serve at tactical, operational, and strategic levels. The primary mission of the Counterintelligence Officer is to detect, identify, neutralize, and exploit foreign intelligence collection efforts. Intelligence officers analyze and produce CI information to enhance force protection by limiting the effectiveness of foreign collection efforts directed against Army operations, activities, technology, and intentions.
Human Intelligence Officers receive assignments involving the development, conduct, and supervision of sensitive collection operations to satisfy national and theater-level intelligence requirements. AOC 35F is the smallest of the Ml Officer specialty fields. Selection for AOC 35F is highly competitive and specific information on application is given at the Ml Officer Advanced Course.
Signals Intelligence/Electronic Warfare Officers receive training in the high technology area of communications, electronics, and computers. SIGINT/EW Officers also receive extensive instruction in the tactics of EW. Duties include planning, managing, coordinating, and participating in the collection, production, and dissemination of Signals Intelligence and conducting Electronic Warfare Operations. Assignments range from the tactical level to the highest strategic and national decision-making levels.
Military Intelligence Aviation is an exception to the Officer Personnel Management System policy, which specifies that an officer may hold only one branch specialty. Officers in this program are branched Aviation and hold MI as a Functional Area. MI Aviators attend the Ml Officer Advanced Course and graduate with a specialty of 35D. After completion of the Advanced Course, these officers attend the Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA) Course, usually in conjunction with a fixed-wing transition course. Ml Aviators serve in both Aviation and Military Intelligence units throughout their careers.
A career in Military Intelligence is a lifetime of exciting challenges.
In recent history, the U.S. Government called upon the Army to intervene in Grenada, Panama, and Iraq. In each of these operations, the MI Corps responded by providing warfighting commanders and national level decision makers the intelligence they needed to be successful. Using the latest in space and ground intelligence and communications technology, MI personnel collected, analyzed, and disseminated critical battlefield intelligence that saved American lives and shortened conflicts.
High technology support for commanders and national decision makers shape the Ml Corps of the future. In 1991, the MI Corps had the first Army Warrant Officer participate on a space shuttle mission. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), the All Source Analysis System (ASAS), and other high technology systems are the tools of today's Intelligence Officer.
The recent operations in the Middle East incorporated technology and equipment that was only dreamed of several years ago. Future MI officers, noncommissioned officers, and civilians can count on more of the same in one of the most dynamic branches of the U.S. Army.
Newly commissioned MI Officers report to Fort Huachuca, Arizona to attend the 24 week long MI Officer Basic Course (MIOBC). Ten weeks of the course covers intensive instruction in basic military subjects to include: small unit tactics, maintenance, supply, administration, Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare, leadership, and land navigation.
These ten weeks include preparation for Tactical Proficiency Week-a physically demanding period in which instructors evaluate new MI Officers in terms of their land navigation and small unit leadership skills.
MIOBC devotes the remaining 14 weeks of the course to developing the skills required of tactical All Source Intelligence Officers. Topics include: the Command Estimate Process, threat organization, low intensity conflict, processing and reporting of intelligence, intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB), basic traffic analysis, MI organizations and operations, the MI mission and equipment, and familiarization with national collection agencies and systems.
Basic Course students serve in staff and leadership positions within their class, and senior officers evaluate these students with regard to their progress. The Military Intelligence Corps places a high premium on leadership training-All of our officers must be leaders first! Included in the Basic Course is the Basic All Source Intelligence Exercise (BASIX). This field exercise places MIOBC lieutenants into positions as maneuver brigade and battalion staff officers. The students learn the relationships between their respective staff members and learn firsthand, the necessity of functioning as a team with a common goal.
MIOBC prepares lieutenants for assignments as Platoon Leaders, Assistant S-2s, and Ml Battalion Staff Officers.
The Accessions Board selects approximately 50% of each Military Intelligence officer year group for service into the MI Corps. They will report to Fort Huachuca, Arizona to attend the Ml Officer Basic Course. The Accessions Board details the remaining 50% to other branches because of our limited need for lieutenants and our increased need for captains and majors. At USMA, MI cadets have the option to voluntarily detail into certain Combat Arms Branches as well as Chemical Branch.
Officers selected for branch detail attend the basic course of their detail branch and serve a tour of approximately four years with that branch. Upon completion of their first four years of commissioned service, branch detailed officers attend the Military Intelligence Officer Transition Course. Then, they attend the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course, after which they return to the field and serve in MI positions. Currently, those branches to which an officer may be detailed are: Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery, Air Defense Artillery and Chemical. Any cadet may request direct accession into MI or may volunteer for the Branch Detail program. Branch detailed officers receive valuable tactical experience that the MI Corps welcomes. This experience affords the officer a firsthand look at the intelligence needs of the maneuver commander. Should Accessions select you for the Branch Detail Program, you should make every effort to maintain contact with MI personnel, equipment, and doctrine. Seek duty in a troop leading position. You will need that background when you attend the MI Officer Advanced Course.
The U.S. Army Intelligence Center is responsible for preparing and training newly commissioned Ml Officers prior to their first assignment. The Intelligence Center's goal is to provide each Ml lieutenant with a solid foundation in intelligence operations and leadership. To this end, newly commissioned Ml officers attend the tactical MIOBC that awards the Area of Concentration, 35D, All Source Intelligence Officer.
MIOAC is a 20 week course also conducted at Fort Huachuca. All officers, including those designated for 35B training (Post Graduate Intelligence Program), attend the full 20 weeks. The course's focus is all source intelligence that includes training in: Company Command, Global Threat, Threat Tactics, Organization Equipment and Operations, and the Command Estimate Process.
The goal of CSC is to prepare officers to think, decide, communicate, and act as general staff officers and field grade commanders. Officers plan attendance from 7 to 14 years of service.
The goal of SSC is to prepare officers for senior staff positions within the Army and throughout DOD. Selection Boards consider officers for attendance at about their 18 year mark.
Advanced civil schooling opportunities are available to selected officers. The majority of graduate schooling opportunities are in the technological areas of engineering and science. Officers who participate in this fully funded graduate program must serve a three year utilization tour upon completion of schooling. MI Officers are eligible to apply for this program upon completion of the MIOAC. Currently, the MI Corps receives only a few ACS quotas per year. These quotas include graduate study in the following disciplines: Electronic Warfare Systems Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Space Systems Operations, and Area Studies.
MI Branch selects a limited number of MI Officers for the Foreign Area Officer Program. Officers receive training in language and related area studies. The FAO program is normally applied for sometime following the advance course. New MI officers right out of the basic course are very seldom selected to attend any language training.
The PGIP trains officers to be Strategic Intelligence Officers. The curriculum emphasizes national policy and strategic intelligence at the joint level. The PGIP is a 40 week course conducted at the Defense Intelligence College in Washington, D.C. An officer may also receive a Masters of Science in Strategic Intelligence.
The JOCCP is a three year program designed to develop the cryptologic skills and management practices of selected junior officers for future leadership roles in cryptologic assignments. The National Security Agency conducts this program at Fort Meade, Maryland.
