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Previous: 4-32: Movement and Maneuver

4-40. Intelligence plays an important role in the accomplishment of any stability task. The small unit leader uses all available information collection to help accomplish the mission. Every member of the platoon plays a role in gathering information to support higher echelon planning. The company commander uses his CoIST to produce intelligence for his subordinate unit. The CoIST manages the information collection effort to ensure every member of the company headquarters and its subordinate units understands the operational environment and plays an active role in the development of the common operational picture. (Refer to FM 3-21.10 for more information.)

4-41. During stability, threats must be identified and decisive points defined. Leaders focus information collection activities to identify sources of instability. Platoon tasks will have different requirements, time frames, ROE, and other differences influencing what information collection is required in order to provide recommendations or decisions for platoon and higher echelon planning. Predictive assessment contributes to future planning and force disposition the end state and its defining conditions for every task. (Refer to FM 3-55 for more information.)

4-42. Collaboration and interaction with local populace is essential. Once the platoon occupies an area of operation, its next task is to build trust and relationships with the local populace. Relationships are built with community leaders and local security forces. Over time, these relationships may lead to partnership and collaboration in support with stability tasks.

4-43. Threat mitigation during stability is intelligence driven. The platoon often develops much of its own intelligence in relation to the amount they receive from higher headquarters. Small unit leaders organize their assets to collect local information unavailable to higher sources of intelligence. Linguists are important in the collection of local information, but like any other scarce resource, must be allocated and utilized effectively. Biometrics collections and its use prior to conducting essential tasks or activities enhance protection. Soldiers utilizing the biometrically enabled watchlist (BEWL) loaded on handheld devices or other biometrics collect/match systems can identify individuals via prior biometric enrollments so that regardless of who they say they are their identities are known with certainty. Social network analysis and other analytical tools can be useful for promoting situational understanding of the operational environment for stability tasks as well as counterinsurgency. (Refer to FM 3-24.2 for more information.)

4-44. Civil reconnaissance (Refer to chapter 6, section III of this publication) focuses specifically on the civil component, the elements of which may best be represented by ASCOPE. Civil reconnaissance can be conducted by civil affairs personnel or by other forces, as required. It differs from other reconnaissance in that it usually is not targeted at a specific enemy; instead, it focuses on answering information requirements for civil situation awareness. (Refer to JP 3-57 for more information.)

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Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad