Military Intelligence Training
Military intelligence involves the gathering of information about the enemy's forces from multiple sources in order to provide commanders with the ability to make better decisions. Military intelligence training is now common in almost every military force around the globe. Training for intelligence work provides instruction on how to gather and analyze information from satellite imagery, intercepted communications, interrogations and other human intelligence.
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History
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Since ancient times, there have been spies that gather information about the enemy by living in their country and posing as civilians. But there are limits to this kind of information gathering, which is not always readily available and sometimes not very reliable. Eventually, the armed forces of various countries began forming their own military intelligence units. During the Civil War, the United States established the Bureau of Military Information, which was then shut down and reestablished in 1885 as the Military Intelligence Division, now known as the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps. The British Army established the Department of Military Knowledge in 1803, but the permanent Intelligence Corps of today was first created in 1914 during the outbreak of WWI.
Function
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Military intelligence training prepares soldiers to gather intelligence information for use by commanders on the battlefield. Military intelligence can be invaluable during the planning phase as well as during actual operations. For victory to be assured on the modern battlefield, it has become necessary to know as much current information as possible about the enemy. Military intelligence ensures that knowledge is available. This may entail working within an intelligence unit that analyzes imagery, translates intercepted radio transmissions, interviews locals or interrogates prisoners. Duties may also include commanding these intelligence units and being attached to various combat units as intelligence support.
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Types
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There are several types of military intelligence training that prepare each intelligence soldier to play a different role on the battlefield. Imagery analysis training shows soldiers how to gather imagery from satellite and aircraft sources and prepare that information for use by commanders in the planning phase of their operations. Signal analysis training shows soldiers how to use communications equipment to listen in on enemy transmissions for timely intelligence and route that information to the appropriate commander. Training in gathering human intelligence can often involve language interpretation and interrogation techniques to facilitate speaking with the local population and interrogating prisoners.
Time Frame
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Military intelligence training can take anywhere from five to eight months, depending on which country's armed forces is providing the training. Any soldier entering military intelligence must first complete basic training, then continue on to specialized military intelligence training involving classroom and field instruction for several months. Following formal training in the military intelligence branch, soldiers will continue to expand their knowledge as they train with their respective intelligence units.
Misconceptions
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Some have the impression that military intelligence training involves learning how to become a spy like James Bond. But military intelligence training today usually involves signal analysis, image analysis, nonviolent interrogation techniques and language instruction. The gathering of military information from various intelligence sources has no similarities to the typical Hollywood image of violent secret agents with a license to kill.
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