Operational art and intelligence: what is the relationship?

This monograph discusses the role of intelligence in support of operational art. Intelligence support at all levels of war is critical for the commander to successfully apply force to achieve the established goals and objectives. This is particularly true at the operational level where the operational commander must translate strategic objectives into tactical actions. This monograph examines the characteristics and nature of intelligence support to the operational artist. The monograph first determines the definition of intelligence and its principles and characteristics. Intelligence is defined as information or knowledge of the enemy and environment, both of which are packaged for a specific customer's use in decision making. Furthermore, the principles of intelligence are based on the component parts of knowledge, otherwise identified as the verb know. The principles are detect, recognize, and understand, representing levels of perception higher than the previous. Finally, the characteristics of intelligence are identified as relevant, timely, accurate, and predictive. Since operational art is rooted in theory, the monograph then briefly discusses the theoretical basis of the terms center of gravity, decisive point, and indirect approach from the standpoint of Carl Von Clausewitz, Antoine Henri Jomini, and Sun Tzu respectively. These concepts provide the basis to discuss operational art, or maneuver warfare. The monograph defines operational art as the conduct of military activities at the operational level through the translation of strategic objectives into tactical actions. More importantly, the tasks of the operational artist are defined. These tasks are know. plan and execute, and are the basis for intelligence support to the operational artist. Without adequate intelligence, the accomplishment of these tasks would at best be difficult and likely to be costly in blood and treasure. Operational art requires an extensive intelligence effort. Intelligence at the operational level is defined as information or knowledge of the enemy and environment required by the operational commander to make decisions and to plan and execute campaigns and major operations. The theoretical foundation of operational art provides the same basis for operational intelligence, to determine centers of gravity and their component decisive points as tactical objectives that linked together identify the indirect approach leading to the achievement of the operational and strategic endstate Finally, the monograph examines Army and Joint doctrine. It determines that both doctrines adequately describe operational intelligence characteristics and the importance of intelligence to operational success However, both similarly fail to adequately identify the linkage between operational art and intelligence, particularly concerning military objectives and operational design through the theoretical concepts of center(s) of gravity, decisive points, and the indirect approach.