Army Intelligence Officer: Prepared for Future Tactical and Strategic Multi-Disciplined Intelligence Tasks.

This study serves two purposes. First it examines strategic and tactical intelligence as a profession, the effects of technology on intelligence tasks, and the requirements of the Airland Battle Doctrine on the Army intelligence officer. Secondly, the study provides some thoughts on the preparedness of the Army intelligence officer to perform the essential multi-disciplined intelligence tasks vital to the 1980's and 1990's. Foreign policy decision making and tactical decision making processes of the 1980's and 1990's will require intelligence that is based on both multi-disciplined collection systems and high quality analysis. Collection systems will be highly sophisticated and technical in order to support the advanced weaponry the Airland Battle Doctrine requires. The need to reduce uncertainty in decision making and the availability of vast quantities of information will make analysis more important. Also the volume of information exchanged between strategic and tactical activities and vice versa will drastically increase. This thesis reveals that the effects of profession, technology and the Airland Battle Doctrine require the Army intelligence officer to gain a broad background in order to perform his decision making task in the future. The relationship between the decision maker and the Army intelligence officer remains the key to effective intelligence. The study recommends that procedures be established and implemented by a central office to develop the Army intelligence officer into a broad military intelligence officer.