text: Chapter 5
  entities may operate in each brigade’s AO with no formal command relationship. Commanders must
  effectively integrate these capabilities into collection plans and processes to prevent unnecessary
  redundancy and maximize information sharing.
  5-17. During this phase, the combatant commander and all subordinate echelons redefine adversary centers
  of gravity and focus information collection activities on political, social, economic, information, and
  criminal activities that pose a threat to friendly forces and the stability of the AO. Collaboration and
  interaction with all friendly elements in the AO is essential. Predictive assessments for the remaining threat
  forces or illicit factions contribute to future operational planning and force disposition.
  INFORMATION COLLECTION ASSETS BY ECHELON
  5-18. Paragraphs 5-19 through 5-41 illustrate collection activities in different echelons of an operation.
  Different units perform different tasks at each echelon. Commanders at different echelons require certain
  information assets to complete each phase of an operation successfully.
  SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES
  5-19. Special operations forces may possess a high degree of cultural awareness due to their extensive
  training, experience, and regional orientation. Some members of every unit communicate in the local
  language. Civil affairs units are also sources of useful information; however, commanders recognize that
  the legitimacy of civil affairs operations often hinges on whether the local population perceives those forces
  are collecting information. Civil affairs may be tasked to collect information en route to or returning from a
  meeting with host-nation personnel but may not be tasked to collect information during the meeting. Some
  special operations forces make ideal collection assets during stability operations because they can interact
  with the local population.
  5-20. Historically, special operations forces have operated independently from conventional forces,
  although both plan and execute operations in a synchronized framework to support the joint force
  commander’s overall plan. Recent operations have produced situations where conventional forces and
  special operations forces operate in the same operational area simultaneously and require close
  coordination. Conventional forces and special operations forces can complement one another in a number
  of areas, including information collection activities. Special operations forces can provide conventional
  forces with special reconnaissance capabilities, positive identification of targets, target marking and
  terminal guidance, battle damage assessment, information on indigenous forces, and combat weather
  support. Conventional forces can provide special operations forces with robust fire support, multiple attack
  resource options, lethal and nonlethal effects, and other resources available to heavier forces.
  5-21. Key lessons for successfully integrating conventional forces with special operations forces include:
  * Establish personal relationships (rapport).
  * Train integrated forces before conducting tactical operations.
  * Clearly define and articulate command relationships.
  * Fully integrate planning and intelligence efforts to alleviate misunderstandings.
  * Understand the strengths and limitations of each force and use this knowledge as an advantage.
  MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BRIGADE
  5-22. The theater army’s military intelligence brigade provides intelligence support, including support for
  information collection activities. The military intelligence brigade supports the theater army, other Army
  operational-level commands in the area of responsibility, and combatant, joint, or multinational commands.
  5-23. The military intelligence brigade consists of the—
  * Operations battalion.
  * Forward collection battalion (counterintelligence and human intelligence).
  * Forward collection battalion (signals intelligence).
  * Strategic signals intelligence battalion.
  * Theater support battalion.