text: Fighting for Intelligence During Large-Scale Combat Operations
  8-129. More collection systems operate in theater during large-scale combat operations than during
  competition or crisis. More collection systems operating means more data is transported across the
  intelligence architecture; therefore, there is more data requiring intelligence PED. The introduction of new
  information collection systems, including multinational partner systems and sensors, onboard weapons
  systems, combat vehicles, and combat aerial platforms, requires adjustments to intelligence PED processes.
  Federated intelligence PED, including reach PED, will be challenged to adjust intelligence PED support when
  the situation in theater dictates those adjustments in 24 hours or less. These compressed timelines can occur
  when corps, division, or BCT CPs make frequent moves, sometimes unanticipated, or when unanticipated
  enemy actions change the situation in theater.
  8-130. During large-scale combat operations, intelligence PED must be prioritized to answer PIRs and
  identify and track HPTs. The fluidity of the situation demands emphasis on constant feedback across the
  intelligence process as part of intelligence synchronization. The intelligence staff provides feedback to
  collection assets and PED activities on their performance. Feedback reinforces if collection, processing, and
  exploitation are effectively supporting the analysis and production effort. Feedback is essential to maintaining
  PED effectiveness and alerting MI leaders of deficiencies. Leaders and Soldiers exercising flexible, adaptive,
  and creative thinking and actions can mitigate many of the challenges and risks to intelligence PED during
  large-scale combat operations.
  INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS
  8-131. Based on relevant aspects of the OE (determined during IPOE), the commander and staff
  continuously assess information, operations, and changes in the OE. Warning intelligence, situation
  development, intelligence support to targeting, and intelligence support to information advantage assist the
  unit in further shaping the OE to facilitate mission success. The continuous analysis of collected information
  also mitigates risk to friendly forces while identifying opportunities to leverage friendly capabilities to open
  a window of opportunity.
  8-132. Intelligence analysts must understand at which points in an operation the commander needs a
  specific intelligence requirement answered (usually captured with the intelligence requirement as a latest
  time intelligence is of value) to support decisions and targeting. This understanding assists the intelligence
  analysis element, usually an ACE or BISE, in assigning analytical tasks to the various analysts and creating
  a timeline for conducting analysis.
  8-133. Analysts must accept and embrace ambiguity when conducting analysis as they will never have all
  the information necessary to make certain analytical determinations. Intelligence analysts will be especially
  challenged during large-scale combat operations where peer threats will conduct elaborate deception
  operations and use effective counterreconnaissance, cover, concealment, and camouflage techniques. Even
  in the best of circumstances, maintaining a common interpretation of information and developing situational
  understanding are difficult.
  8-134. Analysts may have to abbreviate certain analytical tasks by quickly screening collected information
  and using only basic structured analytic techniques to keep pace with the tempo of operations. (See
  ATP 2-33.4.) Intelligence analysts must predict and track rapidly evolving threat actions involving multiple
  capabilities across the domains and dimensions. When time is limited for adequate information collection,
  PED, and intelligence analysis, the all-source analytical element must inform the G-2/S-2 of the gaps, issues,
  and risks, so the G-2/S-2 can inform the commander. In these situations, the unit must collaborate with and
  depend on the higher-echelon all-source analytical element for additional support and overwatch or operate
  based on combat information.
  8-135. A goal of intelligence analysis is assisting the unit to identify and open a window of opportunity to
  eventually achieve a position of relative advantage. Opening a window of opportunity often requires a
  significant amount of intelligence analysis to achieve a high degree of situational understanding; this is
  difficult. Tactical units must exercise tactical patience, accept a higher degree of risk, or allocate more
  capabilities to ensure effective information collection.
  8-136. Once friendly forces have an open window of opportunity to execute information collection,
  intelligence analysts receive more information and may provide effective intelligence that can then assist
  friendly forces in opening subsequent windows of opportunity to reach a position of relative advantage.