text: Introduction
  The Army currently has no unified methodology or overall plan to define or establish how it performs or
  supports information collection activities at all echelons. This publication clarifies how the Army plans,
  prepares, and executes information collection activities in or between echelons.
  FM 3-55 emphasizes three themes. First, foundations of information collection that demonstrate
  information collection activities are a synergistic whole, with emphasis on synchronization and integration
  of all components and systems. Second, commanders and staff have responsibilities in information
  collection planning and execution. The emphasis is on the importance of the commander’s role. Finally, the
  planning requirements and assessing success of information collection is measured by its contributions to
  the commander’s understanding, visualization, and decisionmaking abilities.
  With the exception of cyberspace, all operations will be conducted and outcomes measured by effects on
  populations. This increases the complexity of information collection planning, execution, and assessment
  and requires more situational understanding from commanders. The staff is part of information collection
  activities and every Soldier collects and reports information. This field manual cannot provide all the
  answers. Its purpose is to prompt the user to ask the right questions. This FM complies with Doctrine 2015
  guidelines.
  Chapter 1 provides the Army definition of information collection and its relation to the joint construct of
  intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
  Chapter 2 examines the roles and actions of the commander and staff in information collection planning
  and execution. This chapter also discusses the working group for information collection.
  Chapter 3 describes information collection planning and information collection activities assessment.
  Chapter 4 discusses information collection tasking and directing. The operations staff integrates collection
  assets through a deliberate and coordinated effort across all warfighting functions. Tasking and directing is
  vital to control limited collection assets.
  Chapter 5 provides an overview of the information collection assets and capabilities available to Army
  commanders.
  Chapter 6 examines joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities.
  Appendix A provides instructions for preparing Annex L (Information Collection) in Army plans and
  orders.
  Commanders drive information collection activities through their choice of critical information
  requirements and through mission command in driving the operations process. Commanders visualize,
  describe, direct, lead, and assess throughout the operations process with understanding as the start point.
  Commanders use intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) to develop an in-depth understanding of
  the enemy and the operational environment. They visualize the desired end state and a broad concept of
  how to shape the current conditions into the end state. Commanders describe their visualization through the
  commander’s intent, planning guidance, and concept of operations to bring clarity to an uncertain situation.
  They also express gaps in relevant information as commander’s critical information requirements (CCIRs).
  The challenge is for information collection activities to answer those requirements with timely, relevant,
  and accurate intelligence that enables commanders to make sound decisions.