text: Mission Command
  INFORMATION COLLECTION
  4-149. Information collectionis an activity that synchronizes and integrates the planning and employment
  of sensors and assets as well as the processing, exploitation, and dissemination systems in direct support of
  current and future operations (FM 3-55). Information collection integrates intelligence and operations staff
  functions, specifically information collection capabilities, focused on answering information requirements.
  FM 3-55 describes an information collection capability as any human or automated sensor, asset, or
  processing, exploitation, and dissemination capabilities that can be directed to collect information that
  enables better decision-making, expands understanding of the operational environment, and supports
  warfighting functions in decisive action. Key aspects of information collection, addressed below, influence
  how the BCT operates as a ground force in close and continuous contact with the environment, including the
  enemy, terrain and weather, and civil considerations.
  Commander and Staff Input
  4-150. The BCT commander is the most important participant in collection management. The initial
  commander’s intent, planning guidance, and CCIRs form the foundation of the information collection plan
  and the basis for assessing its execution. The brigade operations staff officer (S-3) is responsible for the
  information collection plan and is the tasking authority for collection assets within the BCT. It is important
  that the entire staff (led by the S-3) collaborate closely to ensure information collection activities are fully
  synchronized and integrated into the overall operation order.
  4-151. Effective planning requirements and assessing collection focuses information collection activities
  on obtaining the information required by commanders and staffs to influence decisions and operations.
  Planning requirements and assessing collection—
  (cid:122) Includes commander and staff efforts to synchronize and integrate information collection tasks
  throughout the operations process.
  (cid:122) Supports the commander’s situational understanding and visualization of the operation by—
  (cid:131) Identifying information gaps.
  (cid:131) Coordinating assets and resources against requirements for information to fill these gaps.
  (cid:131) Assessing the collected information and intelligence to inform the commander’s decisions.
  (cid:122) Supports the staff during all operations process activities, and integrating processes, for example,
  during IPB and the MDMP, as well as the RM, targeting, and operations and intelligence processes
  (see chapter 3).
  4-152. During planning and preparation, the operations and intelligence staffs, or the operations and
  intelligence working group (if formed), work to develop the information collection plan and the staff products
  required to execute it. During execution, they oversee execution of the plan, keeping the staff products current
  and using them to keep information collection efforts synchronized with the overall operation. The staff
  updates planning requirements as operations unfold and modify the plan as necessary to satisfy new
  information requirements that emerge. (See ATP 2-01 for additional information.)
  Note. Depending on the availability of personnel, the BCT commander may designate an
  operations and intelligence-working group. The S-3 and intelligence staff officer (S-2) direct and
  manage the efforts of this working group to achieve a fully synchronized and integrated
  information collection plan.
  Develop Understanding
  4-153. The integration and synchronization of knowledge and information facilitates the BCT commander’s
  situational understanding for any problem set and the staff’s shared understanding. Knowledge is the
  precursor to effective action (especially within large-scale combat operations) across physical domains and
  the dimensions of the information environment. Acquiring information about an operational environment
  requires aggressive and continuous information collection operations. The BCT commander uses information