text: FM 2-22.3 _________________________________________________________________________________
  DEVELOP A QUESTIONING PLAN
  7-18. The HUMINT collector must develop a plan that will guide his
  questioning of the source. This includes general topics to be exploited and the
  sequence in which they will be covered.
  7-19. There are two general sequences used in questioning: topical and
  chronological.
  • Topical questioning is used when time is a prime concern, when the
  source is believed to possess key information in a limited area, when
  the questioning is concerning a technical topic, or when the source has
  been talked to previously and this is a subsequent questioning to
  expand on earlier topics.
  • Chronological questioning normally is used when the HUMINT
  collector is uncertain of the areas of source knowledge, when time is
  not a factor in questioning, during initial questioning when the source
  is believed to have knowledge on a large number of topics, and in
  friendly force mission debriefing.
  7-20. A topical sequence is an outline of topics to be questioned in a selected
  sequence and is based on intelligence requirements or HCRs, as well as a
  specific source’s potential to provide information pertinent to those
  requirements. The plan serves as a checklist for the HUMINT collector to
  ensure that all subjects pertinent to the collection objective are questioned in
  an efficient and organized manner. The HUMINT collector uses his estimate
  of the type and extent of knowledge possessed by the source to modify the
  basic topical sequence of questioning. He selects only those topics in which he
  believes the source has pertinent knowledge. In this way, the HUMINT
  collector refines his element's overall objective into a set of specific HUMINT
  collection subjects. In OB factors questioning in either a tactical or strategic
  setting, and across the full spectrum of operations, the topics covered include
  missions and the nine major OB factors:
  • Composition.
  • Strength.
  • Dispositions.
  • Tactics.
  • Training.
  • Combat effectiveness.
  • Logistics.
  • Electronic technical data.
  • Miscellaneous.
  7-21. See Appendix G for questioning quick reference examples of topics
  covered under the nine OB factors.
  7-22. In strategic and operational debriefing operations the relevant HCR or
  SDR will guide the HUMINT collector. Regardless of which tasking
  document is referenced, the topical sequence is established by collection
  requirements, modified or sequenced, based on source knowledge and time.
  7-23. The nine OB factors are not the only guideline that may be used by the
  HUMINT collector. If the collection objective is something other than a