Information Collection Assets PDF

Chapter 5 Information Collection Assets This chapter discusses information collection assets and capability. It then discusses those assets by level, phase, and echelon. Lastly, this chapter discusses the network- enabled information collection. INFOR...

Chapter 5 Information Collection Assets This chapter discusses information collection assets and capability. It then discusses those assets by level, phase, and echelon. Lastly, this chapter discusses the network- enabled information collection. INFORMATION COLLECTION CAPABILITY 5-1. An information collection capability is any human or automated sensor, asset, or processing, exploitation, and dissemination system directed to collect information that enables better decisionmaking, expands understanding of the operational environment, and supports warfighting functions in decisive action. Factors including a unit’s primary mission, typical size area of operations (AO), number of personnel, and communications and network limitations significantly affect what sensors, platforms, and systems are fielded. 5-2. When a unit requires more robust collection assets to meet its mission, it may request resources and products from higher echelons and adjacent units. During prolonged conflict or joint and multinational operations, the conduct of routine or protracted reconnaissance, security, surveillance, and intelligence operations also impact joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) resource allocation and formalized information collection tasking and requesting procedures. INFORMATION COLLECTION PLAN BY LEVEL 5-3. Staffs ensure the collection activities remain focused on the commander’s critical information requirements (CCIRs). Staffs continuously update products and incorporate those products into the running estimates and common operational picture (COP). Lastly, staffs quickly identify and report threats and decisive points in the AO. 5-4. Paragraphs 5-5 through 5-8 illustrate collection activities at different levels during different activities of an operation. Strategic, operational, and tactical levels have different tasks to perform during the activities of an operation, but all levels work together to provide commanders the intelligence needed to complete each phase of an operation. Table 5-1 (page 5-2) provides some examples of information collection assets. STRATEGIC 5-5. National and theater-level collection assets provide tactical forces updates before and during deployment. Theater-level shaping operations require actionable intelligence including adversary centers of gravity and decision points as well as the prediction of adversary anti-access measures. Space-based resources are important to support situational awareness during deployment and entry phases because they—  Monitor protection indicators.  Provide warning of ballistic missile launches threatening aerial and seaports of debarkation and other threats to arriving forces.  Provide the communications links to forces en route.  Provide meteorological information that could affect operations. 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 5-1 Chapter 5 Table 5-1. Sample information collection assets Levels Examples of information collection assets Defense Human Intelligence Service agents. Central Intelligence Agency. Strategic Federal Bureau of Investigation. Defense Intelligence Agency. National Security Agency. Regionally focused joint information centers. Army’s military intelligence brigades. Operational Army aerial exploitation battalions. Joint aerial assets. A battlefield surveillance brigade. Target acquisition radars. Reconnaissance and cavalry squadrons and troops. Tactical Attack reconnaissance aviation units. Unmanned aircraft system. Any Soldier with information to report. OPERATIONAL 5-6. The intelligence staff requests collection support with theater, joint, and national assets. Respective collection managers employ organic means to cover the seams and gaps between units. These organic means provide the deploying tactical force with the most complete portrayal possible of the enemy and potential adversaries, the populace, and the environmental situation upon entry. The operational-level intelligence assets operate from a regional focus center. This regional focus center (located in the crisis area) assumes primary analytical overwatch for the alerted tactical maneuver elements. The theater army’s military intelligence brigade provides overwatch and functions as both a command post and a research node. The military intelligence brigade intelligence staff must completely understand the deploying tactical force commanders’ intent. The military intelligence brigade must understand the deploying forces’ situation and current mission statuses. In addition, the military intelligence brigade requires access to all relevant data and knowledge about what is planned at higher headquarters and national levels. TACTICAL 5-7. The entire information collection and analysis effort shifts to provide tailored support to deploying forces in response to their CCIRs. Priority in the brigade combat team (BCT) shifts to planning to deploy and conduct offensive operations to secure a lodgment in the objective areas. The BCT prepares to conduct combat operations upon arrival. The BCT commander understands the situation sufficiently to employ the combat power of the BCT effectively. The BCT’s intelligence element collaborates with higher echelons to satisfy CCIRs and provide the context and focus to the information gathered. 5-8. As the unit prepares to fight upon arrival, it synchronizes its information collection activities with division and higher echelon headquarters. Operational-, theater-, and national-level intelligence collection reports are used to develop and continually update the COP. INFORMATION COLLECTION ASSETS BY PHASE 5-9. Paragraphs 5-10 through 5-17 illustrate collection activities at different phases of an operation. Units perform different tasks during deployment, entry, and transition. Commanders require certain information assets to complete each phase of an operation successfully. 5-2 FM 3-55 3 May 2013  Information Collection Assets DEPLOYMENT 5-10. Before issuing the execution order, higher tactical echelons and joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational information collection assets support situation development and shaping operations in the objective area. Upon receipt of the execution order and approval of the course of action (COA), the geographic combatant command expands the size and scope of information collection activities. The geographic combatant command is in the area of responsibility with significant collection assets to detect, identify, and track adversary decision points and centers of gravity. The geographic combatant command collects information immediately available to the tactical echelon through the network. This continuously updates the COP and intelligence running estimate. Combat assessments of lethal and nonlethal effects drive decisions regarding the deployment timing, locations, and actions on arrival. ENTRY 5-11. During the entry phase, deploying units are particularly vulnerable to enemy actions. Effective intelligence reduces that vulnerability. Tactical forces use the information that their higher headquarters, and theater- and national-level assets provide to maintain situational awareness and refine plans. The intelligence running estimate provides the commander predictive intelligence to anticipate adversary actions. Updates en route provide continuing information about the situation, the threat, and the environment. Updates allow the commander to adjust the plan before arrival to respond to changes in the AO or threat actions. 5-12. Forces conduct tactical assault upon arrival as necessary. They conduct continuous reconnaissance, intelligence, and security operations. As the buildup of forces continues, the tactical forces reduce dependence on higher echelon resources and rely more on organic assets. As organic and supporting assets arrive into the theater, commanders immediately employ these assets to support tactical-level situational awareness. In addition, operational and strategic resources still contribute to the COP. Arriving units and staffs establish liaisons with units already in the AO. 5-13. As the BCT enters the AO, it relies primarily on national-, theater-, and higher-tactical echelon information collectors until its organic assets become fully available. The intelligence overwatch support section provides context and focus to information gathered by theater and national collectors. Appropriate to echelon, the S-2 and military intelligence elements focus and put the information collected, analyzed, and disseminated by higher echelons into context. The different echelons integrate raw and analyzed information to answer their commander’s priority intelligence requirements (PIRs) and tailor reports to mission requirements. In the early phases of entry operations, focused, detailed collection and analysis of the BCT’s operational environment remains a primary responsibility of its higher headquarters. The BCT provides its own situational awareness of the operational environment when assigned its operational area. 5-14. Once on the ground, the BCT immediately begins to deploy its information collection reconnaissance units, sensors, and collection systems. The tactical echelon expands its sensing and collecting capabilities until the entire force is on the ground and achieves maximum situational awareness. During entry operations, echelons above brigade provide collection support and serve to complement the BCT’s organic reconnaissance units and assets. Once the BCT deploys, strategic and operational echelons continue to complement the BCT’s organic assets and focus on those areas outside the sensing range and capability of the maneuver elements. Sensors covering the noncontiguous AO provide early warning and cueing of the BCT’s reconnaissance squadron and sensors. TRANSITION 5-15. Information collection requirements during the transition phase shift from one operation to another. The combatant commander remains aware that major combat operations and stability operations may occur simultaneously. 5-16. Commanders may reprioritize strategic and operational echelon information collection assets. The BCT’s collection assets become a resource for division headquarters and higher echelon units for their information needs. The AO generally involves other nations. Often, multinational information collection focus increases along with the involvement of nongovernmental organizations. Multinational collection 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 5-3 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. 5-4 FM 3-55 3 May 2013  Information Collection Assets 5-24. The military intelligence brigade performs intelligence operations, all-source intelligence analysis, intelligence production, intelligence collection management, and intelligence dissemination support of the theater army. It provides dedicated long-term, continuous support to the geographic combatant commander or subunified commander for that commander’s theater security cooperation plan and small-scale contingencies. It also provides in-theater intelligence support during major combat operations. 5-25. The military intelligence brigade provides the theater army commander with dedicated intelligence capabilities for all intelligence disciplines. It has robust counterintelligence and human intelligence capabilities with interrogation and exploitation potential. Each military intelligence brigade has dedicated imagery intelligence analysts and most have imagery intelligence collection capabilities. The military intelligence brigade also has measurement and signature intelligence capabilities. BATTLEFIELD SURVEILLANCE BRIGADE 5-26. The battlefield surveillance brigade (BFSB) conducts reconnaissance and security to collect information to defense support of civil authorities at echelons above brigade level. It helps develop the COP and it enhances commanders’ decisionmaking. Table 5-2 (page 5-6) identifies BFSB collection assets. The BFSB fills two roles in division-level and higher operations. It augments BCTs and supporting brigades to enhance their abilities to accomplish missions. It also executes their portion of the information collection plan—  In that portion of the AO not assigned to a subordinate unit.  In an AO assigned to it by the supported unit.  In an area that has characteristics of both types (assigned AO). 5-27. Assets above division level can fulfill many intelligence requirements but may not answer all of them. Often, higher-level operational needs take precedence and cause assets at these levels to focus on the next higher echelon’s CCIRs. In some cases, higher-level assets may not provide the level of detail or timeliness the BFSB’s supported command requires. The BFSB bridges the gap between the tactical reconnaissance and security executed at brigade level and the operational and strategic reconnaissance executed at levels above the division. 5-28. In its other role, the BFSB augments other brigades by providing counterintelligence, human intelligence, signals intelligence, and unmanned aircraft system. In some situations, augmentation includes elements of the reconnaissance squadron. The BFSB provides a means for the supported commander to weigh the decisive operation or the main effort and to provide other brigades with assets, capabilities, or the increased capacity required for a mission or operation. (See FM 3-55.1 for additional information on BFSB operations.) COMBAT AVIATION BRIGADE 5-29. The combat aviation brigade accomplishes reconnaissance and surveillance with its attack reconnaissance battalions and (when fielded) one unmanned aircraft system company. The heavy, medium, light, and expeditionary combat aviation brigade have similar organization, varying only in the type and number of attack reconnaissance battalions. Heavy and medium combat aviation brigades have more robust firepower capabilities than light and expeditionary combat aviation brigades. 5-30. The combat aviation brigade commander is the higher commander’s senior advisor for employment of aviation assets. The combat aviation brigade commander and staff are the primary integrators of manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft system operations. 5-31. The unmanned aircraft system company of the combat aviation brigade, when fully fielded, deploys a one system ground control station to the BFSB and fires brigade as required for mission planning and execution. Based on higher echelon requirements, the BFSB and fires brigade control the unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance and surveillance operations. The combat aviation brigade launches the aircraft and turns control over to the one system ground control station operators. The one system ground control station locates where it can best control the aircraft and disseminates collected information. 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 5-5 Chapter 5 Table 5-2. Battlefield surveillance brigade information collection assets Warfighting Organization Capability Function Movement and Reconnaissance Conduct area, zone, or route reconnaissance. Maneuver squadron Provide signals intercept and signal emitter location data that use 12-person multifunction teams that combine signals intelligence, human intelligence, and counterintelligence capabilities and supporting operational management teams. Provide counterintelligence and human intelligence teams and supporting operational management teams that provide Military intelligence general support to division or corps collection requirements. Intelligence battalion Provide counterintelligence and human intelligence teams intelligence operations that provide general support to augment capabilities of a maneuver brigade. Provide counterintelligence or human intelligence capability to a functional brigade. Provide aerial reconnaissance and surveillance capability. Provide battle damage assessment capability. Support development of brigade common operational picture, targeting, intelligence preparation of the battlefield, and analysis of reporting across all the warfighting functions and development of intelligence products. Headquarters and Provide geospatial intelligence. Intelligence headquarters company Receive, process, and display near-real time information from nonorganic airborne sensors, including joint surveillance target attack radar system. Provide additional information collected during conduct of primary missions. Provide information and intelligence developed and Brigade support Sustainment disseminated through mission command systems (such as company command post of the future). Provide additional information collected during conduct of Brigade headquarters primary missions. Mission and headquarters Command Provide signal retransmission teams that provide additional company observation posts. FIRES BRIGADE 5-32. Normally fires brigades are assigned, attached, or placed under the operational control of a division headquarters. However, these brigades may be attached or placed under operational control to a corps headquarters, a joint forces land component command, a joint task force (JTF), or another Service or functional component. Fire brigades are task organized to accomplish missions. 5-33. Fires brigades reconnoiter, detect, and attack targets and confirm the effectiveness of fires. Fire brigades have robust communications and control systems that facilitate the efficient application of fires. They have the necessary fire support and targeting structure to effectively execute the entire decide, detect, deliver, and assess targeting process for their assigned tasks. 5-34. The fires brigade and each of its subordinate organizations can be augmented (task-organized) as required. For instance, executing a strike may require placing additional collection assets capabilities under operational control of the fires brigade headquarters. Alternatively, the BFSB can retain control of its organic assets and provide the information and desired effects to the fires brigade. 5-6 FM 3-55 3 May 2013  Information Collection Assets BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM 5-35. The BCT is the Army’s largest defined combined arms organization and the Army’s primary close combat force. For combat operations, the combatant commander builds the ground component of a JTF around the BCT. The BCT includes units and capabilities from every warfighting function; it is task- organized to meet mission requirements. Some capabilities, such as unmanned aircraft system platoons, are assets with a sole purpose to support information collection activities. However, commanders consider some information collection assets not immediately obvious when planning reconnaissance and surveillance tasks and missions to answer CCIRs fully. See tables 5-3 (page 5-8), 5-4 (page 5-9), and 5-5 (page 5-10) for each BCT’s information collection assets. 5-36. The BCT conducts reconnaissance, security, and intelligence operations. The BCT commander gains situational understanding by conducting integrated reconnaissance and security operations that answer the CCIRs. The BCT assigns short-term reconnaissance, intelligence, and security tasks to its reconnaissance squadron; sustained missions usually require participation from the entire BCT. When the BCT assigns reconnaissance or security tasks to a subordinate element, the BCT task-organizes the subordinate element and allocates the resources necessary to meet its mission requirements. The BCT may allocate tank and mechanized infantry units, reconnaissance units, engineer elements, attack helicopter units, close air support priority, and intelligence systems to perform reconnaissance or security tasks. (See FM 3-90.6 for information on reconnaissance, security, and intelligence operations for the BCT.) 5-37. The BCT operations section—  Develops the information collection plan.  Tasks subordinate units.  Ensures the information collection plan supports the overall scheme of maneuver. 5-38. The BCT intelligence section—  Assesses information received to derive intelligence.  Performs requirements planning and assessment of information collection. 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 5-7 Chapter 5 Table 5-3. Infantry brigade combat team information collection assets Warfighting Organization Capability Function Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy requirements. Reconnaissance Conduct security operations and surveillance tasks as squadron required. Movement and Conduct area, zone, or route reconnaissance. Maneuver Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy requirements, including tactical questioning. Infantry battalion Provide scout platoon capability for real-time detection, recognition, and identification of distant target locations. Conduct intelligence operations, military source operations, document exploitation, interrogation and debriefing, and counterintelligence operations (such as preliminary investigations). Military intelligence Support development of brigade common operational Intelligence company picture, targeting, intelligence preparation of the battlefield, analysis, reconnaissance and surveillance reporting across all the warfighting functions, and intelligence products. Provide organic aerial reconnaissance and surveillance and battle damage assessment capability. Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information requirements. Fires Fires battalion Detect artillery and mortar fires and establish long-duration observation posts. Provide additional information collected during conduct of primary missions. Brigade support Provide information on types of wounds or injuries, Sustainment battalion diseases, and health and welfare of population that refines understanding of operational environment or enemy capabilities. Provide information collected during internment and Brigade special troops resettlement, area security, and maneuver mobility defense battalion support of civil authorities. Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy Protection information requirements. Engineer company Provide terrain teams and reconnaissance teams that identify key terrain, obstacle intelligence, and infrastructure information. Provide information and intelligence developed and disseminated through mission command systems. Mission Brigade special troops Command battalion Conduct route, area, and zone CBRN reconnaissance to detect, identify, mark, report, and sample for presence of CBRN hazards. CBRN chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 5-8 FM 3-55 3 May 2013  Information Collection Assets Table 5-4. Armored brigade combat team information collection assets Warfighting Organization Capability function Conduct security operations and surveillance tasks Reconnaissance squadron including Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information requirements. Movement Conduct area, zone, or route reconnaissance. and Maneuver Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information requirements, including tactical questioning. Combined arms battalion Provide scout platoon capability for real-time detection, recognition, and identification of distant target locations. Conduct intelligence operations, source operations, document exploitation, interrogation and debriefing, and counterintelligence operations (such as preliminary investigations). Intelligence Military intelligence company Provide organic aerial reconnaissance and surveillance and battle damage assessment capability. Receive, process, and display near real-time information from non-organic airborne sensors. Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information requirements. Fires Fires battalion Detect artillery and mortar fires. Establish long-duration observation posts. Provide additional information collected during conduct of primary missions. Provide information on types of wounds or injuries, diseases, and health and welfare of population that Sustainment Brigade support battalion refines understanding of operational environment or enemy capabilities. Provide additional information collected during conduct of primary missions. Provide information collected during internment and resettlement, area security, and maneuver mobility support operations. Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information requirements. Brigade special troops Protection Provide terrain teams and reconnaissance teams to battalion identify key terrain, obstacle intelligence, and infrastructure information. Conduct route, area, and zone CBRN reconnaissance to detect, identify, mark, report, and sample for presence of CBRN hazards. Provide additional information collected during conduct Mission Brigade special troops of primary missions. Command battalion Provide signal retransmission teams that can provide additional observation post capability. CBRN chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 5-9 Chapter 5 Table 5-5. Stryker brigade combat team information collection assets Warfighting Organization Capability function Conduct security operations, surveillance tasks, and tactical questioning to include Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information requirements. Conduct area, zone, or route reconnaissance. Provide organic unmanned aircraft system platoon to conduct aerial reconnaissance and surveillance and battle damage assessment. Reconnaissance Movement squadron Provide prophet signal intercept system to provide signals intercept and and signal emitter location data. Maneuver Provide CBRN platoon to conduct route, area, and zone CBRN reconnaissance to detect, identify, mark, report, and sample for presence of CBRN hazards. Provide unattended ground sensors platoon for increased unmanned monitoring of terrain. Stryker Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information battalions requirements including tactical questioning. Conduct intelligence operations military source operations. Document exploitation, interrogation and debriefing, and counterintelligence operations (such as preliminary investigations). Military Support development of brigade common operational picture, Intelligence intelligence targeting, intelligence preparation of the battlefield, analysis of company reporting across all the warfighting functions, and development of intelligence products. Receive, process, and display near real time information from non- organic airborne sensors. Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information collection requirements. Fires Fires battalion Detect artillery and mortar fires. Establish long duration observation posts. Provide additional information collected during conduct of primary missions. Brigade support Sustainment Provide information on types of wounds or injuries, diseases, and battalion health and welfare of population that refines understanding of operational environment or enemy capabilities. Provide information collected during internment and resettlement, Military police area security, and maneuver mobility support operations platoon Conduct route, area, and zone CBRN reconnaissance to detect, identify, mark, report, and sample for presence of CBRN hazards. Protection Conduct Soldier sensor missions, as needed, to satisfy information Engineer requirements. company Provide terrain teams and reconnaissance teams to identify key terrain, obstacle Intelligence, and infrastructure information. Provide combat information and intelligence developed and disseminated through mission command systems (such as command post of the future). Mission Brigade support Provide additional information collected during conduct of primary Command battalion missions. Provide signal retransmission teams that can provide additional observation post capabilities. CBRN chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 5-10 FM 3-55 3 May 2013  Information Collection Assets BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON 5-39. The reconnaissance squadrons of the armored BCT, infantry BCT, and Stryker BCT are organized to accomplish reconnaissance and security missions throughout the BCT’s AO. By leveraging information technology with air and ground reconnaissance capabilities in complex terrain, the reconnaissance squadron focuses on all categories of threats in a designated AO. The BCT commander maintains battlefield mobility and agility while choosing the time, place, and method to confront the enemy. The squadron commander has various tools to conduct reconnaissance and security missions across the range of military operations. The squadron commander can task-organize to optimize complementary effects while maximizing support throughout the BCT’s AO. (See FM 3-20.96 for information on the BCT reconnaissance squadrons.) 5-40. Army information collection assets at the brigade level ensure intelligence and information is available to commanders in increasingly decentralized AOs. Corps, division, and BCTs often require information from the same assets. The requirement for layering information collection capabilities—some with theater-level applications—and the logistics, processing, exploitation, and dissemination of those assets require management at echelons above brigade. 5-41. Information collection capabilities rapidly evolve to meet new challenges of the current and future AOs and provide the flexibility required to provide information across the range of military operations. To act decisively, commanders and staffs identify, understand, and integrate (sometimes creatively) the multitude of information collection capabilities found at every echelon across the warfighting functions. NETWORK-ENABLED INFORMATION COLLECTION 5-42. Joint elements network to create information sharing and collaboration. This networking provides a greater unity of effort, synchronization, and integration of all elements at the lowest echelons. Distributed Common Ground System (Army) (DCGS-A) provides a network-centric, enterprise intelligence, weather, geospatial engineering, and space operations capabilities to maneuver, maneuver support, and sustainment organizations at all echelons from battalion to JTFs. The DCGS-A integrates intelligence tasking, collection, processing, and dissemination across the Army and joint community. DCGS-A unites the different systems across the global information network. DCGS-A is the Army’s primary system for—  Receipt of and processing select information collection asset data.  Control of select Army sensor systems.  Fusion of sensor data and information.  Direction and distribution of relevant threat, terrain, weather, and civil considerations products and information.  Facilitation of friendly information and reporting. 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 5-11