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FM 2-0: Intelligence

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Field Manual 2-0, Intelligence, is the U.S. Army’s capstone doctrinal publication for intelligence operations. Where JP 2-0 governs joint intelligence at the operational and strategic levels, FM 2-0 governs how Army intelligence supports ground commanders at every echelon — from the battalion S-2 section producing tactical threat assessments to the theater Army G-2 supporting the combatant commander.

Core concepts

FM 2-0 establishes intelligence as one of the Army’s six warfighting functions (see MI warfighting function) and describes the intelligence tasks Army forces perform:

Plan and direct collection. The intelligence staff translates the commander’s requirements (CCIRs and PIRs) into an information collection plan that tasks reconnaissance and surveillance assets, intelligence collection systems, and requests for national and theater support.

Collect. Army intelligence collection combines organic assets (scouts, patrols, unmanned aircraft systems) with military intelligence assets (HUMINT teams, SIGINT systems, counterintelligence agents) and national/theater support (IMINT from NGA, SIGINT from NSA).

Produce intelligence. The intelligence staff processes collected information through all-source analysis, integrating returns from all collection disciplines into assessments of the adversary’s composition, disposition, strength, capabilities, and probable courses of action.

Disseminate. Intelligence products are distributed through the intelligence architecture — automated systems (DCGS-A), intelligence summaries, and face-to-face briefings — to the commanders and staffs who need them.

Echelon-specific intelligence

FM 2-0 describes intelligence operations at each organizational level:

Tactical (battalion/brigade). The S-2 section conducts IPOE, manages organic and attached intelligence assets, and provides the commander with threat assessments and targeting recommendations. At the brigade level, a military intelligence company provides HUMINT, SIGINT, and UAS support.

Operational (division/corps). The G-2 section manages a broader intelligence architecture including MI battalions, coordinates theater and national collection support, and produces intelligence estimates that inform operational planning. Division and corps intelligence integrates tactical collection with theater-level products.

Theater/strategic. Theater Army intelligence (the G-2 section and supporting MI brigade) coordinates with combatant command J-2 staffs, national agencies, and allied intelligence services. At this level, intelligence supports campaign planning, theater security cooperation, and the integration of tactical intelligence into strategic assessment.

Intelligence disciplines in Army context

FM 2-0 describes how each collection discipline operates within the Army framework:

  • HUMINT — tactical questioning, screening, interrogation, and source operations conducted by MI HUMINT teams
  • SIGINT — tactical signals collection by MI SIGINT teams and systems (Prophet, etc.)
  • GEOINT/IMINT — imagery from UAS, national satellites, and manned aircraft, processed by imagery analysts
  • OSINT — open source information collected and analyzed by intelligence staffs
  • CI — counterintelligence operations protecting Army forces, information, and operations from adversary intelligence collection
  • TECHINT — the collection and exploitation of adversary materiel (captured weapons, equipment, documents)

Relationship to other doctrine

FM 2-0 nests under JP 2-0 (joint intelligence doctrine) and connects to:

  • ADP 3-0 (Operations) — intelligence supports the operations process (plan, prepare, execute, assess)
  • ADP 5-0 (The Operations Process) — intelligence integrates with the MDMP at every step
  • FM 3-55 (Information Collection) — the detailed doctrinal publication for planning and executing information collection operations
  • ATP 2-01.3 (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield) — the detailed IPOE procedures

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