What’s INSCOM For? A Brigade Commander’s Perspective.
Ingrid A. Parker
When considering the purpose of INSCOM, I think we, as an organization, serve the US Army (1) to sustain, retain, improve, and optimize intelligence tradecraft, (2) to build intelligence and individual readiness, and (3) to set the theater. To do this, the HQ INSCOM designed the various Military Intelligence Brigades, Theater [MIB(T)] and their subordinate battalions while fastening the brigades to a mission and Area of Operations (AO). By umbilical chording a brigade to a geographic area, it allows the brigade to become the subject matter expert for that region while simultaneously building capacity, which is specific to an AO. In addition, certain AOs offer unique geographic capabilities, which I think are likely considered in the MIB(T) organizational design, too; for example, regional enablers, partners, and other organic capabilities are likely some of the factors in the size determinations of the MIB(T). Other probable considerations are: (1) What is the minimal package for a MIB(T)?; (2) Can the MIB(T) federate to extend the intelligence apparatus?; and (3) What are the missions and AO priorities in the National Military Strategy and the Department of Defense (DoD)? The answers to these questions (and probably many more) inform the decisions for intelligence resourcing as well as the associated staff to run an intelligence enterprise.
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/whats-inscom-brigade-commanders-perspective
