Practicing Intelligence: Providing Support to Combat Operations
Intelligence on the Frontline: What Doctrine Doesn’t Teach You from a Veteran Intelligence Officer
We are pleased to welcome Tim Oliver, Colonel, USMC (Ret.), author of Practicing Intelligence, to the Visiting Authors Corner. In his book, Tim draws on his exceptional tactical and operational intelligence experience, honed over decades and with extensive time on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, to provide a no-frills, direct perspective on the best practices for making intelligence work on the battlefield.
Tim’s ability to translate theory into practice serves as both a guide to applying intelligence tradecraft for future battlefields—and in business—and a depiction of successful past practices in leading analysis, supporting the decision-making process, and evaluating intelligence.
We trust you’ll enjoy the valuable insights he shares in Practicing Intelligence.
How would you summarize your book Practicing Intelligence”?
The book is quite simply a guide to the practice of intelligence. It was conceived as a tool to aid intelligence professionals in the day-to-day practice of their trade. It’s a bridge between what is written in doctrine and what is actually done on a day-to-day basis in combat.
Importantly, it is not a research project, history, or scholarly work. Neither is it a memoir of the “there I was” variety. It is, however, almost wholly a product of lived experience. That experience includes five rotations in Iraq, two in Afghanistan, principal staff positions in multiple Joint Task Forces in U.S. Central Command, serving as the Deputy J2 Intelligence at Joint Special Operations Command, and assignments at the Central Intelligence Agency. This book represents the distillation of those operational experiences.
It outlines a practical framework, principles, tools, techniques, and a series of discussions on training, organizing, and executing intelligence operations. It is designed to provide intelligence professionals or anyone who relies on intelligence professionals, with a series of practical considerations and techniques to make better producers and consumers of intelligence.
In a sense, it is a checklist, but it is more than just tips on better briefing and collection management. It attempts to foster a broader and deeper understanding of the purpose of Intelligence and help the reader anticipate, identify, and correct common pitfalls. It is not designed as a replacement to current doctrine but rather an augment and enhancement to it
Some of that guidance is counterintuitive. For example, having your intelligence assessments challenged by generals and random squad leaders can be painful, but it is a good thing. Unchallenged assessments are not going unchallenged because they are good but because they are being ignored. The challenge from a consumer is an opportunity to engage with that consumer and build a better relationship. And through that better intelligence
Perhaps the most useful chapter covers a series of principles for evaluating intelligence efforts. It’s all too easy in the complex bureaucracy of the modern intelligence enterprise to lose track of the “why” something is being done and if that something is actually useful. Reference to the principles outlined in the book can help determine if the effort is meeting the requirements and if not, what might be done to improve it.
Other sections in the book will serve to educate the reader on situations they are likely to encounter in combat operations that are not covered in the schoolhouse. Considerations for dealing with allies, other government agencies, managing the relationship between the Operations and Intelligence Officer, etc. Again, it is all based on long and sometimes painful experiences. Forewarned is forearmed.
What was your inspiration for writing it, and why it holds significance for you?
Throughout my career and over the numerous deployments and operational experiences, I have had the opportunity to see first-hand the practical challenges of applying the skills of the intelligence profession. My purpose for writing Practicing Intelligence was simply to leave something of value to future Marines. Something that would make those Marines better and contribute to their success on future battlefields. To that end, it is deliberately succinct, pithy, and hopefully memorable.
What insights and lessons your study do you believe are relevant going forward in the era of great power competition?
There is an argument to be made that a book based largely on now “ancient history” of the Global War On Terrorism experience isn’t applicable to the multidomain warfare and the peer competitor the Nation currently faces. However, that would miss the point, in my opinion, of the practical lessons I have attempted to relay in the book.
If the book were only about counting insurgents, then the value of the book would be limited. However, this is not a book about counterinsurgency (COIN). The majority of the book addresses principles for making intelligence work better regardless of the operating environment. The practice of good intelligence work supporting timely decision-making is core to success, regardless of the mission – whether it’s COIN, conventional, or hybrid warfare environments. And not since the War of Independence has there been the need to make intelligence work better than now in this complex and fast-paced threat environment. The most cursory assessment of the pacing threat in the First Island Chain and beyond frankly looks very bad for the Nation and will demand the very best intelligence for our combat leaders and decision-makers. So, while there may be little that can be done to close the material and technology gap the Nation faces, it is possible to field a better intelligence effort. Hopefully, this book will contribute to that.
When was your book published, and where can readers purchase it?
The book was published in 2018, soon after my retirement from the military. You can find Practicing Intelligence on Amazon for a nominal fee or directly from me for free if you run into me on the street.
What keeps you busy today?
In addition to my work with CR&A, developing commercial applications for predictive analysis tools, I still take every opportunity to head into the field, where I evaluate Marine Expeditionary Force exercises and participate in War College seminars.
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Tags: New Reads, Visiting Authors, Defense Strategy
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If Tim Oliver wrote it, then I want to read it! Col Oliver is the consummate practitioner of Intelligence. Hitting Amazon right now.
I like this and I'll check it out. Would be good to hear Colonel Oliver talk about the application of his experience to upcoming Armed Forces engagement with cartel in Mexico... and domestically.
Would especially like his perspective on sharing intelligence with privateers under the aegis of Letters of Marque and Reprisal.