Editing Military intelligence (section)

==Levels==

[[File:Ie defence positions.png|thumb|300px|Military intelligence diagram of defense positions during the [[Battle of Okinawa]], 1945]]

Intelligence operations are carried out throughout the hierarchy of political and military activity.

=== Strategic ===
[[Strategic intelligence]] is concerned with broad issues such as economics, political assessments, military capabilities and intentions of foreign nations (and, increasingly, [[non-state actor]]s).<ref>Alfred Rolington. ''Strategic Intelligence for the 21st Century: The Mosaic Method''. Oxford University Press, 2013.</ref> Such intelligence may be scientific, technical, tactical, diplomatic or [[sociological intelligence|sociological]], but these changes are analyzed in combination with known facts about the area in question, such as [[geography]], [[demographics]] and industrial capacities.

Strategic Intelligence is formally defined as "intelligence required for the formation of policy and military plans at national and international levels", and corresponds to the Strategic Level of Warfare, which is formally defined as "the level of warfare at which a nation, often as a member of a
group of nations, determines national or multinational (alliance or coalition) strategic security objectives and guidance, then develops and uses national resources to achieve those objectives."

===Operational===
Operational intelligence is focused on support or denial of intelligence at operational tiers. The operational tier is below the strategic level of leadership and refers to the design of practical manifestation. Formally defined as "Intelligence that is required for planning and conducting campaigns and major operations to accomplish strategic objectives within theaters or operational areas."<ref name="US DoD">{{cite web |title=DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms |url=https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/dictionary.pdf |publisher=US Joints Chief of Staff |pages=162–163 |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218033724/https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/dictionary.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> It aligns with the Operational Level of Warfare, defined as "The level of warfare at which campaigns and major operations are planned, conducted, and sustained to achieve strategic objectives within theaters or other operational areas."<ref name="US DoD"/>

The term ''operation intelligence'' is used within law enforcement to refer to intelligence that supports long-term investigations into multiple, similar targets. Operational intelligence, in the discipline of law enforcement intelligence, is concerned primarily with identifying, targeting, detecting and intervening in criminal activity. The use within law enforcement and law enforcement intelligence is not scaled to its use in general intelligence or military/naval intelligence, being more narrowed in scope.

===Tactical===
Tactical intelligence is focused on support to operations at the tactical level and would be attached to the battlegroup. At the tactical level, briefings are delivered to patrols on current threats and collection priorities. These patrols are then debriefed to elicit information for analysis and communication through the reporting chain.<ref>{{Cite book |title=United States Military Intelligence Handbook |publisher=International Business Publications, USA |year=2011 |isbn=9781433056833 |edition=6th |volume=I: Strategic Information, Procedures and Developments |location=Washington, DC |pages=9 |language=en}}</ref>

Tactical Intelligence is formally defined as "intelligence required for the planning and conduct of tactical operations", and corresponds with the Tactical Level of Warfare, itself defined as "the level of warfare at which battles and engagements are planned and executed to achieve military objectives assigned to tactical units or task forces".{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}