PART B: NBC INTELLIGENCE ELEMENTS
The commander's intelligence requirements are those facts needed concerning the enemy and
environment to execute the assigned mission successfully. The collection capabilities of a command
are seldom sufficient to satisfy concurrently all intelligence requirements. Therefore, the collection
resources of a command are directed toward definite intelligence objectives in the priority of their need.
Such priorities should reflect the critical need for a particular type of information. Unfortunately, no
formula can be provided to determine priorities automatically. The determination is largely one of value
judgment based on relevancy to the mission. An intelligence priority in one situation or one command
may not be a priority in another situation or command. Intelligence requirements generally can be
divided into two broad categories -- essential elements of information (EEI) and other intelligence
requirements (OIR). In a tactical situation, EEI and OIR are normally developed by the G2 and G3 in
the TOC at every level of command; i.e., separate brigade, division (DTOC), corps (CTOC), and field
army (FATC) for approval by the commander.
Informational needs for NBC defense are routinely integrated into the collection plan to fulfill these
requirements. The commander needs to know the information which follows:
Threat capabilities and limitations, both in NBC weapon employment and defense
Timely and accurate weather and terrain data
New or unusual threat activity, equipment, or weapons.
1. Essential Elements of Information.
Essential elements of information are those critical items of information, regarding the enemy and the
environment, needed by the commander, by a particular time to relate with other available information
and intelligence, to assist in reaching a logical decision. The decision involves the mission of the
command and the choice of courses of action to accomplish the mission. Any enemy capability or
characteristic of the area, which is a governing factor in the choice of courses of action, will be an EEI.
Enemy capabilities or area characteristics, which may affect, but which will not prevent the
accomplishment of the mission, regardless of which courses of action are chosen, will qualify as other
intelligence requirements. Care must be exercised to limit EEI to only those critical items of
information.
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