Soldiers guide military tanks and armored vehicles being loaded onto railcars, with a soldier in the foreground raising his arms to direct the operation.

Contesting the Battlespace Below the Threshold: A Military Framework for Countering China's Belt and Road Initiative

By CPT Patrick Murray

Read Time: < 11 mins

This article argues that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not merely an economic infrastructure program, but a dual-use military terrain-shaping strategy that converts debt leverage into strategic access, logistics nodes, and operational advantage for the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Written by CPT Patrick Murray, the paper warns that the U.S. military creates significant risk by treating economic and military competition as separate efforts, allowing Beijing to erode American access

A cracked red shield rests on a dark blue digital surface covered in glowing hexadecimal code, symbolizing compromised cybersecurity defenses and a breached network.

Read Time: < 5 mins

Cyber Espionage and Persistence: Challenges to Military Operations

This article examines the persistent threat of cyber espionage to U.S. military intelligence operations, where delayed detection allows adversaries to exploit networks. It urges proactive anomaly detection and integrating cyber and intelligence funct...

By Captain Brittney Andrews

Audience seated in rows watching a presentation on a large four-panel screen, with a speaker standing at the front of the room.

Read Time: < 12 mins

Doing More with Less: Automating Human Intelligence Data Analysis with SOAR HI

In the article, Staff Sergeant Benjamin Greenspan introduces SOAR HI, a locally developed Python application designed to address the challenge of managing massive volumes of intelligence information report metadata such as priority intelligence repor...

By SSG Benjamin Greenspan

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle sit camouflaged with visual electromagnetic waves surrounding.

Read Time: < 10 mins

Transformation in Contact and Military Intelligence: Rewiring Collection, Fusion, and Survivability for the Modern Battlefield

SSG Adams examines how military intelligence can survive and deliver lethality when networks fail and electronic signatures are exposed. He argues MI leaders must adapt to contested communications, reduce command post signatures, and build sensor red...

By SSG Robert S. Adams

Read Time: < 7 mins

From Indicators to Action: Reforming Army Intelligence for Future Conflict

How must Army Military Intelligence adapt to survive and win in future multidomain conflicts? In this compelling analysis, the author argues that despite lessons from recent global conflicts, Army Intelligence remains bound by legacy, maneuver-centri...

By LTC George Fust

The Swivel Chair War: How Disconnected Systems are Failing the Modern Soldier
During NTC Rotation 26-02, analysts resorted to dangerous "swivel chair" workarounds between NIPR and SIPR networks. MAJ Killian and SSG Griggs expose how modernization without unified protocols is creating critical intelligence gaps at brigade level...

By MAJ Eric S. Killian and SSG Joshua S. Griggs
An Easy and Effective Tool for Sense-Making
A simple analytical framework using four lenses—system, sequence, subjectivity, and spectrum—to improve understanding, reduce cognitive bias, and support Army intelligence analysis, mission planning, and decision-making in complex operational environ...

By MAJ Greg Abt
Modernizing Strategic Army Human Intelligence Collection: Africa as a Case Study
This article argues that the U.S. Army's Human Intelligence (HUMINT) collection methods must evolve from the tactical, counterinsurgency-focused approaches of the post-9/11 era to meet the challenges of strategic competition with China and Russia. Us...

By SFC Caleb M. Mazaika
From Data Deluge to Decision Dominance: Forging the Intelligence Data Team
This article addresses a critical gap in modern military intelligence: the overwhelming volume of data that hinders effective analysis and decision making. The authors argue that while the U.S. Army has invested in advanced data platforms, it lacks t...

By Colonel James Leidenberg and Captain Jena M. Tyson
Artificial Intelligence Bias: Risks for Military Intelligence Operations
AI bias poses a growing strategic risk to military intelligence, threatening targeting accuracy, threat assessments, and allied intelligence sharing. Addressing bias through technical safeguards, human oversight, and policy reforms is critical to mis...

By CPT Tyrese Bender
Leadership in a 700-Series Battalion
COL King shares leadership lessons from commanding the 717th MI Battalion, covering how to balance Army and NSA demands, build unit cohesion, manage civilians, and develop Soldiers in a specialized military intelligence environment.

By Colonel James King
Beyond the Schoolhouse: A Military Intelligence Officer's Lessons from Security Assistance Group-Ukraine
In this article, 2LT Daniel Vrablic shares his insights from a three-month assignment at SAG-U during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. He emphasizes the critical role of military intelligence in large-scale combat operations and outlines five key lesson...

By First Lieutenant Daniel Vrablic
The Interoperability Window: Bridging the NATO—U.S. Intelligence Gap
Five years with the 4th SFAB highlight NATO-U.S. HQ interoperability gaps. Structural and tech differences in intel and digital systems create vulnerabilities. A proposed "interoperability window" defines when multinational HQs can reliably share inf...

By CWO3 Paul A. Crawford
Intelligence Officer Training For Network-Centered Warfare In Ukraine And The United States: A Personal Insight
In this article, Major Anton Maksymov offers a compelling firsthand account of the evolution of military intelligence amidst the backdrop of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Through personal anecdotes and sharp observations, he highlights how th...

By Major Anton Maksymov, Ukrainian Army
Redefining Open-Source Intelligence: Building a Professionalized, Independent, Discipline
In this article, Dr. Jeffrey Mader explores the urgent need to transform open-source intelligence (OSINT) into a recognized and specialized field within the intelligence community. With the growth of publicly available information, he argues that OSI...

By Dr. Jeffrey A. Mader
Intelligence at the Point of Arrival: 66th Military Intelligence Brigade‑Theater Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration Operations in Europe
Strengthening U.S. and allied readiness in Europe through coordinated RSOI planning, advanced intelligence training, cloud‑based data platforms, and enduring multinational partnerships that ensure deploying forces arrive fully prepared for immediate ...

By LTC Joe Henderson
Partner Perspectives: Strengthening Doctrine Through Collaboration and Professional Writing
A ROK Army liaison officer at USAICoE argues that professional military writing — energized by the Harding Project — is a strategic advantage, urging soldiers of all ranks to share field experience to close the persistent gap between doctrine and ope...

By Lieutenant Colonel Jiwon Kang, Korean Liaison officer to USAICoe, Republic of Korea Army
Always Out Front: Intelligence Support to the Rear Area
1st Armored Division intelligence teams synchronize rear area operations during Warfighter Exercise 25-01, establishing battle rhythm events, a rear area intelligence cell, and clear roles across the RCP, MEB, and DSB to build a common intelligence p...

By Major Joseph Marchand and Captain Tommy Milton
Intelligence Support to Information Advantage: Lessons from Training in Live Environments
U.S. military forces struggle to integrate intelligence with information advantage activities. The 151st Theater Information Advantage Group's deployments to EUCOM and INDOPACOM exposed key gaps, while offering recommendations for data-driven operati...

By COL Jonathan S. Steinbach, MAJ Amy R. Forza, and MAJ Scott Fisher (retired)
What’s in a Narrative? Techniques for Developing Engaging Briefs to Maintain Shared Understanding of the Enemy
Senior intelligence officers must craft engaging enemy narratives in large-scale combat operations. This article presents techniques from the 1st Infantry Division: answer four key questions (enemy COA, situation, dilemmas, decision points), use fami...

By Lieutenant Colonel Matthew J. Fontaine