CDASA Operational Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When providing intelligence support to a commander during a time-sensitive targeting cycle, what is the analyst's primary responsibility?
- Approving the strike package
- Providing accurate and timely target intelligence to enable informed decisions (Correct answer)
- Coordinating with logistics for munitions delivery
- Drafting the post-strike battle damage assessment report
Correct answer: Providing accurate and timely target intelligence to enable informed decisions
The analyst's primary role in time-sensitive targeting is delivering accurate, timely intelligence so the commander can make informed decisions within the targeting cycle.
Question 2: Which intelligence product is most useful for alerting commanders to unexpected changes in enemy disposition or activity?
- Order of Battle summary
- Intelligence Situation Report (INTREP) (Correct answer)
- National Intelligence Estimate
- Geospatial baseline map
Correct answer: Intelligence Situation Report (INTREP)
The INTREP is designed to rapidly report significant intelligence developments and alert commanders to unexpected changes in the operational environment.
Question 3: During joint operations, what does the term 'intelligence reach' refer to?
- The geographic distance covered by reconnaissance assets
- The ability to access and exploit information from sources outside the deployed force (Correct answer)
- The number of intelligence agencies contributing to a product
- The classification level of intelligence shared across commands
Correct answer: The ability to access and exploit information from sources outside the deployed force
Intelligence reach is the capability to access, retrieve, and exploit information from remote sources not organically present with the deployed force.
Question 4: An all-source analyst is supporting a brigade combat team and must identify the enemy's most likely course of action (MLCOA). Which analytic step directly precedes determining the MLCOA?
- Develop the intelligence collection plan
- Identify enemy center of gravity
- Develop enemy courses of action (Correct answer)
- Conduct key terrain analysis
Correct answer: Develop enemy courses of action
Enemy courses of action must be developed before they can be evaluated and ranked to determine the most likely one.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a Named Area of Interest (NAI) in the intelligence process?
- To designate areas where friendly forces are prohibited
- To focus collection efforts on locations likely to provide information about enemy activities (Correct answer)
- To mark terrain features for aviation planning
- To identify civilian infrastructure for protection under LOAC
Correct answer: To focus collection efforts on locations likely to provide information about enemy activities
NAIs are geographic areas where collection assets are tasked to watch for activity that confirms or denies enemy courses of action.
Question 6: Which document formally translates the commander's intelligence requirements into specific collection tasks for organic and supporting assets?
- Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Synchronization Matrix (Correct answer)
- Priority Intelligence Requirements list
- Intelligence Production Plan
- Targeting synchronization matrix
Correct answer: Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Synchronization Matrix
The ISR Synchronization Matrix allocates collection assets to specific times, locations, and requirements to satisfy the commander's intelligence needs.
Question 7: When an analyst assesses enemy capabilities but lacks sufficient information, what is the recommended analytic approach?
- Delay the assessment until more information is available
- Apply the worst-case enemy course of action as a default
- Clearly state assumptions and confidence levels while providing the best available assessment (Correct answer)
- Report only confirmed facts and omit analytical judgments
Correct answer: Clearly state assumptions and confidence levels while providing the best available assessment
Analysts must provide assessments with explicit assumptions and confidence levels so decision-makers understand the uncertainty and can act appropriately.
CDASA Operational Support 2
When providing intelligence support to a commander during a time-sensitive targeting cycle, what is the analyst's primary responsibility?