HUMINT Collection Techniques Flashcards
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Read the first 7 HUMINT Collection Techniques flashcards as text
During elicitation, a field agent uses flattery to encourage a target to share information by appealing to their expertise. This technique is known as:
Answer: Appeal to ego
Appeal to ego exploits a target's vanity or pride by praising their knowledge to encourage them to share more information.
A HUMINT source consistently provides accurate information but suddenly begins reporting data that contradicts known facts. The first investigative step should be to:
Answer: Assess whether the source has been compromised or doubled
A sudden shift to inaccurate reporting is a classic indicator that a source may have been compromised or turned into a double agent by an adversary.
Which debriefing approach is most effective when a recently returned asset has been under prolonged operational stress?
Answer: A phased debrief beginning with rapport-building and rest before detailed questioning
A phased approach that allows recovery time improves recall accuracy and builds the trust necessary to elicit complete reporting from a stressed source.
The 'deliberate error' elicitation technique involves the collector:
Answer: Intentionally stating an incorrect fact to provoke the target into providing the correct information
By stating something factually wrong, a collector can trigger a knowledgeable target's impulse to correct the error, revealing accurate information.
When conducting a clandestine meeting in a denied area, the primary purpose of a 'cover stop' is to:
Answer: Provide a plausible reason for the collector's presence in the area
A cover stop provides a legitimate pretext for the agent's presence in the area, reducing suspicion if observed by hostile surveillance.
In HUMINT operations, 'spotting' refers to the process of:
Answer: Identifying and observing potential individuals who may be recruited as sources
Spotting is the first phase of the recruitment cycle, involving identification of individuals with access to required intelligence and potential for recruitment.
Which factor is LEAST important when evaluating the reliability of a HUMINT source's reporting?
Answer: The source's physical appearance and manner of dress
Physical appearance is irrelevant to reliability assessment; access, consistency, and corroboration are the substantive indicators of source credibility.