SITREP & Intelligence Reporting Flashcards
7 cards from real CFA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 SITREP & Intelligence Reporting flashcards as text
A field agent receives contradictory information from two separate sources about an enemy position. The correct reporting action is to:
Answer: Report both accounts, noting the discrepancy and each source's reliability rating
Both accounts must be reported with their respective source reliability ratings so analysts and commanders can make informed judgments about the contradiction.
In field reporting, 'pattern of life' (POL) analysis is used primarily to:
Answer: Document the daily routines and behaviors of a target to identify anomalies
Pattern of life analysis tracks a target's routine behaviors over time, allowing analysts to identify deviations that may signal operational activity.
Which classification level requires the MOST restrictive handling procedures for intelligence reports in U.S. government operations?
Answer: Top Secret / SCI
Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) requires the most restrictive handling, including access only in approved Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs).
A SITREP that uses the phrase 'ENEMY: No change' is applying which reporting principle?
Answer: Exception reporting — only changes from the last report are described
Exception reporting means the agent only describes changes from the previous report, with 'no change' indicating the previously reported situation remains accurate.
An agent must submit a report but communication lines are compromised. The best alternative reporting method under PACE planning is to move to the:
Answer: Alternate method specified in the PACE plan
PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) planning designates fallback communication methods in order — if Primary fails, move to Alternate.
What does the intelligence reporting standard 'BLUF' stand for, and when is it used?
Answer: Bottom Line Up Front — places the key conclusion at the beginning of the report
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) is a writing principle that states the main conclusion or action required at the very beginning so decision-makers can immediately grasp the key point.
During a debrief of a returning field agent, the debriefer asks open-ended questions rather than leading questions. This technique is preferred because:
Answer: It elicits more complete, uncontaminated recall from the source
Open-ended questions allow the source to provide information in their own words without being influenced by the debriefer's assumptions, producing more accurate and complete intelligence.