For the midterm project you will deliver two intelligence collection plans (a tactical and a separate strategic collection plan).

First you must choose two collection questions (tactical and strategic), each requiring a collection plan to answer the questions. You can choose your questions from current events or totally create them on your own. An intelligence question is the same an intelligence requirement. You have a complex question to answer and you need to collect intelligence in order to answer it. The collection plan is a way of specifying and organizing the intelligence to be collected. Remember what you learned early on in this class: clarity in the intelligence question is the most important element of collection planning.

You are asked to submit two matrices: one that deals with tactical intelligence and one that deals with strategic intelligence. Remember that one of the key differences between strategic and tactical collection is the echelon of the command involved. Strategic intelligence is usually conducted by theater level commands and above with access to theater collectors as well as national assets. Generally tactical collection is done by organizations at the Division level and below - units in the area of operation with organic assets that can rapidly respond. In your scenario you should focus tactical collection in support of a US mil element ready to act. This might represent a carrier group in the Med, a US bomber group ready to strike, or a SOF raiding party ready to grab an HVI or destroy a facility. Take this into account as you build your two collection plans.

You are expected to deliver in .ppt or .doc format a table that is a matrix of potential intelligence targets and collection methods (feel free to break down major methods of collection, like SIGINT, into their components: ELINT, COMINT, MASINT, TELINT, etc.).

Your grade will be based on the following rubric and I recommend you make a check list to be sure you have:

1) the primary intelligence question or requirement identified (in two separate strategic and tactical matrices),

2) you've listed your sub-questions or component information requirements(PIRs/Indicators/EEIs),

3) listing of targets of collection, and tie the targets to the PIRs,

5) identify what collection mechanisms you will recommend for each target, and

6) provide an estimate of the expected effectiveness of the collection to successfully collect the information needed