United States (US) Army military intelligence is the process of gathering and using information regarding battlefield activities and enemy, as well as potential enemy, movements and efforts to more effectively fight during a conflict. While the term “military intelligence” is used in a number of different countries and regions, in the US only the Army uses the term to refer to intelligence gathered by US Army military intelligence groups. The use of US Army military intelligence in combat has been a key element of numerous wars and battles throughout US history, and will likely continue to be important moving into the future of warfare.
One of the major commands in the American military for gathering military intelligence is the US Army Intelligence & Security Command (INSCOM). Located at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, INSCOM is charged with gathering and analyzing the information that is then used by military advisers to the government and in battlefields for strategic advantages and opportunities. While INSCOM is only one of several commands within the US Army charged with intelligence gathering and analysis, it is often considered one of the largest US Army military intelligence organizations.
INSCOM oversees a number of major subordinate commands, and coordinates efforts between the various command groups in order to gather and best use the information received. This can include providing linguistic support to various commanders throughout the Army, ensuring the security and maintenance of US Army computer systems and servers, working with other intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency, and providing location specific support and analysis in numerous military theaters across the world. Military intelligence can be used in peace time to prepare for potential attacks and coordinate defensive efforts or during wartime to give soldiers an advantage on a battlefield.
Information gathered through US Army military intelligence efforts can be used for political negotiations and treaties between the US and other nations, as well as for advising political leaders on better understanding world military actions. The information can also be used on a battlefield to allow soldiers to better understand where potential attacks may come from, or to be better aware of their surroundings during an attack. This type of US Army military intelligence is often gathered by intelligence personnel specially trained in intelligence gathering techniques. The US Army trains many of its military intelligence personnel at the US Army Intelligence Center at Fort Huachuca in Arizona.