FM 5-0, The Operations Process - Federation of American Scientists

Appendix B
B-48. ISR synchronization accomplishes the following:
• Identifies requirements and intelligence gaps.
• Evaluates available assets (internal and external) to collect information.
• Determines gaps in the use of those assets.
• Recommends those ISR assets controlled by the organization to collect on the IRs.
• Submits RFIs for adjacent and higher collection support.
• The G-2 (S-2) submits information gathered during ISR synchronization to the G-3 (S-3) for
integration and development of the ISR plan.
B-49. During mission analysis, the staff identifies IRs to support situational understanding and continued
planning. Based on the commander’s guidance, the staff, led by the G-2 (S-2), determines the best way of
satisfying those requirements. In some instances, the G-2 (S-2) recommends that internal reconnaissance or
surveillance assets are used to collect information. In other instances, the G-2 (S-2) recommends an RFI to
the higher headquarters.
B-50. In many instances, a staff section within the headquarters can satisfy IRs by researching open
sources. Open sources include books, magazines, encyclopedias, Web sites, and tourist maps. Academic
sources, such as articles and university personnel, can also provide critical information. Many IRs
concerning civil considerations, such as culture, language, history, current events, and actions of
governments, are available through open sources. Teams of anthropologists and other social scientists
attached to headquarters rely heavily on open sources to satisfy IRs. The knowledge management staff
section can also assist them in accessing specific data.
B-51. The results of ISR synchronization conducted during mission analysis leads to the initial intelligence
synchronization plan. The intelligence staff section continues to refine the ISR synchronization plan
throughout the MDMP resulting in appendix 2 (ISR Synchronization Matrix) to annex B (Intelligence) of
the OPLAN/OPORD.
Develop Initial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Plan
B-52. ISR integration follows ISR synchronization. The G-3 (S-3) leads the staff through ISR integration to
task available reconnaissance and surveillance assets to satisfy IRs identified in the initial ISR
synchronization matrix. ISR integration consists of the following tasks:
• Develop the ISR plan by developing—
• The ISR tasking matrix.
• The ISR overlay.
• The ISR scheme of support.
• Issue order (warning, operation, or fragmentary order).
B-53. The initial ISR plan is crucial to begin or adjust the collection effort to help answer IRs identified
during ISR synchronization. ISR assets are tasked or dispatched as soon as possible. The initial ISR plan
sets surveillance and reconnaissance in motion. It may be issued as part of a WARNO, a fragmentary order,
or an OPORD. Upon the completion of planning, the initial ISR plan becomes annex L (Intelligence,
Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) of the OPORD/OPLAN.
Update Plan for the Use of Available Time
B-54. As more information becomes available, the commander and staff refine their initial plan for the use
of available time. They compare the time needed to accomplish tasks to the higher headquarters’ timeline to
ensure mission accomplishment is possible in the allotted time. They also compare the timeline to the
assumed enemy timeline or the projected timelines within the civil sector with regard as to how conditions
are anticipated to unfold. From this, they determine windows of opportunity for exploitation, times when
the unit will be at risk for enemy activity, or when action to arrest deterioration in the civil sector is
required.
B-10 FM 5-0 26 March 2010