The Intelligence Cycle is the systematic process by which intelligence requirements are established, information is collected, turned into intelligence and delivered to decision makers. The cycle is continuous: every operation produces new information that can change earlier assessments.
Don't confuse the terms: the Intelligence Cycle describes how intelligence is made (the production process); IPB is an analytical framework running inside that process, mainly during Analysis. See Chapter 3.
After this chapter you will understand:
- the six phases of the Intelligence Cycle;
- the relationship between intelligence and decision making;
- the role of analysts and collection managers;
- how the cycle supports IPB and MDMP;
- why intelligence work is never "done".
Every cycle starts with a commander's decision that needs support. From there: Direction → Collection → Processing → Analysis → Dissemination → Feedback — and around again. The interactive process diagram shows the cycle alongside IPB and MDMP.