Joint Force Quarterly
Abstract
This article critically examines the 20-year evolution of joint military intelligence in the wake of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA), arguing that an overemphasis on Intelligence Community (IC) tradecraft, particularly ICD 203, has eroded support to joint warfighters. While analytic rigor and integrity have improved, training and standards have diverged from joint doctrine, especially the principles in Joint Publication (JP) 2-0 and the Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE). The authors identify structural gaps in defense intelligence training, such as the neglect of Priority Intelligence Requirements (PIRs), enemy course of action (ECOA) development, and operational assessments. They recommend realigning analytic education and performance standards with joint operational needs, re-baselining training objectives to Universal Joint Task List (UJTL) standards, and fostering cross-functional collaboration through dual tradecraft guidance. The article calls for immediate reform to reorient defense intelligence toward its core mission, effective and relevant support to the joint force.
Recommended Citation
Laura J. Coco-Hampton & Karalee G. Picard, "Intelligence Reform at 20: How Joint Military Intelligence Lost Its Groove and How to Get It Back," Joint Force Quarterly 118 (3rd Quarter 2025), 107-112, https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/joint-force-quarterly/vol118/iss3/17.
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