What We Do

The Canadian officer commanding a UN peacekeeping mission must dispatch a series of patrols in his area of responsibility. The territory is rife with criminals, rebels, and unmarked minefields. Who will brief these patrols, so that they can do their job with minimal risk to their lives?

A Canadian platoon on peacekeeping duty must establish an observation post overlooking a stretch of mountain road. Formerly warring factions overlap throughout the region, hostile to each other, and to foreigners. Who studies these forces, and can tell which ones are ready to start trouble?

A transport aircraft must deliver food, blankets and medicine to the refugees of an earthquake, in close proximity to the border of a potentially hostile neighbour country. Who is tracking the refugee movements? And who is compiling information on the anti-aircraft systems of the hostile neighbour?

Intelligence Operator in Bosnia (image: CF Combat Camera)

Understanding what those who threaten us are trying to achieve can be the first step in defeating them. In the Canadian Forces, military intelligence teams use technology, reasoning, and broad subject knowledge to understand the motives of those interests that threaten Canadian Forces overseas, and anticipate their next moves. Doing so allows Canadian Forces units to gain a knowledge advantage over potential adversaries, improving our targeting and multiplying the effects of our weaponry.

Intelligence analysts often find themselves playing the role of "thinking the unthinkable," charged with questioning our own assumptions and biases. "If we do this, how will the other side react?" "What is the enemy's most likely course of action?" "What is his immediate objective?" Constantly asking and reasking these questions is crucial to the safety of Canadian soldiers overseas. It is the chief role of combat intelligence.

Our members are on the cutting edge of information technology, using computer systems for research, database management, and creating and presenting briefings for personnel, from privates up to generals. The demand for timely and relevant intelligence is insatiable, and only intelligence can allow military decision-makers to apply resources when and where they are needed.

Using information drawn from all sources available -- imagery, electronic intelligence, meteorology, geography, and patrolling, to name a few -- and methodically databased and cross-referenced, intelligence analysts build up a comprehensive picture of potential adversaries and their activities to date, in order to predict their future moves.

Like skilled chess players, military commanders must always be able to guide their own plans to execution: achieving victory by moving their own pieces. But chess players must also always be able to see the board from the other side, understanding their challenger's goals and plans, so they can always keep a move ahead. In Canadian military headquarters, Canadian Forces intelligence teams fill that crucial advisory role.

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What We Are Not

"Intelligence" can mean many things to many people. Canadian Forces intelligence staff often have to counter common misconceptions about our role and activities:

We do not collect intelligence within Canada. Domestic intelligence is properly the responsibility of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and civilian law enforcement agencies. Canadian military intelligence personnel and units like 2 Intelligence Company are entirely focussed on supporting Canadian military operations overseas.

We are not spies or secret agents. Military intelligence work does not require covert or undercover activity from Canadian Forces personnel. We are not trained to disguise our identities. Canadian military operations abroad rely more on openly building relationships with local sources to gain information and support.

We are not codebreakers. Cryptanalysis and codebreaking, while sometimes contributing to an intelligence picture, is not something reservist intelligence analysts are trained in, or practice regularly. Our chief responsibility is to analyse information of all kinds, not simply decipher it.

We are not prison guards. Military detainees are watched over in the Canadian Forces by military police. Intelligence personnel do not play any role in any detainees' care or confinement.