Operations

Where the Saltwater Hits The Hull

---

Operating operationally is what militaries are good at. It all starts with an Idea, then doctrine is laid out, tactics are implemented and the idea becomes operational. As we dive deeper into operations, I will have accomplished what I set out to do, if you come away with a couple of points, first, that operations are both hard and fluid at the same time, and second, operations can be a bit of a catch all category.

Intelligence Operations

Intelligence collection is traditionally divided into several distinct but complementary disciplines. HUMINT (Human Intelligence) remains one of the oldest and most human-centric methods, relying on interpersonal relationships, source recruitment, and clandestine meetings. SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and its specialized sub-discipline COMINT (Communications Intelligence) involve the interception and analysis of electronic signals and communications traffic. At the other end of the spectrum sits OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), which has exploded in importance in the digital age by systematically collecting and analyzing data that is openly available to the public. Understanding the strengths, legal boundaries, and tradecraft of each discipline is essential for anyone studying or practicing intelligence in the 21st century.

HUMINT (Human Intelligence)
The collection of information through direct human interaction. This includes recruiting and handling sources, agents, defectors, informants, and conducting interrogations or debriefings. It relies on interpersonal skills, psychology, and tradecraft rather than technology.

SIGINT (Signals Intelligence)
The interception, processing, and analysis of electronic signals, such as radar emissions, telemetry, and other non-communication signals. SIGINT is the broad category that encompasses several sub-disciplines.

COMINT (Communications Intelligence)
A specialized subset of SIGINT focused specifically on intercepting and exploiting communications between people or systems. This includes voice calls, emails, text messages, radio transmissions, and encrypted data streams.

OSINT (Open Source Intelligence)
The collection and analysis of information that is publicly available and accessible without clandestine means. Sources include the internet, social media, news outlets, academic journals, government publications, satellite imagery, and commercial databases.

Real-World Examples

HUMINT — During the Cold War, the CIA's recruitment of Oleg Gordievsky (a KGB colonel) provided critical insights into Soviet intentions. In counterterrorism operations, HUMINT has been essential for identifying and disrupting networks like al-Qaeda and ISIS through human sources embedded in communities or turned militants. Modern example: Western intelligence agencies recruiting Russian and Iranian officials disillusioned with their regimes.

SIGINT — The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) used SIGINT to track Soviet missile tests and submarine movements throughout the Cold War. Operation Desert Storm (1991) heavily relied on SIGINT to locate Iraqi radar and command systems. Contemporary use: Monitoring North Korean missile telemetry and Chinese military communications in the South China Sea.

COMINT — The U.S. and UK's ECHELON program (and its successors) has intercepted diplomatic and military communications worldwide for decades. During the hunt for Osama bin Laden, COMINT helped track courier communications and cell phone patterns leading to the Abbottabad compound. In the Russia-Ukraine war, both sides have used COMINT to intercept unencrypted radio traffic and mobile phone calls from frontline troops.

OSINT — Bellingcat investigators used publicly available satellite imagery, flight tracking data, and social media videos to prove Russian involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. In the early days of the 2022 Ukraine invasion, OSINT analysts tracked Russian troop movements via commercial satellite imagery (e.g., Maxar) and TikTok videos posted by soldiers. Journalists and researchers regularly use OSINT to expose corruption, sanctions evasion, or war crimes by analyzing shipping records, company registries, and geolocated photos.

Other Common Intelligence Disciplines

In addition to HUMINT, SIGINT/COMINT, and OSINT, intelligence professionals regularly work with several other specialized collection disciplines:

IMINT (Imagery Intelligence)
The collection and analysis of visual imagery from satellites, drones, reconnaissance aircraft, and other airborne or space-based platforms. Modern IMINT increasingly includes high-resolution commercial satellite imagery and full-motion video.

MASINT (Measurement and Signature Intelligence)
The detection and analysis of technical signatures that are not communications or imagery-based. This includes radar cross-sections, chemical traces, acoustic signatures, nuclear radiation, and other unique "fingerprints" of equipment or activity.

GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence)
The integration of imagery, mapping, and geographic data to understand terrain, infrastructure, and human activity in a specific location. GEOINT combines IMINT with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and other location-based data.

TECHINT (Technical Intelligence)
The analysis of captured enemy equipment, weapons systems, and technology to understand capabilities, vulnerabilities, and potential countermeasures. Often overlaps with MASINT.

FININT (Financial Intelligence)
The collection and analysis of financial transactions, money flows, banking records, and economic data to track individuals, organizations, or state actors. FININT has become especially important in sanctions enforcement and counter-terrorism financing efforts.

*Clicking on some of the buttons will take you to a Wikipedia page, for that I apologize, take information on this subject from them with a grain of bias.