It is an exciting time for the U.S. Coast Guard, with new challenges for the men and woman of this heavily committed service. The tragic events of 11 September made it clear that the need for professional intelligence work has never been greater. Threats to U.S. ports will be a constant focus from now on, and Coast Guard and naval forces must emphasize teamwork and be ever vigilant.
The Coast Guard commissioned officers designated as command intelligence officers (CIOs) manage intelligence data collection and dissemination to the fleet. Although enlisted personnel of various rates (military occupational specialties) assist CIOs, they are not as well trained in methods and techniques as their naval intelligence counterparts. Coast Guard civilian intelligence research specialists support CIOs as well; however, they are few in number and they belong to shore commands. Most of them are former military personnel (with previous intelligence experience) who can be deployed only for short periods.
Intelligence is a temporary assignment of one or two years for officers. They then move to different fields as dictated by the needs of the Coast Guard. The system results in a lack of continuity within the officer corps for developing and sustaining the experience base necessary to drive Coast Guard intelligence to more progressive ventures. The solution to this problem is an intelligence specialist (IS) rating, such as the Navy created after years of supporting shipboard requirements with yeomen and photographic intelligence personnel. The specialist system assigned skilled expens to new intelligence officers to provide them with consistent guidance and training. It established continuity in essential intelligence functions and opened a new career opportunity for sailors. The Coast Guard should be no different.
Creation of a Coast Guard IS rating also would bolster manpower and recruiting efforts. Candidates seeking careers in a specialty would be led naturally to the service that affords them a defined career path in that specialty. And intelligence personnel of other services would be more apt to consider the Coast Guard as an interservice transfer alternative.
The Coast Guard Reserve has an investigator (IV) rating open to reservists who are graduates of police or criminal investigation academies and have served in law enforcement for a minimum of three years. This is the only avenue for intelligence training; however, it excludes other competent applicants and does not provide enough people for the field. Because IVs often must conduct personnel background investigations, the time available for basic intelligence tasks is minimal. Therefore, I propose the same kind of reserve option for an IS rating—with less stringent entrance requirements.
There are several training routes for Coast Guard IS trainees:
- The Coast Guard Intelligence School at Yorktown, Virginia, is aimed at the basic level (although classroom size is limited).
- The Navy & Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center at Dam Neck, Virginia, features basic intelligence training briefing, report writing, photo interpretation, and other techniques common in all services. (Naval intelligence training is somewhat different because it is geared primarily to Navy missions, such as antisubmarine and strike warfare. But the principles—and almost all the procedures—apply to both services.)
- The Fleet Intelligence Training Center Pacific at San Diego, California, offers a Naval Reserve IS apprenticeship school on drill weekends and usually has room for more students.
- The Coast Guard Institute serves the service's needs through an efficient nonresident training and education program. Its curriculum could be expanded to include various intelligence courses.
Use of an IS rating would be more efficient and cost-effective than the current system. The Coast Guard ensures that enlisted personnel stay sharp in their primary duties. Training them in collateral duties means additional money and time must be spent for refresher training when they are reassigned back to their primary duties. Moreover, valuable training and experience gained in the complex intelligence field can fade quickly.
Because of manning-level restraints, the specialized intelligence rating should be open only to second-class petty officers and above. The time required to attain that rank would give personnel sufficient operational experience at sea and ashore. Candidates could apply for the IS rating as third-class petty officers; on promotion to second class. If accepted, on promotion to second class and at their next rotation date, they would be sent to intelligence school en route to their next command.
As a rule, Coast Guard CIOs serve on board large, high-endurance cutters. The smaller patrol craft—normally commanded by senior enlisted personnel—would be ideal for IS assignments. Intelligence support at this level would be a valuable asset in the war against terrorism and operations other than war. Patrol craft boarding teams are trained to look for signs of concealment and unusual conditions. However, they often collect data haphazardly, and the quality of their reports to adjacent and higher headquarters tend to lack substance unless they are directed at specific objectives. Boarding efforts would benefit if each craft had an IS assigned specifically to take photos and collect intelligence information related to smuggling, illegal entry, and other criminal activity.
The ISs would be a welcomed addition to port security units as well. They would play an important role in force protection by concentrating on intelligence functions while—as additional duties—assisting port security unit Coast Guard and naval investigative personnel in conducting internal security tasks. Similarly, they could assist Coast Guard tactical law enforcement teams, whose responsibilities range from boating safety and protecting fisheries, to environmental regulatory enforcement and counterterrorism.
Establishment of an intelligence specialist rating would be a major step in improving Coast Guard intelligence across the board. It is the right time to put the right people in these important tactical-level positions.
Ensign Cannon, a former enlisted Navy intelligence specialist, spent more than a year supporting Coast Guard counternarcotics operations. He remains assigned to Joint Task Force Six and now supports the FBI in Salem, Oregon.