MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- Marines introduced the concept of Company Level Intelligence Cells to
Land Forces brigade officers and noncommissioned officers of the Baltic allies
from Nov. 24 - Dec. 3, 2015.
“Pushing analysis and collection down to the
company level and enabling the commander is something that the Marine Corps does
uniquely well,” said Capt. William Sumption, battalion intelligence officer with
Black Sea Rotational Force.
The training was conducted as part of U.S.
Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa’s focused implementation plan for military
intelligence engagements. In both Baltic nations, small military intelligence
corps can benefit from increasing their tactical information-gathering
capabilities using concepts like CLIC.
“We are doing this training to
expose our NATO partners to that concept. The [Latvians and Lithuanians] were
not hesitant to ask for more information, or to engage with us.”
The
teams discussed implementation, history and basic analytical techniques of
company-level intelligence cells.
“The Marines, as instructors, were
very professional,” said 1st Lt. Igors Siciks, executive officer with B. Co.,
1st Infantry Battalion, Latvian Land Forces Brigade. “With this training, I
understand more about working with the Marines, and I am more able to give
advice and provide assistance to my commander.”
Working with Marine Corps
intelligence officers provides improved capabilities for future operations in a
broad range of environments. Furthermore, Lithuanian Land Forces aims to create
an instructor cadre to further disseminate tactical-intelligence training in
their own military.
Black Sea Rotational Force, a rotation of Marines and
sailors based out of Eastern Europe, is an essential year-round capability to
U.S. European Command and their partners in Europe to enable the alliance.