Oscar Koch Disciplined Approach

While serving as G-2 for General Patton, Brigadier General Oscar Koch developed and employed early Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) practices, laying the groundwork for the modern intelligence cycle. Koch’s disciplined approach fused traditional and non-traditional intelligence sources and established the forward-leaning, product-driven intelligence process used today (Confidence, n.d.). Throughout campaigns in North Africa and Europe during World War II, Koch honed the intelligence mission into a dynamic, flexible, and effective process; directly contributing to Patton’s successes (Hays, 2013). Koch’s most enduring contribution to the intelligence discipline includes the stewardship of all-source intelligence in the face of
evolving technology.
Stewardship
Despite radical technological leaps during World War II, Koch worked to both develop and safeguard all-source intelligence practices during his tenure as Patton’s G-2. The expansion of signals intercepts, known as ULTRA intelligence, delivered unprecedented clarity to overly-suspicious unit intelligence sections (Hays, 2013). After initial distrust, many of Koch’s peers among Allied staff sections became over-reliant on the definite nature of signals intelligence and devalued traditional intelligence collection and exploitation practices (Hays, 2013). In contrast, Koch embraced ULTRA for what it offered, but used the information in support of other intelligence collection activities, such as air reconnaissance, photo exploitation, and detainee reporting (Hays, 2013). In this manner, Koch embraced the principles of all-source intelligence and combined the individual inputs to produce a more complete picture of the enemy situation.
Koch’s fusion of proven and still-developing intelligence sources allowed him to astutely produce timely, relevant, and actionable intelligence throughout North Africa, Sicily, and France.
Imagery analysis, flight reconnaissance, signal intercepts, detainee reporting, and friendly force contact reports all factored into his overall picture (Hays, 2013). Koch’s success contributed to the balanced approach all-source takes today in tempering the outlook of single-source analysis against the whole of data offered by all available sources. This practice is often codified in standard intelligence procedures today, with target packets frequently requiring reports from multiple disciplines to qualify as actionable by
units.
Koch not only tempered the allure of ULTRA intelligence, but he also fully leveraged newly-upgraded capabilities through flight-based photo reconnaissance missions.
The practice of tasking regular intervals of imagery collection to support an upcoming mission began with Patton’s invasion of Sicily, with planes crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa (Koch, 1999). Koch’s initial terrain analysis of Sicily was so thorough that early-abandoned plans were recycled late in the campaign through a series of amphibious assaults (Koch, 1999). Patton used the initial intelligence products to conduct assaults on the enemy’s rear along coastline that the staff initially assessed for landing (Koch, 1999). Koch’s work was effective even outside of its intended use, simply because he had used the best available assets and employed them in a disciplined, meticulous manner. The intelligence picture today can be just as fluid and should inspire analysts to fully develop all courses of action to give the commander the widest range of
options.
Intelligence Today
The expansion and stewardship of the all-source profession during World War II is extremely valuable to developing analysts in the near term. Koch championed the practice of balanced significance among intelligence disciplines in a way that analysts can and do employ today. At times cautious and at others audacious in his approach, Koch used every available resource to develop the clearest picture attainable in support of Patton’s campaigns (Dougherty, 2002). His caution and audacity should contribute directly to the way analysts think about collection and ISR management. Newer developments in the realm of cyber exploitation may be as unsettling initially as ULTRA intelligence, but analysts need to learn the values and weaknesses of the information offered. Koch teaches analysts to approach new technology with enthusiasm; to use what is offered to the fullest extent, but to temper eagerness by employing the founding principles of all-source analysis.
Intelligence Looking Forward
All-source analysis is at a turning point, a fact acknowledged and embraced by leaders and trainers alike. As the Army prepares for a different battlefield than what it has faced for almost two decades, principles developed during World War II have a greater value. The threat of conflict involving a peer or near-peer adversary presents a challenge to a potentially-untested intelligence corps. Koch’s legacy of presenting a dynamic, flexible, and effective intelligence estimate to a combat commander is more relevant now than ever before. Future battlefields will likely include disruptive and evolving technologies, which are both challenges to all-source analysis. Koch’s technique of stewarding the profession by incorporating the best available information while maintaining established intelligence practices will be key. The scale of the conflict will not change the responsibilities of the military intelligence corps. Intelligence professionals will need to employ Koch’s disciplined approach to produce the flexible, reliable, timely, accurate, and relevant products that commanders expect.