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Chapter III III-20 JP 3-0 For additional and more detailed guidance on C2 of joint forces, refer to JP 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States. For additional guidance on C2 of air, land, or maritime operations, refer to JP 3-30, Command and Control for Joint Air Operations; JP 3-31, Command and Control for Joint Land Operations; and JP 3-32, Command and Control for Joint Maritime Operations. For additional guidance on C2 of special operations (SO), refer to JP 3-05, Special Operations, and JP 3-05.1, Joint Special Operations Task Force Operations. 3. Intelligence a. Understanding the operational environment is fundamental to joint operations. The intelligence function supports this understanding by providing integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted information concerning foreign nations, hostile or potentially hostile forces or elements, or areas of actual or potential operations. Intelligence tells JFCs what the enemy is doing, is capable of doing, and may do in the future. These assessments are important to acting inside the enemy’s decision cycle. Thus, intelligence must be sufficiently detailed and timely to satisfy the commander’s decision-making needs. b. Intelligence identifies enemy capabilities, helps identify enemy and friendly centers of gravity (COGs), projects probably enemy COAs, and assists in planning friendly force employment. The process also attempts to identify what the enemy is able to discern about friendly forces. Intelligence provides assessments that help the JFC decide which forces to deploy; when, how, and where to deploy them; and how to employ them in a manner that accomplishes the mission. The process helps JFCs and their staffs visualize the operational environment and achieve information superiority. During all activities, the operational environment can produce casualties due to disease and combat or noncombat injuries. Intelligence provides information that helps decision makers devise protection measures to mitigate these threats. c. Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (1) JFCs use a broad range of supporting capabilities to develop a current intelligence picture or to conduct an analysis of adversary systems. These supporting capabilities include combat support agencies and national intelligence agencies (e.g., National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency [NGA]). A national intelligence support team provides the J-2 with the means to integrate national intelligence capabilities into a comprehensive intelligence effort designed to support the joint force. J-2 should integrate these supporting capabilities with the efforts of the joint intelligence center. Liaison personnel from the various agencies provide access to the entire range of capabilities resident in their agencies and can focus those capabilities on the JFC’s intelligence requirements. (2) At the advent of a crisis or other indication of potential military action, JFCs examine available intelligence estimates. As part of the JIPOE process, JFCs focus intelligence efforts to determine or confirm enemy COGs and refine estimates of enemy capabilities, dispositions, intentions, and probable COAs within the context of the current