In this episode of the MWI Podcast, MWI’s John Amble speaks with Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier. As the Army G-2, he is the seniormost intelligence officer assigned to the US Army headquarters. That makes him the perfect guest for a discussion about the Army’s intelligence enterprise, and the conversation touches on a range of issues. He explains, for example, what the Army’s shift toward preparing for conflict with a near-peer adversary means for intelligence professionals. He also talks about how Army modernization efforts and the transition to multi-domain operations are playing out from an intelligence standpoint, as well as one of his biggest priorities as the Army G-2—counterintelligence reform, and specifically how the Army can best contribute to protecting things like sensitive technologies from adversary efforts to steal them.
It is a fascinating conversation, and a really important one as Lt. Gen. Berrier leads efforts to modernize and reform everything from the military intelligence branch’s systems to its practices. You can listen to the full episode below. And if you aren’t already subscribed to the MWI Podcast, be sure to find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss an episode!
Image credit: Sgt. Thomas Mort, US Army
I found this podcast extremely well done. LTG Berrier's responses and comment painted a clear picture of were we have been, are and are working toward in our multi-domain intel environment in a peer on peer construct. What was particularly interesting was the challenges the Army faxed in the force we produced in the late 1980s-90s in terms of how the intel function supported the decision maker, combined with the agility challenge, has returned but in the steroids mode relative to sensor extension, fusion of information and synthesis of information against information and decision priorities and need. The model developing is capturing emerging acceleration of computing power and use of AI capabilities for instance to accelerate information products and timelines and usability to the commander. I thought this an outstanding podcast.
Interestingly at the end of the Vietnam War, we had all but shelved the war in favor of returning to the Cold War and the Fulda Gap scenario. Going through the first intel analyst course at Ft. Huachuca, it was fortunate that we had a USMC captain and a Gunny who taught us about what to expect in Vietnam, as most of our class were assigned there – most went to the 525 MI Group.
Returning from Vietnam and the Army seemed to take deliberate efforts to "forget" Vietnam and the lessons of COIN that we learned in the 2 1/2 War, then 1 1/2 War Concepts and then the new Air-Land Battle in Europe. The world had certainly changed as I later went onto a Forward Area watch for 4 years at EUDAC and then three more in EOB.
It has always surprised me that the Army, et al, had been so successful in deliberately forgetting Vietnam and its lessons learned that could have helped in Afghanistan, in particular. It continues to do so today – Vietnam is folded is no longer a separate course and the USAWC seems to have a particular antipathy in teaching it.
Terrorism is always potentially present, as it was then – the VC's terrorist practices easily rival ISIS.