ii

Legal Disclaimer

Nothing in this handbook shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect 

the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof. 

Additionally, the handbook is not intended to, and does not, create any right 

or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by 

any party against the United States, its departments, agencies or entities, its 

officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

This Handbook was coordinated through the Office of the Director of National 

Intelligence (ODNI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau 

of Investigation (FBI), and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
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iii

This Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG) Intelligence Guide for 

First Responders is designed to assist first responders in accessing and understanding Federal 

intelligence reporting and to encourage the sharing of information. The information in this 

guide was derived, compiled, and adapted from existing unclassified Intelligence Community 

and open-source references.

The ITACG consists of state, local, and tribal first responders from around the United States 

and federal intelligence analysts from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of 

Investigation, and National Counterterrorism Center working to enhance the sharing of federal 

information on counterterrorism, homeland security, and weapons of mass destruction with 

state, local, and tribal consumers of intelligence.

introduction

“State, local, and tribal governments are critical partners in securing and defending the United States from 

terrorism and other threats to the United States and its interests. Our national intelligence effort should take into 

account the responsibilities and requirements of State, local, and tribal governments and, as appropriate, private 

sector entities, when undertaking the collection and dissemination of information and intelligence to protect the 

United States.” 

Exuctive Order 12333 
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iv

Current and former state, local, and tribal members of the ITACG Detail as of February 2011: 

Abington Police Department, PA; Arlington Police Department, TX; Aurora Police Department, 

CO; Boston Police Department; Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, VA; Florida 

Department of Health; Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, MN; Illinois State Police (2008-2009); 

Indiana State Police; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (2008-2009); Little River Band 

of Ottawa Indians Tribal Police Department, MI (2010); Metropolitan Police Department, 

Washington, DC (2008-2009); Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (2009-

2010); New Jersey State Police (2008-2010); Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, MI; Orange County 

Sheriff’s Department, CA; Phoenix Fire Department (2009-2010); Phoenix Police Department 

(2007-2008); Six Nations Tuscarora (2008-2010); and Seattle Fire Department (2009-2010).
v

Table of Contents

What Is Intelligence?

What Intelligence Can and Cannot Do

The Intelligence Community 

The Intelligence Cycle

Categories of Finished Intelligence

Intelligence Products Typically Available to First Responders 

Joint Partnerships

I 1

7

11

17

23

27

33

GENERAL
vi

III REFERENCE Intelligence Community Terminology 

Intelligence Community Acronyms and Abbreviations

81

109

Handling Unclassified Information

Processing Security Clearances

Accessing Intelligence Community Information

Understanding Threat Information 

Understanding Estimative Language 

Reporting Suspicious Activity 

41

45

51

59

69

73

II HOW TO

10110767 | ID 0810
SECTION I

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General

What is Intelligence?

01

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what is intelligence?

“National Intelligence and the term “intelligence related to national security” refer to all intelligence, regardless of the source from which derived and including information gathered within or outside the United States, 

that pertains, as determined consistent with any guidance issued by the President, to more than one United 

States Government agency; and that involves threats to the United States, its people, property, or interests; the 

development, proliferation, or use of weapons of mass destruction; or any other matter bearing on United States 

national or homeland security.”

United States Congress. “Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.” 

Section 1012, Public Law 108-458--December 17, 2004 

The intelligence community uses five basic

intelligence sources:

Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)is the exploitation and analysis of imagery, Imagery Intelligence 

(IMINT), and geospatial information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and 

geographically referenced activities on the Earth.

Human Intelligence (HUMINT) is intelligence derived from information collected and provided 

by human sources. This information includes overt data collected by personnel in diplomatic and 

consular posts as well as otherwise unobtainable information collected via clandestine sources, 

debriefings of foreign nationals and U.S. citizens who travel abroad, official contacts with foreign 

governments, and direct observation. 

Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) is technically derived data other than 

Imagery and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). The data is analyzed and results in intelligence that 

locates, identifies, or describes distinctive characteristics of targets. It employs a broad group of 
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3

disciplines including nuclear, optical, radio frequency, acoustics, seismic, and materials sciences. 

Examples include the distinctive radar signatures of specific aircraft systems or the chemical 

composition of air and water samples.

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is intelligence produced from publicly available information 

collected, exploited, and disseminated in a timely manner to an appropriate audience for the 

purpose of addressing a specific intelligence requirement. OSINT draws from a wide variety of 

information and sources, including the following: 

• Mass Media — newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and computer-based information.

• Public Data — includes government reports, official data such as budgets and 

demographics, hearings, legislative debates, press conferences, speeches, directories, 

organization charts, marine and aeronautical safety warnings, environmental impact 

statements, contract awards, and required financial disclosures.

• Gray Literature (a.k.a. Grey Literature) — open-source material that usually is available 

through specialized access for a specific audience. Gray Literature can include, but 

is not limited to, research reports, technical reports, economic reports, trip reports, 

working papers, discussion papers, unofficial government documents, proceedings, 

preprints, studies, dissertations and theses, trade literature, market surveys, and 

newsletters. The material cuts across scientific, political, socioeconomic, and military 

disciplines. 

• Observation and Reporting — includes significant information not otherwise available 

that is/has been provided by amateur airplane spotters, radio monitors, and satellite 

observers among many others. The availability of worldwide satellite photography, 

often high resolution, on the Web (e.g., Google Earth) has expanded open-source 

capabilities into areas formerly available to major intelligence services only. 
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Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) is information gathered from data transmissions, including 

Communications Intelligence (COMINT), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), and Foreign 

Instrumentation Signals Intelligence (FISINT). SIGINT includes both the raw data and the 

analysis of the data.

• COMINT is the capture of information for the purposes of tracking communications 

patterns and protocols (traffic analysis), establishing links between intercommunicating 

parties or groups, and/or analysis of the meaning of the communication. 

• FISINT is information derived from the intercept of foreign electromagnetic emissions 

associated with the testing and operational deployment of non-U.S. aerospace, 

surface, and subsurface systems including, but not limited to, telemetry, beaconry, 

electronic interrogators, and video data links. 

• ELINT is information derived primarily from electronic signals that do not contain 

speech or text (which are considered COMINT). The most common sources of this 

type of information are radar signals. 
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6
What Intelligence

Can and Cannot Do

07

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what intelligence

can and cannot do

“The United States Intelligence Community must constantly strive for and exhibit three characteristics essential 

to our effectiveness. The IC must be integrated: a team making the whole greater than the sum of its parts. We 

must also be agile: an enterprise with an adaptive, diverse, continually learning, and mission-driven intelligence 

workforce that embraces innovation and takes initiative. Moreover, the IC must exemplify America’s values: 

operating under the rule of law, consistent with Americans’ expectations for protection of privacy and civil liberties, respectful of human rights, and in a manner that retains the trust of the American people.”

- National Intelligence Strategy 2009

Intelligence information can be an extremely powerful tool. It is most useful when the 

consumer has a clear understanding of what intelligence can and cannot do. While laws, 

policies, capabilities, and standards are constantly changing, these general guidelines can help 

consumers make the most of this resource.

1. what intelligence can do: Intelligence can provide:

• Decision advantage, by presenting information and analysis that can improve 

the decisionmaking process for consumers and partners while hindering that of 

our enemies.

• Warning of potential threats.

• Insight into key current events.

• Situational awareness.

• Long-term strategic assessments on issues of ongoing interest.
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• Pre-travel security overviews and support.

• Reports on specific topics, either as part of ongoing reporting or upon request 

for short-term needs.

• Knowledge on persons of interest. 

2. what intelligence cannot do: Realistic expectations will 

help consumers fill their intelligence needs. Intelligence, however, cannot:

• Predict the future. Intelligence can provide assessments of likely scenarios 

or developments, but there is no way to predict what will happen with 

absolute certainty.

• Violate U.S. law. The activities of the Intelligence Community (IC) must be 

conducted consistent with all applicable laws and executive orders, to include the 

National Security Act of 1947, as amended; the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance 

Act; the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA); the Privacy 

Act of 1974; the Detainee Treatment Act; Homeland Security Act of 2002, as 

amended; Executive Order 12333; and the Military Commission Act. 

All activities of the IC are subject to extensive and rigorous oversight both within the Executive 

Branch and by the Legislative Branch, as required by the National Security Act of 1947, 

as amended.

The Intelligence

COMMUNITY

11

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the intelligence community

“The United States intelligence effort shall provide the President, the National Security 

Council , and the Homeland Security Council 1. with the necessary information on which 

to base decisions concerning the development and conduct of foreign, defense and economic 

policy, and the protection of United States national interests from foreign security threats. 

All departments and agencies shall cooperate fully to fulfill this goal.” 

- Executive Order 12333

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) serves as the head of the Intelligence Community 

(IC), overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program 

and acting as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the 

Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to the national security. The U.S. 

IC is a coalition of 17 agencies and organizations within the Executive Branch that works both 

independently and collaboratively to gather the intelligence necessary for conducting foreign 

relations and protecting national security. The primary mission is to collect and convey the 

essential information the President and members of the policymaking, law enforcement, and 

military communities require to execute their appointed duties. Some agencies focus on specific 

problem sets, use selected intelligence disciplines, or support a primary customer set, but their 

overall mission is the same – to protect the United States from all threats. 

1 As of May 2009, the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council merged into the National Security Staff.
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The activities of the IC include: 

• Collection of information needed by the President, the National Security Staff, 

the Secretaries of State and Defense, and other Executive Branch officials for the 

performance of their duties and responsibilities;

• Production and dissemination of intelligence;

• Collection of information concerning, and the conduct of activities to protect against, 

intelligence activities directed against the U.S., international terrorist and international 

narcotics activities, and other hostile activities directed against the U.S. by foreign 

powers, organizations, persons, and their agents;

• Special activities;

• Administrative and support activities within the U.S. and abroad necessary for the 

performance of authorized activities; and 

• Such other intelligence activities as the President may direct from time to time.

The IC refers to those agencies and organizations as defined by the National Security Act of 

1947, Sec 3, including such other elements of any department or agency as may be designated 

by the President or designated jointly by the Director of National Intelligence and the head 

of the department or agency concerned. Agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency, 

Defense Intelligence Agency, and National Security Agency perform intelligence as their primary 

function; others such as the Departments of State and Defense and military services perform 

intelligence in addition to other primary functions. The IC comprises the following 17 agencies 

and organizations:
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Central Intelligence Agency

Defense Intelligence Agency

Department of Energy

Department of Homeland Security

Department of State 

Department of the Treasury

Drug Enforcement Administration

Federal Bureau of Investigation

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency 

National Reconnaissance Office

National Security Agency 

U.S. Air Force Intelligence

U.S. Army Intelligence

U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence

U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence

U.S. Navy Intelligence

Office of the Director of National Intelligence
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The Intelligence

CYCLE

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the intelligence cycle

The intelligence cycle is the process of developing raw information into finished intelligence for 

policymakers, military commanders, and other consumers to use in making decisions. The cycle 

is highly dynamic and never-ending and often includes a sixth stage of evaluation. Evaluation 

occurs for each of the stages individually and for the cycle as a whole. It is sometimes referred 

to as feedback. 

Six steps constitute the intelligence cycle:

Planning and Direction: Establish the Intelligence Requirements of the consumer. 

Planning and direction is the opening stage for the intelligence cycle. It is the 

springboard from which all intelligence activities are launched. Ironically, the direction 

portion will most often come first, whereby the consumer places a requirement for a 

specific product. The product may be a report, graphic, or at times raw intelligence. From 

that, the intelligence organization being tasked will plan its activity. 

Collection: Gather the raw data required to produce the desired finished product. 

Collection is accomplished by using any combination of the five basic intelligence 

sources or disciplines (Geospatial Intelligence, Human Intelligence, Measurement 

and Signature Intelligence, Open-Source Intelligence, and Signals Intelligence). The raw 

information gathered includes, but is not limited to, newspaper reporting, aerial 

imagery, satellite imagery, documents, and more.
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Processing and Exploitation: Convert the raw data into comprehensible form that is usable for 

producing the finished product. 

Processing and exploitation involves the use of highly trained, specialized personnel and 

equipment to turn the data into usable and understandable information. Translation, 

decryption, and interpretation of film and imagery are only a few examples of the processes 

and methods used for film, magnetic, and other media used for collecting and storing data. 

Analysis and Production: Integrate, evaluate, analyze, and prepare the processed information 

for inclusion in the finished product. 

Analysis and production requires highly trained, specialized personnel—analysts—to give 

meaning and priority to the information. Synthesizing the processed information into 

an actionable finished intelligence product allows the information to be useful to the 

customer. It is important to note however, that in some cases, the cycle may skip this stage, 

for example, when the consumer needs only the factual reporting or products such as raw 

imagery. This was the case during the Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962) when President 

Kennedy needed only the actual count of Soviet equipment in Cuba or facts concerning 

Soviet activity with no analysis since that was implied by the numbers and activity reported. 

Dissemination: Deliver the finished product to the consumer who requested it and to others 

as applicable. 
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Dissemination is self-explanatory. Consumers who requested the information receive the 

finished product, usually via electronic transmission. This is accomplished most often 

using mechanisms such as Web sites, electronic mail, Web 2.0 collaboration tools, and 

hardcopy. The final and finished product is referred to as finished intelligence. After the 

product is disseminated, new intelligence gaps may be identified and the intelligence 

cycle begins again.

Evaluation: Acquire continual feedback during the cycle that aids in refining each individual 

stage and the cycle as a whole. 

Evaluation is an assumed stage of the intelligence cycle and is not often discussed 

separately. One viewpoint maintains, however, that this stage must be understood and 

implemented along with the original five. Evaluation and feedback are important to allow 

the cycle and those using it to adjust and refine their activities and analysis to better meet 

consumers’ information demands in the modern era.
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CATEGORIES of

Finished Intelligence

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Categories of finished

Intelligence

Intelligence information that has been reviewed and correlated with data from other available 

sources is referred to as finished intelligence and is disseminated directly to the customers 

whose initial needs generated the intelligence requirements. Finished intelligence is hand 

carried to the President and key national security advisers on a daily basis. The policymakers use 

the intelligence to make decisions. Their decisions may lead to requests for further examination, 

thus triggering the intelligence cycle one more time.

There are five categories of finished intelligence:

Current Intelligence addresses day-to-day events. It details new developments and related 

background to assess their significance, warn of their near-term consequences, and signal 

potentially dangerous situations in the near future.

Estimative Intelligence looks forward to assess potential developments that could affect U.S. 

national security. By discussing the implications of a range of possible outcomes and alternative 

scenarios, estimative intelligence helps policymakers think strategically about long-term threats. 
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Warning Intelligence sounds an alarm or gives notice to policymakers. It suggests urgency 

and implies the potential need to respond with policy action. Warning intelligence includes 

identifying or forecasting events that could cause the engagement of U.S. military forces or 

those that would have a sudden and detrimental effect on U.S. foreign policy concerns such as 

coups, third-party wars, or refugee situations. Warning analysis involves exploring alternative 

futures and low probability/high impact scenarios.

Research Intelligence includes studies that support both current and estimative intelligence. 

Scientific and Technical Intelligence includes an examination of the technical development, 

characteristics, performance, and capabilities of foreign technologies, including weapon systems 

or subsystems. This category covers a complete spectrum of sciences, technologies, weapon 

systems, and integrated operations.

Intelligence Products

Typically Available to

First Responders

27

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intelligence products

typically available to first

responders

First responders can find intelligence products on a variety of classified and unclassified systems. 

Unclassified systems include Law Enforcement Online (LEO) and Homeland Secure Information 

Network (HSIN) on the Internet. First responders with the appropriate level of clearance and 

access can view classified information on National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Current, 

the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis portal, and other sites on SECRET level systems, such 

as FBI Network (FBINet), Homeland Secure Data Network (HSDN), Joint Deployable Intelligence 

Support System (JDISS), and Secure Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet). The types of 

products first responders will most likely encounter are:

Information Reports are messages that enable the timely dissemination of unevaluated 

intelligence within the Intelligence Community and law enforcement. These products include:

• FBI IIR (Intelligence Information Report) 

• DHS HIR (Homeland Information Report)

Intelligence Assessments (IA) are finished intelligence products resulting from the intelligence 

analysis process. Assessments may address tactical, strategic, or technical intelligence requirements.

Intelligence Bulletins (IB) are finished intelligence products used to disseminate information of 

interest, such as significant developments and trends, to the intelligence and law enforcement 

communities in an article format. IBs do not address threat warning information. 
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Threat Assessments (TA) or Special Assessments (SA) provide in-depth analyses related 

to a specific event or body of threat reporting and may address non-terrorist threats to 

national security.

Joint Products are intelligence assessments and bulletins produced jointly with other agencies 

(dual or multiple seals). When written jointly these products may be formatted differently than 

the single-seal versions, depending on the format agreed to by participating agencies.

Other Products and Systems include intelligence summaries, briefs, and databases that cover 

counterterrorism, homeland security, and WMD-related information. Following are examples:

• Joint Intelligence Bulletin (JIB). The JIB provides timely information or analysis on 

a recent or current event or development of interest to all information and analysis 

customers and is produced at various classification levels. It focuses on Homeland 

Security issues, is written on an ad hoc basis, and is generally one to three pages. 

It is are available on HSIN, LEO, or HSDN, depending on the classification of 

the information.

• Roll Call Release (RCR). Available on HSIN and LEO, the RCR is a collaborative For 

Official Use only (FOUO) product developed by DHS, FBI, and the ITACG. The product 

is written specifically for state, local, and tribal “street-level” first responders, and 

focuses on terrorist tactics, techniques, procedures; terrorism trends; and potential 

indicators of suspicious activity. The product is written on an ad hoc basis, is focused 

on one subject, and fits on one page. 
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• Terrorism Summary (TERRSUM). The TERRSUM is a SECRET digest of terrorismrelated intelligence of interest to Federal and non-Federal law enforcement, security 

and military personnel. Produced Monday through Friday, the TERRSUM includes 

terrorism-related intelligence available to NCTC and other Intelligence Community 

elements. The product is available on SECRET-level systems to appropriately cleared 

personnel at state and major urban area fusion centers and Joint Terorrism Task Forces.

• Worldwide Incidents Tracking System (WITS). WITS is the U.S. Government’s 

authoritative database on terrorist attacks compiled exclusively from opensource information. Maintained by the NCTC, WITS is publicly available at 

www.nctc.gov. Users can search for attack data and sort it by a broad range 

of characteristics, to include type of attack, location, facility, perpetrator, and 

other attributes. Users also can plot incidents on maps using Google Earth and 

Google Map. State, local, and tribal law enforcement and first responders use 

WITS to track terrorist trends, support event planning, and provide context for 

terrorist activities.
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Joint

PARTNERSHIPS

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Joint partnerships

“Our enemies live in the seams of our jurisdictions. No single agency or nation can find them and fight them 

alone. If we are to protect our citizens, working together is not just the best option, it is the only option.” 

- FBI Director Mueller, Global Terrorism Today and the Challenges of Tomorrow

Federal, state, local, and tribal governments understand the benefits and value of working 

together and have established several programs to protect the United States within our borders. 

These programs include Joint Terrorism Task Forces, the National Joint Terrorism Task Force, 

the State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers and the National Operations Center. These 

programs leverage the broad experience, knowledge, and skills of personnel from a wide variety 

of fields, such as intelligence, law enforcement, fire, and emergency services. 

Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). JTTFs serve as the coordinated “action arms” for federal, 

state, and local government response to terrorist threats in specific U.S. geographic regions. The 

FBI is the lead agency that oversees JTTFs. The benefits of a JTTF include:

• “one-stop shopping” for law enforcement information or investigation of suspected 

or real terrorist activities; 

• use of a shared intelligence base; 

• ability to prosecute cases in the jurisdiction that is most efficient and effective;

• task-force member awareness of investigations within a jurisdiction and ability to 

assist in investigations in other jurisdictions; and

• familiarity among agencies, investigators, and managers before a crisis occurs.
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The mission of a JTTF is to leverage the collective resources of the member agencies for the 

prevention, preemption, deterrence, and investigation of terrorist acts that affect United States 

interests, to disrupt and prevent terrorist acts, and to apprehend individuals who may commit 

or plan to commit such acts. To further this mission, a JTTF serves as a means to facilitate 

information sharing among JTTF members.

• As of January 2011, there are 104 JTTFs based nationwide, including at least one in 

each of the FBI’s 56 field offices. 

• More than 600 state and local agencies participate in JTTFs nationwide. Federal 

representation includes representatives from the U.S. Intelligence Community, the 

Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, Justice, Treasury, Transportation, 

Commerce, Energy, State, and Interior, among others.

Fusion Centers. A fusion center is a dedicated element, run by the applicable state or local 

jurisdiction, that exchanges information and intelligence, maximizes resources, streamlines 

operations, and improves the ability to disrupt, prevent, respond to, and recover from all threats 

by analyzing data from a variety of sources. A fusion center is defined as a “collaborative effort 

of two or more agencies that provide resources, expertise, and information to the center with 

the goal of maximizing a center’s ability to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal 

and terrorist activity.” Fusion centers focus primarily on the intelligence and fusion processes 

through which information is gathered, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and disseminated.

State and major urban area fusion centers provide analysis and information-sharing capabilities 

that support the efforts of state and local law enforcement to prevent and investigate crime and 

terrorism. Fusion centers receive information from a variety of sources, including state and local 
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36

tips and leads as well as federal information and intelligence. By “fusing” information from a 

wide variety of disciplines to conduct analysis, fusion centers generate products that are timely 

and relevant to their customers’ needs. This allows state and local law enforcement to address 

immediate and emerging threat-related circumstances and events. It also supports risk-based, 

information-driven prevention, response, and consequence management.

• As of January 2011, there are 72 designated fusion centers (50 state and 22 Major 

Urban Areas).

• Fusion centers are designed to involve every level and discipline of government, 

private-sector entities, and the public—though the level of involvement of some 

participants will vary.

• Fusion centers are state and locally owned and operated. The Department of 

Homeland Security (DHS) has a statutory program to support fusion centers. 

What is the difference between a JTTF and a fusion center? JTTFs are FBI-sponsored, 

multijurisdictional task forces established specifically to conduct terrorism-related investigations. 

Analytic and information-sharing efforts carried out by the JTTFs are done solely to support 

those investigative efforts. Also each FBI office contains a Field Intelligence Group which is the 

main interlocutor with the fusion center. Fusion centers, in contrast, are information sharing 

and analytic entities and do not focus solely on terrorism. They are state and locally owned 

and operated information analysis centers that analyze information and intelligence regarding 

a broad array of criminal and other activities related to homeland security. Fusion centers focus 

on trend and pattern analysis that is intended to help state and local law enforcement mitigate 

emerging crime problems, including terrorism and other threats to homeland security.
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National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF). The mission of the NJTTF is to enhance 

communication, coordination, and cooperation between federal, state, and local government 

agencies representing the intelligence, law enforcement, defense, diplomatic, public safety, 

transportation, and homeland security communities by providing a point of fusion for terrorism 

intelligence and by supporting the JTTFs throughout the United States. 

• The NJTTF was established in July 2002 to serve as a coordinating mechanism with the 

FBI’s partners. 

• Forty-nine agencies are represented in the NJTTF, which has become a focal point for 

information sharing and the management of large-scale projects that involve multiple partners.

National Operations Center (NOC). The mission of the NOC is to serve as the primary Nationallevel hub for domestic situational awareness, common operating picture, information fusion, 

information sharing, communications, and operations coordination pertaining to the prevention 

of terrorists attacks and domestic incident management. 

The NOC serves as the nation’s nerve center for information collection and sharing. Pursuant 

to section 515 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 the NOC is the principal operations center 

for DHS. As the principal operations center, Congress tasked the NOC with performing two key 

responsibilities: 

• First, the NOC shall provide situational awareness and a common operating picture 

for the entire federal government, and for state, local, and tribal governments 

as appropriate, in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other manmade disaster. 
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• Second, the NOC shall ensure that critical terrorism and disaster-related information 

reaches government decision-makers. By performing its mission, the NOC enables the 

Secretary and other leaders to make informed decisions and identify courses of action 

during an event or threat. The Secretary has assigned the NOC to the DHS Office of 

Operations Coordination and Planning (OPS). 

 

The NOC is comprised of five operational components: the NOC-Watch, Federal Emergency 

Management Agency National Response Coordination Center (NRCC), DHS National 

Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), Office of Intelligence and Analysis/Intelligence 

Watch and Warning Branch and the OPS Planning Element. Each NOC operational component 

remains an independent entity under the program management of its parent DHS Component. 

By drawing upon and leveraging the authorities and capabilities of each NOC operational 

component, the NOC—as a cohesive and integrated whole—serves as the primary national 

hub for situational awareness and operations coordination across the federal government for 

incident management and as the national fusion center, collecting and synthesizing all-source 

information, including information from the state fusion centers, across all-threats and allhazards information covering the spectrum of homeland security partners.
II

How To

SECTION

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Handling Unclassified

Information

41

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42

handling unclassified

information

Federal agencies routinely generate, use, store, and share information that, although does not 

meet the standards for Classified National Security Information under Executive Order

13526 of December 29, 2009, is sufficiently sensitive to warrant some level of protection, in 

accordance with Executive Order 13556, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), signed 

November 4, 2010. First responders should be aware of the federal handling requirements for 

sensitive or CUI to ensure it is used only by those who need it and only for its intended purpose. 

Until official implementing instructions and markings are provided by the Information Security 

Oversight Office (ISOO) to denote CUI, government agencies shall continue to use dissemination 

control markings such as FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO), LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE, 

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, and OFFICIAL USE ONLY. In many instances the requirements 

for safeguarding this information are equivalent; however, these current markings may change 

substantially once CUI markings have been developed, approved and adopted for implementation 

throughout the Federal Government. 

FOUO, per 32 CFR Section 286.15 and CUI, per Executive Order 13556, is information that has 

not been given a security classification pursuant to Executive Order 13526-National Security 

Information, but which may be witheld from the public because disclosure would cause a 

forseeable harm to an interest protected by one or more Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) 

exemptions. FOUO and CUI shall be considered as warranting protection or safeguarding.
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FOUO is not a classification, but one of the most widely used dissemination control markings. It 

is used typically though not consistently throughout government to identify unclassified

information of a sensitive nature that may or may not otherwise be categorized by statute or 

regulation, the unauthorized disclosure of which could adversely impact a person’s privacy or

welfare, the conduct of Federal programs, or other programs or operations essential to the 

national or other government interests.

Dissemination of FOUO is typically restricted to persons with “need-to-know”. Need-to-know is 

defined as “the determination made by an authorized holder of information that a prospective

recipient requires access in order to perform or assist in a lawful and authorized governmental 

function (that is, access is required for the performance of official duties).” Other typical FOUO

requirements include:

• FOUO information will not be disseminated in any manner–orally, visually, or 

electronically–to unauthorized personnel.

• The holder of the information will comply with access and dissemination restrictions.

• The recipient of FOUO must have valid need-to-know, and precautions are taken to 

prevent unauthorized individuals from overhearing the conversation, observing the 

materials, or otherwise obtaining the information.

Information labeled FOUO or any other control marking needs to be safeguarded and withheld 

from public release until such time as the originating agency clarifies the nature of

the handling requirements and/or approves it for public release. 
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Processing Security

CLEARANCES

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security CLEARANCES

Most information needed by state, local, and tribal first responders can be shared at an 

UNCLASSIFIED level. In instances where it is necessary to share classified information, it can 

usually be accomplished at the SECRET level. 

State and local officials who require access to classified material must apply for a security 

clearance through FBI or DHS. The clearance process involves completing a questionnaire for 

National Security Positions, submitting fingerprints, and undergoing a background investigation. 

Record checks for SECRET and TOP SECRET security clearances are required for a security 

clearance to be granted, and cannot be waived.

SECRET Clearance. A SECRET security clearance may be granted to those persons who need 

access to or who need to know national security information classified at the CONFIDENTIAL or 

SECRET level. A SECRET security clearance takes the least amount of time to process. 

• Records checks with various Federal agencies and local law enforcement as well as a 

review of credit history are conducted.

• Candidate completes the SF-86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions and the 

FD-258 Applicant Fingerprint Card. Once favorably adjudicated for a SECRET security 

clearance, the candidate will be required to sign a nondisclosure agreement. 

TOP SECRET Clearance. A TOP SECRET security clearance may be granted to those persons who 

need to know national security information classified up to the TOP SECRET level and who, when 

necessary, need unescorted access to sensitive facilities. 
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• In addition to satisfying all requirements for a clearance at the SECRET level, a 

background investigation covering a 10-year time period is required.

• Once favorably adjudicated for a TOP SECRET security clearance, the candidate will be 

required to sign a nondisclosure agreement. 

Questions and Answers

Q: Who should apply for a security clearance? 

A: Officials whose duties require that they have access to classified information and who are 

willing to undergo a mandatory background investigation. 

Q: What is the purpose of a background investigation? 

A: A background investigation is conducted to allow the government to assess whether a 

candidate is sufficiently trustworthy to be granted access to classified information. Applicants 

must meet certain criteria relating to their honesty, character, integrity, reliability, judgment, 

mental health, and association with undesirable persons or foreign nationals. The scope of the 

investigation varies with the level of the clearance being sought.

Q: What kind of inquiries will be made into my background? 

A: Credit and criminal history checks will be conducted on all applicants. For a TOP SECRET 

security clearance, the background investigation includes additional records checks which can 

verify citizenship for the applicant and family members, birth, education, employment history, 

and military history. 
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In addition, interviews will be conducted with persons who have known the candidate and 

with any spouse divorced within the past 10 years. Additional interviews will be conducted, as 

needed, to resolve any inconsistencies. Residences will be confirmed, neighbors interviewed, 

and public records queried for information about bankruptcies, divorces, and criminal or 

civil litigation. 

The background investigation may be expanded if an applicant has resided abroad, or has a 

history of mental disorders, or drug or alcohol abuse. 

A personal interview will be conducted of the candidate. 

Q: Are there advantages or disadvantages to receiving unclassified or classified terrorismrelated information? 

A: An advantage of receiving unclassified terrorism-related information is that there may be 

fewer restrictions on an official’s ability to further disseminate it within the official’s jurisdiction. 

Classified information may be disseminated only to other cleared persons who also have a 

need-to-know. 

For additional information, please contact your local FBI field office or state or major urban 

area fusion center.
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Accessing Intelligence

Community Information

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accessing intelligence

community information

Classified and unclassified information can be accessed by first responders through multiple 

systems and Web sites. In some cases an account is required, although in others all that is 

needed is access to a specific computer network. Some sources of information require only that 

an individual perform homeland security or law enforcement activities on behalf of a state, local, 

or tribal government; a few require specific security clearances and access to secure systems. 

UNCLASSIFIED intelligence products

Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN). HSIN is a comprehensive, nationally secure 

and trusted Web-based platform able to facilitate information sharing and collaboration 

between federal, state, local, tribal, private-sector, and international partners. 

• HSIN has five major mission areas or Communities of Interest (COI) that allow federal, 

state, and local organizations, private-sector partners, critical-sector organizations 

such as utility companies, fusion centers, and government agencies with multiple 

missions to collaborate. The five mission areas are Intelligence and Analysis, Law 

Enforcement, Emergency Management, Critical Sectors, and Multi-Mission Agencies.

• Access: A request for nomination must be sent by a COI owner or an authorized 

nominator, or requestor must send a request for membership via e-mail to hsin at 

helpdesk@dhs.gov or call 1-866-430-0162. Please include the COI (Intelligence and 

Analysis, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, Critical Sectors, or Multi-Mission 

Agencies) to which the requestor desires membership, along with their name, official 

e-mail address, organization, supervisor’s name, and a phone number. Requests 

received via e-mail will be forwarded to the appropriate COI owner for consideration.
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Homeland Security Information Network-Intelligence (HSIN-Intel). HSIN-Intel is a Web portal 

that hosts two COIs of particular interest to intelligence analysts engaged in the homeland 

security arena: the Federal, State, Local, and Tribal (FSLT) COI and the Homeland Security State 

and Local Intelligence COI (HS SLIC). The difference between the two COIs is that HS SLIC contains 

Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (SPII) and requires two-factor authentication for 

access: a password and an electronic security token.

• Access: The HS SLIC is a charter-based organization requiring both individual and 

organizational membership. Contact the HS SLIC helpdesk at hs.slic@hq.dhs.gov for 

more information. HS SLIC eligibility requirements include: 

• Engagement in intelligence analysis functions. 

• Employment by a law enforcement, criminal justice, or homeland security agency. 

• Engagement in detecting, defeating, or deterring terrorist acts. 

• U.S. citizenship. 

• A government e-mail address (federal, state, or local). 

• Association with a fusion center (for state and local participants and federal 

officers in the field).

Those who do not meet the requirements of the HS SLIC may request access to the FSLT 

community by contacting ia.pm@dhs.gov.
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Intelink-U. Intelink-U is the Intelligence Community’s (IC) sensitive but unclassified-sharing 

network. Content is provided by the IC, other government agencies, foreign partners, academia, 

and open sources. Accounts are available to individuals with federal, state, local, and tribal 

homeland security and law enforcement responsibilities.

• Web site: https://www.intelink.gov.

• Access: Go to Web site, click on “Sign In,” and proceed to “New Account Registration.”

Law Enforcement Online (LEO). LEO can be accessed from any computer system with an Internet 

connection. It is an official government information-sharing and electronic-communications 

portal. LEO provides FBI, joint FBI-DHS, NCTC, and non-federally produced intelligence products 

at the For Official Use Only (FOUO) level. Accounts are available to federal, state, local, and tribal 

personnel performing homeland security or law enforcement duties and personnel from foreign 

law enforcement agencies.

• Web site: http://www.leo.gov.

• Access: Go to Web site, click on the “LEO Membership Criteria,” then the “LEO 

User Application,” or contact the LEO helpdesk at 1-888-334-4536, or via e-mail at 

helpdesk@leo.gov.

OpenSource.gov. The Open Source Center (OSC) and its partners provide timely and tailored 

translations, reporting, and analysis on foreign policy and national security issues. Featured 

are reports and translations from thousands of publications, television and radio stations, and 

Internet sources around the world. Also among the site’s holdings are a foreign video archive 

and fee-based commercial databases for which OSC has negotiated licenses. OSC’s reach 

extends from hard-to-find local publications and video to some of the most renowned thinkers 
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on national security issues inside and outside the U.S. Government. Accounts are available to 

federal, state, and local government employees and contractors. 

• Web site: http://www.opensource.gov.

• Access: Apply online via Web site.

Regional Information Sharing Systems Network (RISSNET). RISSNET facilitates information 

sharing within the law enforcement community to combat multijurisdictional criminal activities 

and conspiracies. It is composed of six multistate intelligence centers (RISS Intelligence Centers). 

Membership includes federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. Access is 

requested through the regional RISS Intelligence Centers. 

• Web site: http://www.riss.net.

• Contact information available at http://www.riss.net/Centers.aspx.

Technical Resources for Incident Prevention (TRIPwire). TRIPwire is the Department of 

Homeland Security’s 24/7 online, secure, collaborative, information-sharing network for bomb 

squad, law enforcement, and other emergency services personnel to learn about current 

terrorist Improvised Explosive Device (IED) tactics, techniques, and procedures, including design 

and emplacement considerations. TRIPwire combines expert analysis and reports with relevant 

documents, images, and videos gathered directly from terrorist sources to help law enforcement 

anticipate, identify, and prevent IED incidents.

• Web site: https://www.tripwire.dhs.gov.

• Access: For more information about the TRIPwire system, please contact the Office 

for Bombing Prevention at OBP@dhs.gov or through the TRIPwire help desk at help@

tripwire-dhs.net.
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SECRET intelligence

Access to the following classified systems requires, at a minimum, a secret security clearance.

NCTC CURRENT (formerly NCTC Online). NCTC CURRENT, the IC’s terrorism resource, can 

be accessed from any SECRET U.S. Government information system (HSDN, FBINet, JDISS, 

or SIPRNet). 

• Web site: https://current.nctc.sgov.gov.

• Access: Authorized access to HSDN, FBINet, JDISS, or SIPRNet and a valid Intelink 

Passport. 

Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) Web page, DHS. The I&A homepage can be accessed 

from any SECRET U.S. Government information system (HSDN, FBINet, JDISS, or SIPRNet). 

• Web site: http://dhs.csp.sgov.gov.

• Access: Authorized access to HSDN, FBINet, JDISS, or SIPRNet. 

FBINet. The FBI intranet can be accessed only from an FBINet computer.

• Web site: http://intranet.fbinet.fbi.

• Access: Authorized access to an FBINet system.

FBI Intelink/SIPRNet. The Web site can be accessed from any SECRET U.S. Government 

information system (HSDN, FBINet, JDISS, or SIPRNet).

• Web site: http://www.fbi.sgov.gov.

• Access: Authorized access to HSDN, FBINet, JDISS, or SIPRNet. 

Open Source Center (OSC). The OSC and its partners provide timely and tailored translations, 

reporting, and analysis on foreign policy and national security issues.

• Web site: http://www.opensource.sgov.gov.

• Access: Authorized access to HSDN, FBINet, JDISS, or SIPRNet and an OSC account.
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Understanding Threat

Information

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understanding threat

information

First responders are likely to receive threat information during breaking events of national 

interest. The threat information can be in the form of a raw intelligence report, alert, warning, 

or notification and provides timely dissemination of unevaluated intelligence within the U.S. 

intelligence, federal law enforcement, and state, local, tribal and private sector communities. 

This is information that individuals or organizations need in order to make decisions. To get the 

most benefit from these products, it is important to have a general understanding of the criteria 

that the intelligence community typically uses to create them. 

The Intelligence Community uses the following criteria to understand threat information:

Access. Addresses the ability of the source to obtain the information. Some commonly used 

levels of source access are:

• Excellent – Excellent refers to firsthand observation. All technical sources have 

excellent access. 

• Good – A source has good access if the source learns information from a subsource 

directly involved in a private conversation. A source may have good access if the source 

directly overhears a conversation, without knowledge of the conversation’s participants.
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• Direct – The intelligence source has direct knowledge of the intelligence fact reported 

or appears to be in the direct contact with those involved or knowledgeable. 

• Indirect – Indirect access refers to any source access that is determined not to be 

excellent or good. 

Credibility. The term refers to the extent to which something is believable. This term is 

commonly used with reference to sources of evidence, to evidence itself, and to hypotheses 

based on evidence. The term reliability is sometimes used as a synonym for credibility, but this 

causes difficulties. Reliability is only one attribute of the credibility of certain forms of evidence. 

The credibility of sources of evidence is both context and time dependent. A person or a source 

may be more credible regarding certain events and at certain times but not so credible regarding 

other events or at other times. Typically, information may be assessed as being credible or 

noncredible, or as levels of credibility (low credibility or high credibility).

Reliability. A subcriteria of credibility applied to the primary source provides a likelihood that the 

most recent reporting can be assessed to be an accurate representation of the events reported 

on the basis of the past performance of the source. This subcriteria is an analyst’s judgment of 

the intelligence source for a particular report. The following terms and amplifications are used 

in describing source reliability:

• SOURCE: (U) An established source with indirect access, much of whose reporting has 

been corroborated over the past eight years. 

• SOURCE: (U) A collaborative source with excellent access, some of whose reporting 

has been corroborated over the past two years. 
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Context Statement: A context statement is optional and describes, in greater detail than the 

source byline, the circumstances under which the source acquired the intelligence contained 

in the report. To the extent possible, it should also address the source’s reporting history 

or other pertinent information regarding source credibility in a discrete statement. For 

example, if a trusted source begins reporting on information substantively different than the 

sort of information the source previously had access to, a report author might use the 

following statements: 

• CONTEXT: (U) Source claimed firsthand access to the information provided in this report. 

• CONTEXT: (U) This information was obtained through a lengthy chain of acquisition, 

and the ultimate subsource cannot be determined.
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Chain of Acquisition. This element addresses source relationships and potential changes in 

the information as it passed from one person to another. The longer the chain of acquisition 

(the more people who obtained and relayed the information) the more likely the information 

changed, a factor affecting the accuracy of the information.

Source Categories. The Intelligence Community distinguishes the source of the information to 

assist in understanding threat information. The following terms and distinctions are commonly 

used in describing sources:

• One-time Contact: This category is for one-time contacts who are providing information 

voluntarily and in confidence, but with whom there is no previous contact. Inclusion 

of a context statement is strongly recommended for all first-time or one-time source 

entries. For example: 

• SOURCE: (U) A contact with [direct/indirect/good/excellent] access who spoke 

in confidence. This is the first reporting from the source, reliability cannot 

be determined. 

• CONTEXT: (U) We have no further information to corroborate the following 

report. The source of the following information is a contact whose access is 

unknown and whose motivations for providing the information are unclear. 

• Limited Contact: This category is for contacts who have provided information more 

than once, but who still do not have an established reporting record. As with a one 

time contact, inclusion of a context statement is strongly recommended. For example:

• SOURCE: (U) A contact with [direct/indirect/good/excellent] access whose 

reporting history is limited and whose reliability cannot be determined. 
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• Contact Who Spoke in Confidence: For private sector sources who voluntarily alert 

federal law enforcement to various suspicious activities. These sources provide 

reliable information that is gained in the course of their ordinary duties. 

• SOURCE: (U) A contact with [direct/indirect/good/excellent] access who spoke in 

confidence and whose reporting, though limited, has been reliable in the past. 

• Collaborative Source: This category is for individuals with whom there is a formal 

relationship. The reliability statement is based on a combination of the quality and 

quantity of the source’s reporting. For example: 

• SOURCE: (U) A collaborative source with [direct/indirect/good/excellent] access, 

[some/much/all] of whose reporting has been corroborated over the past 

[number] years. 

• Established Source: This category is primarily for sources with whom there is a long 

term relationship and who are responsive to tasking. 

• SOURCE: (U) An established source with [direct/indirect/good/excellent] access, 

[some/much/all] of whose reporting has been corroborated over the past 

[number] years. 

• Walk-in/Write-in/Call-in: This category is for individuals who volunteer information 

on their own, with or without requesting some sort of assistance in return. Inclusion 

of a context statement should be considered for sources that fit this category. 

• SOURCE: (U) A walk-in to this agency. 

• SOURCE: (U) A write-in to this agency. 

• SOURCE: (U) A write-in to an official U.S. Government web site. 
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• SOURCE: (U) A call-in to this agency. 

• CONTEXT: (U) We have no further information to corroborate the following 

report. The source of the following information is a walk-in who claimed firsthand 

access to the information provided in the report. The source’s motivations for 

providing the information are unclear. 

• Detainee: This category is used for interviews of detainees in custody, and that are 

held as enemy combatants (i.e., outside of the usual civilian and military U.S. criminal 

justice systems).

• SOURCE: (U) A detainee. 

• Foreign Government Information: This category is used for information received as 

part of an official exchange from a foreign intelligence, security, or police service with 

which there is a formal relationship. 

• SOURCE: (U) Foreign government information. 

• FBI Special Agent (SA): This category is used for reporting firsthand observations 

made by FBI SAs. A report should only be sourced to an FBI SA if the FBI agent’s 

personal investigative initiative, actions, and investigative methods used led to the 

information’s acquisition by the FBI. 

• SOURCE: (U) An FBI agent. 

• Employee of the FBI: This category is used for reporting firsthand observations made 

by FBI employees that are not SAs. 

• SOURCE: (U) An employee of the FBI. 
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• Officer of Another Law Enforcement Agency: This category is used for reporting 

information provided by another U.S. law enforcement agency (that is, federal, state, 

local, or tribal).

• SOURCE: (U) Officer of another law enforcement agency. 

• Officer of Another U.S. Government Entity (non-law enforcement): This category is 

used for reporting information provided by another U.S. Government Entity that is not 

a law enforcement agency, task force, or other entity (federal, state, local, or tribal). 

• SOURCE: (U) Officer of another U.S. Government Entity. 

• Sensitive Source: This category is used for information obtained using sensitive 

technical investigative methods. If a report contains information from more than one 

technical source, they may all be folded into one byline.

• SOURCE: (U) Sensitive source with excellent access. 

• Documentary Source: This category is used for all types of media with recorded/

printed information, regardless of the nature of the media or method(s) of recording. 

• SOURCE: (U) Documentary source. 

• A Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)-Derived Information Report: This category is used for any 

information derived from reporting authorized under the BSA, as administered by the 

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). This byline should always be used in 

conjunction with a context statement that identifies the exact type of BSA report from 

which the information is derived. 

• SOURCE: (U) A Bank Secrecy Act-derived information report. 

• CONTEXT: (U) A suspicious activity report. 
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• Multiple Sources: When a report has multiple sources, it is very important to preserve 

and separate which source provided which information. Any sources, contacts, walkins/call-ins/write-ins, government employees, or detainees that contribute to a report 

must feature their own source byline. 

Additional Source Statement Examples:

• “Source obtained the information from a reliable subsource with direct access.” 

• “Source obtained the information from a subsource whose reporting record has not 

been established.”

• “Source was aware that his information would reach the U.S. Government and may 

have intended his remarks to influence as well as to inform.”

• “The veracity of this source’s information is seriously doubted but is being reported 

here because of the nature of the threat discussed.”

• “The information was provided by the source who spoke in confidence and without 

the knowledge of his government’s superiors. The information may not be discussed 

with any foreign government officials, especially those of the source’s government.”

• “The information provided in this report may have been intended to influence as well 

as to inform.”

Understanding

Estimative Language

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understanding estimative

language

When the Intelligence Community (IC) uses judgments such as “we judge” or “we assess”—

phrases that are used synonymously—as well as “we estimate,” “likely” or “indicate,” the IC is 

trying to convey an analytical assessment or judgment. These assessments, which are based 

on incomplete or at times fragmentary information, are not a fact, proof, or knowledge. Some 

analytical judgments are based directly on collected information; others rest on assessments 

that serve as building blocks. In either type of judgment, the IC does not have “evidence” that 

shows something to be a fact or that definitively links two items or issues. 

Intelligence judgments pertaining to likelihood are intended to reflect the community’s sense of 

the probability of a development or event. 

The IC does not intend the term “unlikely” to imply that an event will not happen. It uses 

“probably” and “likely” to indicate that there is a greater than even chance. The IC uses words 

such as “we cannot dismiss,” “we cannot rule out,” and “we cannot discount” to reflect an 

unlikely—or even remote—event whose consequences are such that it warrants mentioning. 

Words such as “may be” and “suggest” are used to reflect situations in which the IC is unable 

to assess the likelihood generally because relevant information is nonexistent, sketchy, 

or fragmented. 
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In addition to using words within a judgment to convey degrees of likelihood, the IC also ascribes 

“high,” “moderate,” or “low” confidence levels according to the scope and quality of information 

supporting its judgments. 

• High confidence generally indicates that the IC’s judgments are based on high-quality 

information and/or that the nature of the issue makes it possible to render a solid judgment.

• Moderate confidence generally means that the information is interpreted in various ways, 

that the IC has alternative views, or that the information is credible and plausible but not 

corroborated sufficiently to warrant a higher level of confidence.

• Low confidence generally means that the information is scant, questionable or very 

fragmented, and it is difficult to make solid analytic inferences, or that the IC has 

significant concerns or problems with the sources. 

 

Reporting

SUSPICIOUS Activity

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reporting suspicious activity

“Whether a plan for a terrorist attack is homegrown or originates overseas, important knowledge that may 

forewarn of a future attack may be derived from information gathered by state, local, and tribal government 

personnel in the course of routine law enforcement and other activities.”

- National Strategy for Information Sharing, October 2007 

Because of the nature of their work, the more than 800,000 law enforcement and 1.2 million 

firefighters in the United States are perfectly poised to identify criminal activity that may 

be percursor indicators of acts of terrorism. In many instances information that is based on 

suspicious behavior has led to the disruption of a terrorist attack, the arrest of individuals 

intending to do harm, or the corroboration of existing intelligence. It is of utmost importance 

that information on suspicious activities be shared with and between federal, state, local, tribal, 

and private-sector partners. 

Suspicious activity reporting should be made available to your local area fusion centers and 

Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) in a timely manner. 

The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI)

The NSI is a comprehensive and coordinated effort to establish a “unified process for 

reporting, tracking, and accessing SARs” in a manner that rigorously protects the privacy 

and civil liberties of Americans. The NSI strategy is to develop, evaluate, and implement 

common processes and policies for gathering, documenting, processing, analyzing, and 

sharing information about terrorism-related suspicious activities. The long term goal is that 

federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement organizations, as well as the private sector, 

will participate in a standardized and integrated approach to SAR. 
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What is a SAR and why is it important? 

Law enforcement entities carry out counterterrorism-related activities as part of their duty 

to protect local communities from crime and violence. It is important that first responders 

who recognize criminal behaviors and incidents associated with the planning and carrying 

out of a terrorist attack document and share this information via a SAR. 

The SAR Process

All agencies, regardless of size or jurisdiction, have a role in the nationwide SAR process. It is 

essential that state, local, tribal, and federal agencies establish standardized SAR programs 

and work together to share SAR information in order to prevent and deter terrorist attacks 

on American soil. There are five basic cornerstones to implementing the SAR process:

• Stakeholder management - Knowing, understanding, and communicating with all 

stakeholders is key to success. The chief executive and agency leadership must recognize 

the importance of implementing a SAR process within their agency and champion the 

efforts of the SAR process and the NSI both inside and outside the agency. Outreach 

to the community is being done through an initiative called, Building Communities 

of Trust and is also being done in collaboration with the “If you see something, 

say something” campaign launched by the Department of Homeland Security in 

July 2010.

• Training – The NSI training strategy is a multifaceted approach designed to increase 

the effectiveness of state, local, and tribal law enforcement professionals in 

identifying, reporting, evaluating, and sharing pre-incident terrorism indicators to 

prevent acts of terrorism. The overarching goal of the training strategy is to facilitate 

agency implementation of the SAR process, ensure the inclusion of civil rights, civil 

liberties and privacy safeguards, and to enhance a nationwide SAR capability. There 
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are currently three trainings: Chief Executive Briefing, Analyst Training, and Line 

Officer Training. In an attempt to reach all 800,000 law enforcement officers, the Line 

Officer Training is available in several online platforms, including www.mipt.org and 

www.leaps.tv. 

• Privacy and Civil Liberties Protections - The NSI requires each site to consider privacy 

throughout the SAR process by fully adopting the following NSI Privacy Protection 

Framework prior to NSI participation. This framework includes a privacy policy that 

is at least as comprehensive as the ISE Privacy Guidelines, compliance with the most 

current ISE-SAR Functional Standard, and completion of the privacy trainings.

• Enabling Technology - To support the operational mission, NSI Federated Search 

facilitates information sharing using the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM), 

allowing searches across a federated environment that uses a standardized data 

format. The FBI’s eGuardian system has been fully integrated into the NSI Federated 

Search. 

It is critical that SAR information be submitted to the NSI Federated Search, including 

e-Guardian so it can be shared with the nation’s JTTFs.

• Operational Process - The most important component of the program is supporting 

the operational mission. The job of homeland security, safety, or justice cannot be 

relegated to a fragmented approach, making a standards-based method for the 

gathering, processing, reporting, analyzing, and sharing of suspicious activity (also 

referred to as the SAR process) necessary. It is critical that there be integration 

of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies’ SAR processes into this 

nationwide effort.
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SAR Initiative Resources

The following links are valid as of January 2011 and may be available on other government websites

• Guidance for Building Communities of Trust 

http://nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/e071021293_BuildingCommTrust_v2-August%2016.pdf

• Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Protections: A Key Component of the Nationwide 

Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI) http://nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/NSI_

Privacy_Briefing.pdf

• NSI Training Overview http://nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/NSI_Training_Overview.pdf

• National Strategy for Information Sharing: http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives. 

gov/nsc/infosharing/index.html

• Findings and Recommendations of the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Support and 

Implementation Project: www.it.ojp.gov/documents/SARReportOctober2008.pdf

• Information Sharing Environment (ISE) Functional Standard (FS) Suspicious Activity 

Reporting (SAR): http://nsi.ncirc.gov/resources.aspx

• National Information Exchange Model: www.niem.gov

• Additional resources and publications on the SAR initiative or the SAR process can be 

located at:

• nsi.ncirc.gov 

• www.ise.gov
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III

Reference

SECTION

ITACG: intelligence guide for first responders - 2nd edition

Intelligence

Community Terminology

81

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intelligence community

terminology

Terminology used in intelligence circles may seem straightforward at first glance, but the 

definitions often differ from conventional use. The following list of terminology is not exhaustive 

and contains the terms which are likely to be encountered by first responders reading intelligence 

material. While there may be other definitions for these terms, the definitions used in this guide 

were selected to be the most relevant to the first responder audience.
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A

Access: The means, ability, or permission to approach, enter, or use a resource. 

Actionable: (1) Information that is directly useful to customers for immediate exploitation 

without having to go through the full intelligence production process; it may address strategic 

or tactical needs, support of U.S. negotiating teams, or actions dealing with such matters as 

international terrorism or narcotics. (2) Intelligence and information with sufficient specificity 

and detail that explicit responses to prevent a crime or terrorist attack can be implemented.

Agent: An individual who acts under the direction of an intelligence agency or security service 

to obtain, or assist in obtaining, information for intelligence or counterintelligence purposes. 

All-Source Intelligence: Intelligence information derived from several or all of the intelligence 

disciplines including SIGINT, HUMINT, MASINT, OSINT, and GEOINT.

Analysis: The process by which people transform information into intelligence; systematic 

examination in order to identify significant facts, make judgments, and draw conclusions.

B

Basic Intelligence: Intelligence, on a subject, that may be used as reference material for planning 

and in evaluating subsequent information.

Behaviors: Observable actions one uses to achieve results.
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C

Case Officer: A professional employee of an intelligence organization who is responsible for 

providing direction for an agent operation.

Clandestine Activity: An activity that is usually extensive, goal-oriented, planned, and executed 

to conceal the existence of the operation. Only participants and the agency sponsoring the 

activity are intended to know about the operation. “Storefront” operations, “stings,” and certain 

concentrated undercover investigations can be classified as clandestine activities.

Classification: The determination that official information requires, in the interest of national 

security, a specific degree of protection against unauthorized disclosure, coupled with a 

designation signifying that such a determination has been made; the designation is normally 

termed a security classification and includes Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.

Collation (of information): A review of collected and evaluated information to determine its 

substantive applicability to a case or problem at issue and placement of useful information into 

a form or system that permits easy and rapid access and retrieval. 

Collateral Information: National security information classified TOP SECRET, SECRET or 

CONFIDENTIAL that is not sensitive compartmented information.

Collection (of information): The identification, location, and recording/storing of information—

typically from an original source and using both human and technological means—for input into 

the intelligence cycle for the purpose of meeting a defined tactical or strategic intelligence goal. 

Collection Plan: The preliminary step toward completing an assessment of intelligence 

requirements to determine what type of information needs to be collected, alternatives for how 

to collect the information, and a timeline for collecting the information.
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Communications Intelligence (COMINT): The capture of information, either encrypted or in 

“plaintext,” exchanged between intelligence targets or transmitted by a known or suspected 

intelligence target for the purposes of tracking communications patterns and protocols (traffic 

analysis), establishing links between intercommunicating parties or groups, and/or analysis of 

the substantive meaning of the communication. COMINT is a sub-discipline of SIGINT.

Conclusion: A definitive statement about a suspect, action, or state of nature based on the 

analysis of information.

Confidential: A security classification designating information that, if made public, could be 

expected to cause damage to national security.

Consumer: An authorized person who uses intelligence or intelligence information directly in 

the decisionmaking process or to produce other intelligence. 

Coordination: (1) The process by which producers gain the views of other producers on the 

adequacy of a specific draft assessment, estimate, or report; it is intended to increase a product’s 

factual accuracy, clarify its judgments, and resolve or sharpen statements of disagreement on 

major contentious issues. (2) The process of seeking concurrence from one or more groups, 

organizations, or agencies regarding a proposal or an activity for which they share some 

responsibility and that may result in contributions, concurrences, or dissents. 

Counterintelligence: Information gathered and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, 

disrupt, or protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations 

conducted for or on behalf of foreign powers, organizations, or persons, or their agents, or 

international terrorist organizations or activities. 
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Counterterrorism: (1) The practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies adopted to prevent 

or respond to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed. (2) A strategy intended to 

prevent or counter terrorism.

Covert: Planned and executed to conceal the collection of information and/or the identity of 

any officer or agent participating in the activity. Intelligence operations conducted in secrecy.

Critical Infrastructure Information: Information related to the security of critical infrastructure 

or protected systems— (1) actual, potential, or threatened interference with, attack on, 

compromise of, or incapacitation of critical infrastructure or protected systems by either physical 

or computer-based attack or other similar conduct (including the misuse of or unauthorized 

access to all types of communications and data transmission systems) that violates federal, 

state, or local law, harms interstate commerce of the United States, or threatens public health or 

safety; (2) the ability of any critical infrastructure or protected system to resist such interference, 

compromise, or incapacitation, including any planned or past assessment, projection, or 

estimate of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure or a protected system, including security 

testing, risk evaluation thereto, risk management planning, or risk audit; or (3) any planned 

or past operational problem or solution regarding critical infrastructure or protected systems, 

including repair, recovery, reconstruction, insurance, or continuity, to the extent it is related to 

such interference, compromise, or incapacitation. Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. 

Cryptanalysis: The process of deciphering encrypted communications of an intelligence target.

Cryptography: The creation of a communications code/encryption system for communication 

transmission with the intent of precluding the consumption and interpretation of one’s 

own messages.

Cryptology: The study of communications encryption methods that deals with the development 

of “codes” and the “scrambling” of communications to prevent the interception of the 

communications by an unauthorized or unintended party.
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Current Intelligence: Intelligence of all types and forms of immediate interest to the users of 

intelligence; it may be disseminated without complete evaluation, interpretation, analysis, 

or integration.

D

Deconfliction: The process or system used to determine whether multiple law enforcement 

agencies are investigating the same person or crime and which provides notification to each 

agency involved of the shared interest in the case, as well as providing contact information. 

This is an information and intelligence-sharing process that seeks to minimize conflicts between 

agencies and maximize the effectiveness of an investigation.

Deductive Logic: The reasoning process of taking information and arriving at conclusions from 

within that information.

Deployment: The short-term assignment of personnel to address specific national securityrelated problems or demands.

Dissemination (of intelligence): The timely distribution of intelligence products to intelligence 

consumers in a suitable form (oral, written, or graphic). 

Downgrade: The process of editing or otherwise altering intelligence materials, information, 

reports, or other products to conceal and protect intelligence sources, methods, capabilities, 

analytical procedures, or privileged information in order to permit wider distribution. 

(See Sanitization.)
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E

Electronics Intelligence (ELINT): (1) Information derived primarily from electronic signals that 

do not contain speech or text (which are considered COMINT). (2) Information obtained for 

intelligence purposes from the intercept of electromagnetic non-communications transmissions 

by other than the intended recipient. The most common sources of this type of information are 

radar signals. ELINT is a sub-discipline of SIGINT.

Essential Elements of Information: Items of intelligence information essential for timely 

decisions and for enhancement of operations that relate to foreign powers, forces, targets, or 

physical environments. (See Priority Intelligence Requirement.)

Estimate: (1) An analysis of a situation, development, or trend that identifies its major elements, 

interprets the significance, and appraises the future possibilities and the prospective results of 

the various actions that might be taken. (2) An appraisal of the capabilities, vulnerabilities, and 

potential courses of action of a foreign nation or combination of nations in consequence of a 

specific national plan, policy, decision, or contemplated course of action. (3) An analysis of an 

actual or contemplated clandestine operation in relation to the situation in which it is or would 

be conducted to identify and appraise such factors as available and needed assets, and potential 

obstacles, accomplishments, and consequences. (See National Intelligence Estimate.)

Estimative Intelligence: A category of intelligence that attempts to project probable future 

foreign courses of action and developments and their implications for U.S. interests; it may or 

may not be coordinated and may be national or departmental intelligence.

Evaluation: An appraisal of the worth of an intelligence activity, information, or product in 

terms of its contribution to a specific goal. All information collected for the intelligence cycle 

is reviewed for its quality with an assessment of the validity and reliability of the information.
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Exploitation: The process of obtaining intelligence information from any source and taking 

advantage of it for intelligence purposes.

F

Field Intelligence Group (FIG): The centralized intelligence component in an FBI field office that 

is responsible for the management, execution, and coordination of intelligence functions within 

the field office region.

Finished Intelligence: The intelligence product resulting from the collection, processing, 

integration, analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of available information. 

Foreign Disclosure Officer (FDO): A person specifically designated in writing who is authorized to 

release and/or disclose classified and controlled unclassified information to foreign governments 

and international organizations. Intelligence Community directives require all classified and 

controlled unclassified information to be specifically authorized by an FDO prior to release.

Foreign Instrumentations Intelligence (FISINT): Information derived from the intercept of 

foreign electromagnetic emissions associated with the testing and operational deployment of 

non-U.S. aerospace, surface, and subsurface systems including, but not limited to, telemetry, 

beaconry, electronic interrogators, and video data links. FISINT is a sub-discipline of SIGINT.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): The FISA of 1978, as amended, prescribes 

procedures for the collection of ‘foriegn intelligence information’ by electronic surveillance, 

physical search, and other means. FISA is codified at 50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

For Official Use Only (FOUO): (1) Per 32 CFR Section 286.15, information that has not been given 

a security classification pursuant to the criteria of an Executive Order, but which may be witheld 

from the public because disclosure would cause a forseeable harm to an interest protected by 

one or more Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) exemptions shall be considered as being FOUO. 
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(2) A dissemination control marking used to identify unclassified information of a sensitive 

nature, not otherwise categorized by statute or regulation, the unauthorized disclosure of which 

could adversely impact a person’s privacy or welfare, the conduct of Federal programs, or other 

programs or operations essential to the national interest. 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, enacted in 

1966, statutorily provides that any person has a right, enforceable in court, to access federal 

agency records, except to the extent that such records (or portions thereof) are protected from 

disclosure by one of nine exemptions or three exclusions.

Fusion Center: A collaborative effort of two or more agencies that provide resources, 

expertise, and information to the center with the goal of maximizing the ability to detect, 

prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorism activity. Recognized as a valuable 

information-sharing resource, state and major urban area fusion centers are the focus, but not 

exclusive points, within the state and local environment for the receipt and sharing of terrorism 

information, homeland security information, and law enforcement information related 

to terrorism.

G

Geospatial: Describes any data containing coordinates defining a location on the Earth’s surface.

Geospatial Intelligence: Intelligence derived from the exploitation of imagery and geospatial 

information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and geographically 

referenced activities on the Earth.
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Granularity: Considers the specific details and pieces of information, including nuances 

and situational inferences, that constitute the elements on which intelligence is developed 

through analysis.

H

High Side: A colloquial term for Top Secret government computer systems. 

Homeland Security Information: Any information possessed by a state, local, tribal, or 

federal agency that relates to a threat of terrorist activity; the ability to prevent, interdict, or 

disrupt terrorist activity; the identification or investigation of a suspected terrorist or terrorist 

organization or any person, group, or entity associated with or assisting a suspected terrorist or 

terrorist organization; or a planned or actual response to a terrorist act. 

Hypothesis: An interim conclusion regarding persons, events, and/or commodities that is 

formed on the basis of the accumulation and analysis of intelligence information that is to be 

proven or disproven by further investigation and analysis.

I

Imagery Intelligence (IMINT): Includes representations of objects reproduced electronically or 

by optical means on film, electronic display devices, or other media. Imagery can be derived 

from visual photography, radar sensors, infrared sensors, lasers, and electro-optics. 

Indications and Warning (I&W): Intelligence activities intended to detect and report timesensitive intelligence information on developments that could involve a threat to U.S. or Allied 

military, political, or economic interests, or to U.S. citizens abroad. 
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Indicator: Generally defined and observable actions that, on the basis of an analysis of past 

known behaviors and characteristics, collectively suggest that a person may be committing, 

preparing to commit, or has committed an unlawful act.

Inductive Logic: The reasoning process of using diverse pieces of specific information to infer 

(from the information) a broader meaning through the course of hypothesis development.

Inference Development: The creation of a probabilistic conclusion, estimate, or prediction 

related to an intelligence target by using inductive or deductive logic in the analysis of raw 

information related to the target.

Informant: An individual not affiliated with a law enforcement agency who provides information 

about criminal behavior to a law enforcement agency. An informant may be a community 

member, a businessperson, or a criminal informant who seeks to protect himself/herself from 

prosecution and/or provide the information in exchange for payment. 

Information: Pieces of raw, unanalyzed data that identify persons, evidence, or events, or 

illustrate processes that indicate the incidence of an event or evidence of an event.

Information Sharing Environment (ISE): The ISE provides analysts, operators and investigators 

with integrated and synthesized terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and homeland 

security information needed to enhance national security and help keep our people safe. The 

ISE supports the law enforcement, public safety, homeland security, intelligence, defense, and 

foriegn affairs communities and facilitates sharing between and among federal, state, local, 

tribal, and territorial governments, the private sector and foriegn partners. The ISE established 

by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and the Program Manager was 

granted government wide authority to plan for, oversee the implementation of, and manage 

the ISE.
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Information Sharing System: An integrated and secure methodology, whether computerized or 

manual, designed to efficiently and effectively distribute critical information. 

Intelligence Activity: A generic term used to encompass any or all of the efforts and 

endeavors undertaken by intelligence organizations, including collection, analysis, production, 

dissemination, and covert or clandestine activities.

Intelligence Agency: A component organization of the Intelligence Community.

Intelligence Analyst: A professional intelligence officer who is responsible for performing, 

coordinating, or supervising the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence. 

Intelligence Assessment: Refers to a longer, often detailed intelligence product; encompasses 

most analytical studies dealing with subjects of policy significance.

Intelligence Bulletin: Refers to a shorter, often less detailed intelligence product that focuses on 

a particular topic or incident. 

Intelligence Community: A federation of Executive Branch agencies and organizations that work 

separately and together to conduct intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of foreign 

relations and the protection of U.S. national security. These organizations are (in alphabetical 

order): Air Force Intelligence, Army Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Coast Guard 

Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland 

Security, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Director of National Intelligence, 

Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Marine Corps Intelligence, 

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, National Security 

Agency, and Navy Intelligence. 
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Intelligence Cycle: The steps by which information is converted into intelligence and made 

available to users. The cycle has been described as including five steps: planning and direction, 

collection, processing, production, and dissemination. Evaluation, although generally assumed, 

is a sixth step in the cycle that is considered essential.

Intelligence Estimate: An analysis of a situation, development, or trend that identifies its major 

elements, interprets the significance, and appraises the future possibilities and the prospective 

results of the various actions that might be taken. (See National Intelligence Estimate.)

Intelligence Information: Unevaluated material that may be used in the production 

of intelligence.

Intelligence-Led Policing: The dynamic use of intelligence to guide operational law enforcement 

activities to targets, commodities, or threats for both tactical responses and strategic 

decisionmaking for resource allocation and/or strategic responses.

Intelligence Mission: The role that the intelligence function of an agency fulfills in support of 

the overall mission of the agency; it specifies in general language what the function is intended 

to accomplish.

Intelligence Needs: Intelligence requirements not being addressed in current intelligence 

activities to support customers and missions. 

Intelligence Officer: A professional employee of an intelligence organization engaged in 

intelligence activities.

Intelligence Products: Reports or documents that contain assessments, forecasts, associations, 

links, and other outputs from the analytic process. 

Intelligence Requirement: Any subject, general or specific, for which there is a need to collect 

intelligence information or to produce intelligence.
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J 

Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF): JTTFs are coordinated “action arms” for federal, state, and 

local government response to terrorist threats in specific U.S. geographic regions. The FBI is the 

lead agency that overseas JTTFs.

K

Known or Suspected Terrorist: An individual “known or appropriately suspected to be or have 

been engaged in conduct constituting, in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism.”

L

Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES): Unclassified information typically originated by the FBI that 

may be used in criminal prosecution and requires protection against unauthorized disclosure 

to protect sources and methods, investigative activity, evidence, and the integrity of pretrial 

investigative reports. 

Low Side: A colloquial term for non-top secret computer system; can be used to refer to 

unclassified or secret-level systems.
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M

Major Urban Area Fusion Center: Fusion centers located in large metropolitan areas that 

support the receipt and sharing of terrorism, homeland security, and law enforcement 

information related to terrorism. Several states maintain state-level and major urban area-level 

fusion centers, for example; the Commonwealth Fusion Center is Massachusetts’ state fusion 

center, while the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC) is its major urban area fusion center. 

Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT): Technically derived intelligence data other 

than imagery and SIGINT. The data results in intelligence that locates, identifies, or describes 

distinctive characteristics of targets. It employs a broad group of disciplines including nuclear, 

optical, radio frequency, acoustics, seismic, and materials sciences.

Methods: These are the methodologies (that is, electronic surveillance or undercover 

operations) of how critical information is obtained and recorded.

N

National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC): NCTC serves as the primary organization in the 

United States Government for integrating and analyzing all intelligence pertaining to terrorism 

possessed or acquired by the United States Government (except purely domestic terrorism); 

serves as the central and shared-knowledge bank on terrorism information; provides all 

source intelligence support to government-wide counterterrorism activities; establishes the 

information technology (IT) systems and architectures within the NCTC and between the NCTC 

and other agencies that enable access to, as well as integration, dissemination, and use of, 

terrorism information. 
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National Intelligence Council (NIC): The NIC is the Intelligence Community’s (IC) center for 

midterm and long-term strategic thinking. Its primary functions are to support the Director 

of National Intelligence, provide a focal point for policymakers to task the IC to answer their 

questions, reach out to nongovernment experts in academia and the private sector to broaden 

the IC’s perspective, contribute to the IC’s effort to allocate its resources to policymakers’ 

changing needs, and lead the IC’s effort to produce National Intelligence Estimates and other 

NIC products.

National Intelligence Estimate (NIE): NIEs are produced by the National Intelligence Council, 

express the coordinated judgments of the U.S. Intelligence Community, and thus represent the 

most authoritative assessment of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) with respect to a 

particular national security issue. They contain the coordinated judgments of the Intelligence 

Community regarding the probable course of future events.

National Security: Measures adopted by the government of a nation in order to assure the safety 

of its citizens, guard against attack, and prevent disclosure of sensitive or classified information 

which might threaten or embarrass said nation.

National Security Intelligence: The collection and analysis of information concerned with 

the relationship and equilibrium of the United States with foreign powers, organizations, and 

persons regarding political and economic factors, as well as the maintenance of the United 

States’ sovereign principles.

National Threat Advisory System (NTAS): The color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System 

will now be implemented as the NTAS as of April, 2011. Under the new, two-tiered system, 

DHS will issue formal, detailed alerts regarding information about a specific or credible terrorist 

threat. These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an “imminent threat” or “elevated 

threat.” The alerts also will provide a concise summary of the potential threat, information 

about actions being taken to ensure public safety, and recommended steps that individuals and 

communities can take.
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Network: A structure of interconnecting components designed to communicate with each other 

and perform a function or functions as a unit in a specified manner.

No Fly: An individual not permitted to board commercial flights because of terrorism concerns. 

No-Fly List: A list created and maintained by the U.S. Government to keep known or suspected 

terrorists from boarding and flying on commercial flights.

O

Open Source: Information of potential intelligence value that is available to the general public 

that can be used to enhance intelligence analysis and reporting.

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT): Publicly available information appearing in print or electronic 

form, including radio, television, newspapers, journals, the Internet, commercial databases, and 

videos, graphics, and drawings used to enhance intelligence analysis and reporting.

Operational Intelligence: (1) Intelligence required for planning and executing operations. (2) 

Information on an active or potential target, such as a group or individual, relevant premises, 

contact points, and methods of communication, that is evaluated and systematically organized. 

The process is developmental in nature wherein there are sufficient articulated reasons to 

suspect nefarious activity. 

Operations Security: A systematic, proven process by which a government, organization, 

or individual can identify, control, and protect generally unclassified information about an 

operation/activity and thus, deny or mitigate an adversary’s/competitor’s ability to compromise 

or interrupt said operation/activity.
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P

Personally Identifiable Information: Any information that permits the identity of an individual 

to be directly or indirectly inferred, including other information that is linked or linkable to 

an individual. This includes, but is not limited to information about an individual’s education, 

financial transactions, and medical, criminal or employment history as well as information which 

can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as his/her name, social security 

number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, biometric records, etc., or any other 

information which is linked or linkable to an individual.

Plus 1: (1) One additional something, (for example, person or data element). (2) An individual’s 

name plus an additional data element (that is, date of birth, SSN, passport number). Typically 

used in reference to information, beyond an individual’s name, required to confirm an 

individual’s identity. 

Policy: The principles and values that guide the performance of a duty. A policy is not a statement 

of what must be done in a particular situation. Rather, it is a statement of guiding principles that 

should be followed in activities that are directed toward the attainment of goals.

Prediction: The projection of future actions or changes in trends that is based on an analysis of 

information depicting historical trends from which a forecast is based.

Priority Intelligence Requirement: A prioritized informational need that is critical to 

mission success.

Privacy Act: The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, establishes a code of fair information 

practices that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally 

identifiable information about individuals that is maintained in systems of records by federal 
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agencies. A system of records is a group of records under the control of an agency from which 

information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifier assigned to the 

individual. The Privacy Act requires that agencies give the public notice of their systems 

of records by publication in the Federal Register. The Privacy Act prohibits the disclosure of 

information from a system of records absent the written consent of the subject individual, 

unless the disclosure is pursuant to one of twelve statutory exceptions. The Act also provides 

individuals with a means by which to seek access to and amend their records, and sets forth 

various agency record-keeping requirements.

Privacy (Information): The assurance that legal and constitutional restrictions on the collection, 

maintenance, use, and disclosure of personally identifiable information will be adhered to by 

anyone who has access to such information, with use of such information to be strictly limited 

to circumstances where legal process permits use of the personally identifiable information.

Privacy (Personal): The assurance that legal and constitutional restrictions on the 

collection, maintenance, use, and disclosure of behaviors of an individual, including his/her 

communications, associations, and transactions, will be adhered to by anyone who has access 

to such information, with use of such information to be strictly limited to circumstances where 

legal process authorizes surveillance and investigation.

Private Sector Partners: As used in the Information Sharing Environment (ISE) Implementation 

Plan, the term “private sector partners” includes vendors, owners, and operators of products 

and infrastructures participating in the ISE.

Program Manager-Information Sharing Environment: The ISE Program Manager (PM-ISE) 

works with mission partners - federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, the private 

sector and foreign partners - to improve the management, discovery, fusing, sharing, delivery of, 

and collaboration around terrorism-related information. The PM-ISE facilitates the development 

of the ISE by bringing together mission partners and aligning business processes, standards 

and architecture, security and access controls, privacy protections, and best practices. They 

provide ideas, tools, and resources to mission partners and assist them in removing barriers, 

facilitating change, and ensuring that ISE implementation proceeds efficiently and effectively. 
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Consistent with the direction and policies issued by the President and the Director of the Office 

of Management and Budget (OMB), the PM-ISE issues government-wide procedures, guidelines, 

instructions, and functional standards, as appropriate, for the management, development, and 

proper operation of the ISE. The ISE was established by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 and the Program Manager was granted government wide authority to 

plan for, oversee the implementation of, and manage the ISE.

Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Program: Enhances information sharing 

between the private sector and the government. The Department of Homeland Security and 

other federal, state, and local analysts use PCII to analyze and secure critical infrastructure and 

protected systems; identify vulnerabilities and develop risk assessments; and enhance recovery 

preparedness measures.

Q

Qualitative (Methods): Research methods that collect and analyze information which is 

described in narrative or rhetorical form, with conclusions drawn based on the cumulative 

interpreted meaning of that information.

Quantitative (Methods): Research methods that collect and analyze information which can be 

counted or placed on a scale of measurement that can be statistically analyzed.

R

Raw Data: Bits of data collected which individually convey little or no useful information and 

must be collated, aggregated, or interpreted to provide meaningful information. 
Raw Intelligence: A colloquial term meaning collected intelligence information that has not yet 

been converted into finished intelligence.

Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS): Composed of six regional intelligence centers that 

provide secure communications, information-sharing resources, and investigative support to 

combat multijurisdictional crime and terrorist threats to local, state, tribal, and federal member 

law enforcement agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, Australia, 

Canada, and England.

Requirements (Intelligence): The details of what a customer needs from the intelligence 

function. 

Responsibility: Reflects how the authority of a unit or individual is used and determines 

whether goals have been accomplished and the mission fulfilled in a manner that is 

consistent with the defined limits of authority.

Risk: The potential for an unwanted outcome resulting from an incident, event, or occurrence, 

as determined by its likelihood and the associated consequences. 

Risk Assessment: An analysis of a target, illegal commodity, or victim to identify the probability 

of being attacked or compromised and to analyze vulnerabilities. Generally includes preventative 

steps to be taken to lessen the risk.

S

Sanitization: The process of editing or otherwise altering intelligence materials, information, 

reports, or other products to conceal and protect intelligence sources, methods, capabilities, 

analytical procedures, or privileged information to permit wider dissemination.

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Secret: Information that if made public could be expected to cause serious damage to 

national security.

Selectee (TSA): An individual who must undergo additional security screening before being 

permitted to board a commercial aircraft. 

Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) Information: Information that has not been classified by 

a federal law enforcement agency that pertains to significant law enforcement cases under 

investigation and to criminal intelligence reports and for which dissemination is permitted to 

only those persons necessary to further the investigation or to prevent a crime or terrorist act. 

Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI): Classified information concerning or derived from 

intelligence sources, methods, or analytical processes that is required to be handled within 

formal access control systems established by the Director of National Intelligence.

Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF): An accredited area, room, group of 

rooms, buildings, or installation where SCI may be stored, used, discussed, and/or processed.

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT): Intelligence derived from signals intercepts comprising, individually 

or in combination, all communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), 

and/or foreign instrumentation signals intelligence (FISINT).

Source: A book, statement, person, etc., supplying information. From an intelligence perspective, 

sources are persons (human intelligence or HUMINT) who collect or possess critical information 

needed for intelligence analysis.
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Suspicious Activity Report (SAR): Per the Information Sharing Environment Functional Standard, 

Suspicious Activity Reporting Version 1.5, a SAR is an official documentation of observed behavior 

reasonably indicative of preoperational planning related to terrorism or other criminal activity. 

System of Records: Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, a System of Records is a group of any 

records under the control of any agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the 

individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifier assigned to the individual. 

The Privacy Act requires each agency to publish notice of its systems of records in the Federal 

Register. This notice is generally referred to as a System of Records Notice (SORN).

T

Tactical Intelligence: Information regarding a specific event that can be used immediately by 

operational units to further investigations, plan tactical operations, support preparedness and 

response/recovery operations, and provide for first responder safety.

Target: (1) Any person, organization, group, crime or criminal series, or commodity being 

subject to investigation and intelligence analysis. (2) An individual, operation, or activity that 

an adversary has determined possesses information that might prove useful in attaining his/

her objective.

Targeting: The identification of incidents, trends, and patterns with discernable characteristics 

that makes collection and analysis of intelligence information an efficient and effective method 

for identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting those who are responsible.

Target Profile: A person-specific profile that contains sufficient detail to initiate a target operation 

or support an ongoing operation against that individual or a network of such individuals. 
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Tear-line: Intelligence information which has been sanitized (removal of sources and methods) 

so it may be disseminated at a lower classification. 

Tear-Line Report: A report containing classified intelligence or information that is prepared in 

such a manner that data relating to intelligence sources and methods are easily removed from 

the report to protect sources and methods from disclosure. Typically, the information below the 

“tear line” can be released as sensitive but unclassified. 

Terrorism: Premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant 

targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience. 

Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE): A consolidated repository of information 

on international terrorist identities that is the authoritative database supporting the Terrorist 

Screening Center and the U.S. Government’s watch listing system.

Terrorist Screening Center (TSC): Established in support of Homeland Security Presidential 

Directive 6 (HSPD-6), dated September 16, 2003, and led by the FBI, to consolidate the Federal 

Government’s approach to terrorism screening and provide for the appropriate and lawful use 

of terrorist information in screening processes. The TSC maintains the Federal Government’s 

consolidated and integrated terrorist watch list, known as the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB). 

Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB): The database that contains the consolidated and 

integrated terrorist watch list maintained by the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). The No 

Fly and Selectee Lists are components of the TSDB.

Third-Agency Rule: An agreement wherein a source agency releases information under the 

condition that the receiving agency does not release the information to any other agency—that 

is, a third agency.
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Threat: (1) A source of unacceptable risk. (2) The capability of an adversary coupled with his 

intentions to undertake actions detrimental to the success of program activities or operations.

Threat Assessment: Appraisal of the threat that an activity or group poses to a jurisdiction, either 

at present or in the future, that may recommend ways to lessen the threat. The assessment 

focuses on opportunity, capability, and willingness to fulfill the threat. 

Top Secret: Information that if made public could be expected to cause exceptionally grave 

damage to national security.

U

Unauthorized Disclosure: A communication or physical transfer, usually of sensitive but 

unclassified or classified information, to an unauthorized recipient. 

Unclassified: Information not subject to a security classification, that is, information not 

CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET or TOP SECRET. Although unclassified information is not subject to a 

security classification, there may still be limits on disclosure. 

V

Validity: Information which has some foundation, or is based on truth. Asks the question, “Does 

the information actually represent what we believe it represents?”

Variable: Any characteristic on which individuals, groups, items, or incidents differ.
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Vet: (1) To subject a proposal, work product, or concept to an appraisal by command personnel 

and/or subject matter experts to ascertain the product’s accuracy, consistency with philosophy, 

and/or feasibility before proceeding. (2) To subject information or sources to careful examination 

or scrutiny to determine suitability.

Vulnerability: A physical feature or operational attribute that renders an entity open to 

exploitation or susceptible to a given hazard. 

Vulnerability Assessment: An assessment of possible terrorist targets within a jurisdiction 

integrated with an assessment of the target’s weaknesses, likelihood of being attacked, and 

ability to withstand an attack.

W 

Warning: To notify in advance of possible harm or victimization as a result of information and 

intelligence gained concerning the probability of a crime or terrorist attack. 

X

Y

Z

Intelligence

Community Acronyms

& Abbreviations

109

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intelligence

community acronyms

& abbreviations

The Intelligence Community makes extensive use of acronyms and abbreviations in intelligence 

reporting, presentations, and conversation–many are unique to this community. They are 

so frequently used, that sometimes an acronym or abbreviation may be well known and 

understood; however, the user could not tell you what the letters mean. The following list, while 

not exhaustive, contains acronyms and abbreviations that are likely to be encountered by first 

responders reading intelligence material or interacting with intelligence personnel. 
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A

AAR: After Action Report

ACIC: Army Counterintelligence Center

AFIS: Automated Fingerprint Identification System

AFOSI: Air Force Office of Special Investigations

AKA: Also Known As

AMCIT: American Citizen

AMEMB: American Embassy

AQ: al-Qa‘ida

AQAP: al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula

AQI: al-Qa‘ida in Iraq

AQIM: al-Qa‘ida in the Islamic Maghreb [formerly Salafist Group for Preaching and 

Combat (GSPC)]

ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

AUC: United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia

AWN: Alerts, Warnings, and Notifications

B

BPA: Border Patrol Agent

BW: Biological Warfare
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C

C: Confidential

CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

CBR: Chemical, Biological and Radiological

CBRN: Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear

CBRNE: Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives

CBT: Computer-Based Training

CBW: Chemical and Biological Warfare

CDD: Chemical Dispersion Device

CI: Counterintelligence

CI Poly: Counterintelligence Polygraph

CIA: Central Intelligence Agency

CIR: Central Intelligence Report

CIR: Counterintelligence Report

CIR: Current Intelligence Report 

CIS: Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS

CLASS: Consular Lookout and Support System

COI: Community of Interest

COMINT: Communications Intelligence

COMSEC: Communications Security

CONOPS: Concept of Operations

CONUS: Continental United States

COOP: Continuity of Operations

CT: Counterterrorism

CVI: Chemical-Terrorism Vulnerability Information
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D

D/CIA: Director Central Intelligence Agency (formerly DCI)

DCI: Director of Central Intelligence [now Director of National Intelligence (DNI)]

D&D: Denial and Deception

DEA: Drug Enforcement Administration

DHS: Department of Homeland Security

DI: Directorate of Intelligence

DIA: Defense Intelligence Agency

DISES: Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service

DISL: Defense Intelligence Senior Level

DNI: Director of National Intelligence [replaces Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)]

DO: Directorate of Operations, CIA (now NCS, National Clandestine Service, CIA)

DOB: Date of Birth

DOD: Department of Defense

DOE: Department of Energy

DOS: Department of State

DPOB: Date and Place of Birth

DSS: Diplomatic Security Service

DT: Domestic Terrorism

E

EAAQ: East Africa al Qa’ida

EEI: Essential Element of Information [now Priority Intelligence Requirement (PIR)]

EIF: Entry into Force

ELINT: Electronic Intelligence

EO: Executive Order
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EPA: Environmental Protection Agency

ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival

ETA: Basque Fatherland and Liberty

EWI: Entry Without Inspection

F

FAA: Federal Aviation Administration

FAM: Federal Air Marshal

FARC: Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation

FBIS: Foreign Broadcast Information System (now Open-Source Center)

FDO: Foreign Disclosure Officer

FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency

FGI: Foreign Government Information

FIG: Field Intelligence Group, FBI

FIR: Field Information Report

FIS: Foreign Intelligence Service

FISA: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

FISINT: Foreign Instrumentations Intelligence 

FNU: First Name Unknown

FOIA: Freedom of Information Act

FOUO: For Official Use Only

FPO: Federal Protective Service Officer

FPS: Federal Protective Service

FPU: Force Protective Unit
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G 

GEOINT: Geospatial Intelligence

GIA: Armed Islamic Group

GS: General Schedule

GWOT: Global War on Terror

H

HCS: Human Control System

HIR: Homeland Information Report

HITRAC: Homeland Infrastructure Threat and Risk Analysis Center, DHS

HSC: Homeland Security Council

HSDN: Homeland Secure Data Network

HSIN: Homeland Security Information Network (DHS Web portal)

HSIN-I: Homeland Security Information Network-Intelligence (DHS Web portal)

HS SLIC: Homeland Security State and Local Community of Interest

HUMINT: Human Intelligence

HUM: Harakat ul-Mujahidin

I

I&A: Office of Intelligence and Analysis, DHS

I&W: Indications and Warning

IA: Intelligence Assessment

IA: Intelligence Analyst
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IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency

IBIS: Interagency Border Inspection System

IC: Intelligence Community

ICCD: Improvised Chemical Dispersion Device

ICD: Improvised Chemical Device

ICD: Intelligence Community Directive (replaces Director of Central Intelligence 

Directives or DCIDs)

ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS

IDENT: Automated Biometric Fingerprint Identification System

IED: Improvised Explosive Device

IG: Inspector General

IICT: Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism, National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)

IIR: Intelligence Information Report

IJU: Islamic Jihad Union

IMINT: Imagery Intelligence

IMU: Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan

INA: Immigration and Nationality Act

IND: Improvised Nuclear Device

INFOSEC: Information Security

INR: Bureau of Intelligence and Research, DOS

INTERPOL: International Police

IRT: Incident Response Team

IRTPA: Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004

ISC: Information Sharing Council

ISE: Information Sharing Environment

IT: International Terrorism

ITACG: Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group, NCTC
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J

JCS: Joint Chiefs of Staff

JEM: Jaish-e-Mohammed

JI: Jemaah Islamiya 

JITF-CT: Joint Intelligence Task Force-Combating Terrorism, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

JRIES: Joint Regional Information Exchange System

JSA: Joint Special Assessment

JTF: Joint Task Force

JTTF: Joint Terrorism Task Force

JWICS: Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System

K 

KST: Known or Suspected Terrorist

L

LAN: Local Area Network

LEA: Law Enforcement Agency

LEO: Law Enforcement Officer

LEO: Law Enforcement Online (FBI sensitive but unclassified Web portal)

LES: Law Enforcement Sensitive

LIFG: Libya Islamic Fighting Group
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LNU: Last Name Unknown

LPR: Lawful Permanent Resident

LT: Lashkar-e Tayyiba 

LTTE: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 

M

MANPADS: Man-Portable Air Defense System

MASINT: Measurement and Signature Intelligence

MEK: Mujahedin-e Khalq

MI: Military Intelligence

MOA: Memorandum of Agreement

MOU: Memorandum of Understanding

N

NAILS: National Automated Immigration Lookout System

NCIC: National Crime Information Center

NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service

NCIX: National Counterintelligence Executive

NCPC: National Counter Proliferation Center

NCR: National Capital Region

NCS: National Clandestine Service [replaces Directorate of Operations (DO), CIA]

NCTC: National Counterterrorism Center

NFI: No Further Information

NFTR: Nothing Further to Report
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NGA: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (formerly NIMA)

NIC: National Intelligence Council

NIE: National Intelligence Estimate

NIMA: National Imagery and Mapping Agency (now NGA)

NIO: National Intelligence Officer

NIP: National Intelligence Program

NIPF: National Intelligence Priorities Framework

NJTTF: National Joint Terrorism Task Force

NLETS: National Law Enforcement Telecommunication System

NOC: National Operations Center, DHS

NOC: NCTC Operations Center

NOFORN: Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals

NOIWON: National Operations and Intelligence Watch Officers Network

NOL: NCTC Online (now NCTC CURRENT)

NOL-J: NCTC Online-JWICS (now NCTC CURRENT)

NOL-S: NCTC Online-SIPRNet (now NCTC CURRENT-S)

NRO: National Reconnaissance Office

NSA: National Security Agency

NSC: National Security Council

NSEERS: National Security Entry-Exit Registration System

NSIS: National Strategy for Information Sharing

NSTL: National Security Threat List

NSTR: Nothing Significant to Report

NSTS: National Secure Telephone System

NTM: National Technical Means

NTR: Nothing to Report
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O

OCONUS: Outside the Continental United States

ODNI: Office of the Director of National Intelligence

OPSEC: Operations Security

ORCON: Originator Controlled Dissemination

OSC: Open-Source Center (formerly FBIS)

OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence

OSIS: Open-Source Information System

P

PCII: Protected Critical Infrastructure Information

PII: Personally Identifiable Information

PIR: Priority Intelligence Requirement [formerly Essential Element of Information (EEI)]

PM: Production Management

PM-ISE: Program Manager-Information Sharing Environment, ODNI

PNR: Passenger Name Record

POB: Place of Birth

POC: Point of Contact

POE: Port of Entry

PPN: Passport Number

PSA: Protective Security Advisor, DHS
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QR

RDD: Radiation Dispersal Device

RFI: Request for Information

RFP: Request for Proposal

RISS: Regional Information Sharing System

RISSNET: Regional Information Sharing System Network

RO: Reporting Officer or Reports Officer

RSO: Regional Security Office S

S: Secret

S&T: Science and Technology

S&L: State and Local

SA: Situational Awareness

SA: Special Assessment

SAP: Special Access Program

SAR: Suspicious Activity Report

SBI: Special Background Investigation

SBU: Sensitive But Unclassified

SCI: Sensitive Compartmented Information
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SCIF: Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility

SEG: Special Events Group

SES: Senior Executive Service

SETA: Special Events Threat Assessment

SEVIS: Student Exchange Visitor Information System

SGI: Safeguards Information

SI: Sensitive Information

SI: Special Intelligence

SIA: Supervisory Intelligence Analyst

SIO: Supervisory Intelligence Officer

SIOC: Strategic Information and Operations Center, FBI

SIPRNET: Secret Internet Protocol Routed Network

SIS: Senior Intelligence Service

SLAM: SIOC Law Enforcement Alert Messaging System

SLT: State, Local, and Tribal

SLTP: State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector

SME: Subject Matter Expert

SNIS: Senior National Intelligence Service

SOP: Standard Operating Procedure

SPII: Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information

SSI: Sensitive Security Information

SSO: Special Security Officer

STE: Secure Telephone

STU III: Secure Telephone Unit III

SVTC: Secure Video Teleconference
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T

TA: Threat Analysis 

TA: Threat Assessment

TD: Teletype Dissemination

TDX: Teletype Dissemination Sensitive

TDY: Temporary Duty

TECS: Treasury Enforcement Communications System

TIDE: Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment

TS: Top Secret

TSA: Transportation Security Administration

TSANOF: TSA No Fly List

TSASEL: TSA Selectee List

TSC: Terrorist Screening Center

TSDB: Terrorist Screening Database

TSO: Transportation Security Officer

TSOC: Transportation Security Operations Center

TS/SCI: Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information

TTP: Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures U

U: Unclassified

UASI: Urban Areas Security Initiative, DHS grants program

UBL: Usama Bin Ladin

U//FOUO: Unclassified//For Official Use Only

UI: Unidentified
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UNC: Unclassified

UNCLASS: Unclassified

UNK: Unknown

USA: U.S. Attorney

USC: U.S. Citizen

USCG: U.S. Coast Guard

USDI: Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence

USEMB: U.S. Embassy

USIC: U.S. Intelligence Community

USPER: U.S. Person

V

VBIED: Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device

VGTOF: Violent Gang & Terrorist Organization File

VTC: Video Teleconference

VWP: Visa Waiver Program

W

WMD: Weapons of Mass Destruction

X

Y

Z
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This document can also be found in printable format 

at https://hsin-intel.dhs.gov, http://www.leo.gov, or 

http://www.nctc.gov.

1 0 1 1 0 7 6 7 | I N D 0 8 . 1 0

ITACG intelligence guide for first responders