World Basic Information Library The World Basic Information Library ( WBIL ) is a joint United States Army and United States Navy program , which allows Reserve Component ( RC ) personnel of all United States Armed Forces branches to participate in contributing Open Source Intelligence ( OSINT ) information in accordance with tasking requirements from the United States Department of Defense ( DoD ) and the United States Intelligence Community ( IC ) . The program is administered by the Foreign Military Studies Office ( FMSO ) , located at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas . In order for RC personnel to be eligible to participate in the WBIL program , they must first attend a one - week training course at the FMSO taught by its Training and Education Team . The training phase of the WBIL program falls under the authority of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command ( TRADOC ) . Vision . The vision for the World Basic Information Library is to be the premiere open source collection and analytical tool for the Intelligence Community . The vision for the Joint Reserve Virtual Organization ’ s ( JRVO ) Virtual Reserve Teams ( VRT ) is to be the premier organization for peacetime utilization of RC personnel in exploitation of open source intelligence . History . The WBIL program was first envisioned in 1996 as a means to more efficiently utilize the civilian skills of RC personnel . The program was officially launched in 1997 . The primary focus of the program was originally on Individual Ready Reserve personnel of the RC by allowing unit members to work remotely and accrue points towards retirement , while supporting IC and DoD requirements . WBIL participants are not required to have security clearances to perform their collection activities . The IC and the DoD benefit from this because WBIL participants support low - level IC and DoD mission tasking , thus allowing fully cleared personnel to concentrate on high - level , mission critical tasking . Mission . The mission of the WBIL project is to collect , research and catalogue open source information documents in support of validated intelligence community and DoD requirements . This includes OSINT research and translation taksing as mission requirements dictate . The WBIL is a " virtual research library " built upon the basic information requirements of the IC and military planners . The WBIL constitutes the central data base resource under the FMSO ' s Open Source Information System ( OSIS ) . Since the WBIL ' s 1997 inception as a pilot project focused on Africa , it has grown extensively to include authoritative Open Source materials for selected countries worldwide as well as a broad range of transnational security topics . In the wake of the September 11 attacks attacks on the United States , materials focusing on post - attack information requirements have been intensively added . The intent of the WBIL is to provide analysts with selected " best sources " of information as chosen and collected by regional and functional specialists in accordance with stated IC requirements . This material seeks to answer basic questions about the military , political , economic , and infrastructure dimensions of a country , and focuses on emerging threat issues falling under six categories : Operation . Upon completion the WBIL training course , participating RC personnel receive a software package from the WBIL administrators and access to a virtual private network ( VPN ) enabling eligible participants to submit information to the OSIS network . Information uploaded to the OSIS network is replicated on the Secure Internet Protocol Router Network ( SIPRNet ) and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System ( JWICS ) . Provided authorized participants in the WBIL program have access to the Internet , work for the WBIL may be completed at a member ’ s home , place of employment , Reserve Center , or at a Joint Reserve Intelligence Center ( JRIC ) . WBIL personnel are assigned to a Virtual Team . Each Virtual Team has responsibility for collection of open source documents for a specific region , country or emerging threat issue . Each Virtual Team is led and managed by a Virtual Team Leader ( VTL ) . Generally , Virtual Team Leaders are selected for their subject matter expertise of the designated region or emerging threat issue . Additionally , the VTL ’ s have demonstrated a commitment to the WBIL project and an understanding of the mission and procedures for the collection of source documents . Awards and recognition . The WBIL project administrators monitor participant progress to recognize and award superior performance and service . A Certificate of Achievement will be presented to each member upon completion of their first 100 entries and 500 entries into the WBIL library . For Superior collection and production achievement , performance and service will be recognized by the U . S . Army award system administered by the Combined Arms Center , Ft Leavenworth , KS . The Commander of the Combined Arms Center has authority for approval of the Army Achievement Medal , the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal . Other awards must be approved by the Commander , US Army Training and Doctrine Command . All personnel are eligible for awards and recognition and may recommend a member of the WBIL project , although the Virtual Team Leader is expected , as the principal supervisor , to recommend members of their team for recognition . WBIL Project participants are also eligible for recommendation and receipt of their own military service ’ s awards in accordance with those service ’ s regulations . The WBIL JRVO leadership will support recommendations for individual service awards .