Why must military intelligence requirements be identified before information is collected?

Identifying military intelligence requirements before collecting information is essential for effective decision making. Without establishing precise requirements, data collection becomes unsystematic, which risks leaving commanders and policymakers without the pertinent information necessary to act responsibly in a given set of circumstances.12

The intelligence process begins when a leader determines exactly what information is needed to plan for or conduct operations. These requirements—often called "essential elements of information" at the national level or "information requirements" at the tactical level—serve as a guide to ensure that the vast amount of available data is filtered and focused on what is vital.1

Because modern systems can amass information on an unprecedented scale, the primary challenge is often managing the "tidal wave" of raw data rather than a lack of it. By defining requirements first, intelligence organizations can avoid being inundated with useless information and ensure that collected data is evaluated and transformed into a usable form that directly supports the needs of the military commander.321