Oscar Koch Disciplined Approach

While serving as G-2 for General Patton, Brigadier General Oscar Koch developed and employed early Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) practices, laying the groundwork for the modern intelligence cycle. Koch’s disciplined approach fused traditional and non-traditional intelligence sources and established the forward-leaning, product-driven intelligence process used today (Confidence, n.d.). Throughout campaigns in North Africa and Europe during World War II, Koch honed the intelligence mission into a dynamic, flexible, and effective process; directly contributing to Patton’s successes (Hays, 2013). Koch’s most enduring contribution to the intelligence discipline includes the stewardship of all-source intelligence in the face of
Imagery analysis, flight reconnaissance, signal intercepts, detainee reporting, and friendly force contact reports all factored into his overall picture (Hays, 2013). Koch’s success contributed to the balanced approach all-source takes today in tempering the outlook of single-source analysis against the whole of data offered by all available sources. This practice is often codified in standard intelligence procedures today, with target packets frequently requiring reports from multiple disciplines to qualify as actionable by
The practice of tasking regular intervals of imagery collection to support an upcoming mission began with Patton’s invasion of Sicily, with planes crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa (Koch, 1999). Koch’s initial terrain analysis of Sicily was so thorough that early-abandoned plans were recycled late in the campaign through a series of amphibious assaults (Koch, 1999). Patton used the initial intelligence products to conduct assaults on the enemy’s rear along coastline that the staff initially assessed for landing (Koch, 1999). Koch’s work was effective even outside of its intended use, simply because he had used the best available assets and employed them in a disciplined, meticulous manner. The intelligence picture today can be just as fluid and should inspire analysts to fully develop all courses of action to give the commander the widest range of