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MedCorps said:
Ask and ye shall receive (retired Int anyway)...
There's a reason why an Int office often has a lot of people, or in other cases not enough. Unfortunately your question is a bit of a catch-22; there's not enough info from the current op to properly assess the needs, and not being in the loop I really cant ask for the detailed information needed to properly assess it.
From your example though I will point out a few things:
J2: Your table implies he's sitting around the office available for work/direction - in reality, the J2 is often absent with meetings and local liaison work (or is supposed to be, I've heard of Ops where the J2 never ventured out of his domain, thus isolating himself from what was actually going on, and making himself a nuisance among the troops). Without contacts for local real-time information, that the J2 is supposed to maintain, the whole Int section might as well pack up and go home. We look to the J2 for direction based on his orders from the commander or interpretations of the units needs or mission needs. We also depend on him to help keep us from being sent on kitchen duty and rock-painting patrols whenever an RSM decides that the Int guys 'aren't doing anything useful anyway'. In regard to products, J2 is not supposed to produce products, is supposed to review products and add strategic value comments. May write occasional products if they match his particular subject matter expertise area (which is not everything in the known universe despite what some of them like to think).
2I/C (not an 'Int Guy', its an actual position): In big sections, this is another officer (Lt/Capt), but usually a senior NCO. Also does a lot of liaison work with local friendly units for admin and other support functions, and does the liaison for the J2 when the J2 is out of area for whatever reason. He is supposed to assign tasks to all Int staff based on direction from the J2. This again is often dysfunctional when on operations where the J2 stays around the office all day thus negating the need for a 2I/C, who in turn has to work harder to look like he's contributing, so the troops end up with two persons looking over their shoulders all day adding unneccesary input (or contradicting inputs!). Reviews products to ensure they meet assigned tasks. May write occasional products if they match his particular subject matter expertise area (which is not everything in the known universe despite what some of them like to think).
Dataminer/Collator (an 'Int guy', in an actual position): Handles all incoming traffic, flags important information for direct attention of the J2 and/or 2IC. reviews all electronic message databases. Usually is in 2-3 hours before everyone else, acts as a 'troubleshooter' for messages/phone calls/requests that come in at odd hours (also leaves early as well). Knows the database like the back of his hand. Has spectacular recall of everything he/she has read. Can find and recall any important message in the databases within 5 minutes. (No, this is not a fictitious ability - the good ones do this for a living). This should be a Mcpl or even a Sergeant who knows what is and is not important (but I have observed that too many units delagate the work to a private or corporal who does not know what is or is not important, so messages have to be read by a second person before they actually get dealt with). Often doubles as the in-house IT advisor and liaises with local comms/IT support units/sections.
Dataminer/Collator2 (can be an 'Int guy', can also be any other trade with adequate clearance); 'Understudy' to the Dataminer/Collator. Same duties as lead Dataminer, but needs more time to find things, during training may stack items for lead Dataminer to sort through. Usually works on a crossover shift or different shift so the Int office covers at least 18 out of 24 hours of the day, or the complete 24 hours.
'Int Guy' - Analyst x 2?: This is very dependent on how much traffic is being generated by the unit being supported, number of patrols being conducted, and the number of reports from neighbouring units, higher command, NATO, and Canada. If the J2 has done their job, you need at least 2 analysts (Ive worked on ops where we had 6 going full time). If the J2 hasn't done their job, you can probably get rid of all of them because they'll have nothing to do except make powerpoints for the J2. May do shiftwork or spare each other off when away on work/admin/leave. In sections where multiple nations are contributing, may have many analysts of all ranks all producing materials of 'varying quality'.
Targeting/Imagery Analysis x1: Specialized training required for this position, whether they need to be there depends on what unit is being supported and what missions they are performing.
Liaison positions: You mentioned persons in TOC, Plans, whatever. Any liaison position is separate from the main Int cell, or should be, and should not be considered 'working bodies' with permanent duties in the office.
"3 x Int / Sigs guys for collection from other specialized int disciplines who are multidisciplinary and cross pure int boundaries": not sure what multidiscplines and crossover of pure boundaries you are looking for. Unfortunately this is pretty much a pipe dream; you are lucky if you can get 3 guys who have had a couple years of experience. You are even luckier if they all have former combat arms experience. You have a horseshoe up your butt if they also all wanted to be posted there, are good at their jobs, and are focused on supporting the troops in the field. (An associate of mine once got assigned two reservists from an allied country and ended end doing all the work himself because neither of the reservists could do their work and there was no time to train them).
Civilians: civilians do have unique skills to offer, but success will depend largely on whether they are there to work or expect to be as a part-time tourist.
Other comments:
1 x Int guy on the plans staff (J5). He collects what int is needed or future operations and feeds it to the ASIC. He then integrates ASIC int products into the planning cycle and wargames the red side. He is very involved with targeting. He is the only Int expert on the plans staff --> needed.
Not true; there are usually at least one or two Int-related experts on a plans staff, especially when talking about red forces, and not all neccesarily with the Int cap badge. Give some credit to smart people in other trades!
1 x Int guy in the TOC (J3). He provides 1/2 of the required coverage (days and peak operations, the ASIC covers at night?) to the current battle staff on the Red SA. He also takes I&W (?) information an feeds it into the current picture. He is also involved with BDA collection. He is the only Int expert in the TOC --> needed, in fact the LCol said two guys (for 24 hour ops without touching the ASIC capability) would make more sense.
Having Int in the TOC is highly dependent on the Commander - those who know how to use Int get a great benefit, those who don't like Int or don't know how to use Int properly get frustrated with our inability to perform magic when they snap their fingers (i.e. they don't allow us to have access to the information we need, and then expect us to have access to all the information we need). This person wont be able to provide support for BDA unless they have some sort of Targeting/Imagery training, which is not common among Int working for combat arms. There are other Int experts on a battle staff, again give credit for smart people in other trades, but they may not have the 'connections' (or the clearance) to access the information on short notice. And yes, two are better than one so you get 24 hour support to the staff. Again this person is not part of the Int cell, and is often in a separate support position, and two Int pers should not be from two separate units.
