science

G-2 (intelligence)

G-2 (intelligence) is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand G-2 (intelligence) rather than just read about it. In short: G-2 refers to the military intelligence staff in the United States Army at the Divisional Level and above. The position is generally headed by a Lieutenant General.

Key takeaways

G-2 (intelligence) belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect G-2 (intelligence) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of G-2 (intelligence) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

G-2 refers to the military intelligence staff in the United States Army at the Divisional Level and above. The position is generally headed by a Lieutenant General. It is contrasted with G–1 (personnel), G–3 (operations), G–4 (logistics), G–5 (planning), G–6 (network), G-7 (training), G-8 (finance), and G-9 (civil-military operations). These "G" sections have counterparts in other branches of the service, with the U.S. Navy using an N– designation, the U.S. Air Force using the A- designation, and the Joint Staff using the J- designation. It is the higher level function of the S-2 (intelligence) with the "S" signifying intelligence directorates at the battalion or brigade level.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2) The 48th and current Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence G–2, is Lieutenant General Tony Hale (USA). LTG Hale is "the senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army for all aspects of Intelligence, Counterintelligence and Security, and responsible for the training, equipping, policy, and oversight of the Army Intelligence and Security Enterprise".

History G-2 intelligence played an important role during World War II, both aiding fighting forces and in special missions such as those of T-Force and Operation Alsos. G-2 intelligence gathering and interpretation traces its history to the American Revolution. The Military Intelligence Service was formed during World War II. In time, this evolved into the Military Intelligence Corps, one of the basic branches of the United States Army.

See also Staff (military) Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army) Counter-intelligence Counterintelligence Corps MI5, the British intelligence agency tasked with domestic counter-intelligence and security MI6, the British intelligence agency tasked with foreign intelligence

References

Further reading Berkowitz, Bruce D., and Allan E. Goodman. Strategic Intelligence for American National Security. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1989. Finnegan, John Patrick, and Romana Danish. Military Intelligence. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army, 1998. Miller, Nathan. Spying for America: The Hidden History of U.S. Intelligence. New York: Paragon House, 1989. U.S. Army (12 December 2014). "G-2 Security Intelligence". www.army.mil. Retrieved 12 July 2019.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with G-2 (intelligence)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what G-2 (intelligence) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to G-2 (intelligence) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about G-2 (intelligence) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of G-2 (intelligence)

In research: G-2 (intelligence) appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses G-2 (intelligence) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: G-2 (intelligence) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Defunct United States intelligence agencies, Department of the Army staff, Intelligence of World War II, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for G-2 (intelligence) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study G-2 (intelligence) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what G-2 (intelligence) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain G-2 (intelligence) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is G-2 (intelligence) in simple terms?

G-2 refers to the military intelligence staff in the United States Army at the Divisional Level and above. The position is generally headed by a Lieutenant General.

Why does G-2 (intelligence) matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study G-2 (intelligence)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on G-2 (intelligence).