OpenIPB
Build the Intelligence Picture
- 01The map
- 02The terrain
- 03The forces
Bring terrain and forces together to build an intelligence assessment.
OpenIPB training scenario. Terrain and forces shown as an illustration.
Military
intelligence
operator course
Learn to assess the battlespace and produce intelligence that helps a commander make decisions.
We've trained people from:
01 // The course
What is the Military Intelligence Operator Course?
MIOC teaches you to think and work like a military intelligence operator. You'll learn to produce the assessments commanders rely on to plan and fight.
The course is built around Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB), the process militaries use to understand an operating environment and anticipate the enemy. You'll learn to define the battlespace, analyse terrain, weather and civil considerations, build threat models, and develop likely and dangerous enemy courses of action. You'll then turn that analysis into intelligence products that shape a commander's decisions.
You start with the fundamentals and apply them through guided exercises. From there, you move to independent practice and a final capstone, with feedback on your work at every stage. You finish able to run IPB end to end and brief the results with confidence.
Although the course is designed to fill a training gap for military units, no military or intelligence experience is required.
02 // The tools
Work in the tools
used for the course
The course teaches intelligence preparation of the battlespace, collection and briefing through practical tasks. These are the tools that carry that work.
POET, the intelligence operations simulator.
Practise intelligence operations.
Decide what to collect, task the assets and turn the reports into a brief a commander can use.
- 01The reporting picture
- 02What the reports show
- 03The collection assets
POET training scenario. The scene pictures are an illustration.
03 // The work
What you will learn.
Learn the military intelligence process, then apply it in a training scenario.
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Military Intelligence Fundamentals
Understand military intelligence roles, the intelligence cycle, core doctrine and the operating environment.
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Military Core Concepts
Learn how military organisations plan and fight, and use military symbols and task graphics.
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Understand the Operating Environment
Study the training theatre, friendly forces and opposing forces, including their capabilities and tactics.
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Conventional IPBIntelligence preparation of the battlespace
Use the four-step process to assess the environment, terrain and conventional threat, then develop threat courses of action.
Exercise WATER DRAGON: Conventional IPB walkthrough.
Exercise STEEL SENTINEL: Conventional IPB self-practice.
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Contemporary IPBIntelligence preparation of the battlespace
Apply the process to hybrid threats, including human terrain, environmental effects and possible threat actions.
Exercise PULLER: Contemporary IPB self-practice.
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Intelligence Collection
Turn intelligence requirements into a collection plan and match assets to the information needed.
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Intelligence Analysis
Evaluate information and sources, check assumptions and use structured analysis to test your assessment.
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Produce and Disseminate Intelligence
Write intelligence reports and summaries, then practise briefing and debriefing.
Capstone exercise
Exercise JADE DRAGON
Combine battlespace preparation, collection planning, analysis, written intelligence products and briefing in one final training scenario.
04 // Inside the course
Inside the course
Learn inside the course
Work through the online lessons at your own pace, then apply what you learn in the exercises. Submit your practical work and receive feedback to help you improve.
Learn alongside others
You won't be learning on your own. Join live meetups and ask questions as you work through the course. Share ideas and learn from other members of the School of Military Intelligence community.
05 // Meet your instructor
Cole
Proebstel
Military intelligence professional and instructor
Cole began his intelligence career in the New Zealand Defence Force, supporting special operations and domestic security missions.
He has recruited and trained intelligence analysts across government and the private sector. His teaching draws on that experience and the demands of intelligence work.
He created the Military Intelligence Operator Course to teach the practical work of a military intelligence operator. You develop those skills through guided exercises, independent practice and a capstone, with feedback on your work.
Cole is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Intelligence Professionals and the International Association for Intelligence Education.
Join the waitlist06 // Learner feedback
What learners say
Comments from MIOC learners and IACC graduates.
MIOC learner feedback
Military Intelligence Operator Course: comments on individual modules.
This module gave me a greater understanding of the role of intelligence in military planning, which was very interesting.
Definitely now am more confident in reading symbology than I was before.
I've really enjoyed the videos from Cole in combination with the written content. It's well structured, easy to follow and engaging.
I enjoyed the military maps for drawing up your own scenarios. Could easily spend hours doing it.
IACC graduate reviews
Intelligence Analyst Certification Course: feedback from graduates.
The practical elements made it stand out from any other intelligence courses I have seen.
The feedback provided on questions and after assignments is great.
The balance between guidance and independence was spot on.
By the end, I had produced a full suite of analytical products I was genuinely proud of and could immediately apply professionally.
Why they joined MIOC
Military Intelligence Operator Course: reasons learners gave when they enrolled. These describe what they hoped to gain.
Maintain and build on (previous) experience, noting current state looking for the 'reps' I can't get in a work environment.
To gain a good working knowledge of MI and how it is applied in the real world.
Want to learn how to handle intelligence quickly and efficiently and apply it to my future career.
I want to further my skills in being able to create intelligence products with a specific focus on how to create intelligence products that fit a military context.
MI means military intelligence.
07 // Course comparison
How the courses differ
Both courses use practical exercises and feedback. The difference is the work you apply them to.
Intelligence Analyst Certification Course (IACC)
Develop intelligence analysis skills for roles across government, defence, law enforcement and commercial organisations.
Military Intelligence Operator Course (MIOC)
Apply intelligence in a military setting, from assessing the battlespace and planning collection to briefing a commander.
You do not need to complete IACC before joining MIOC.
Join the waitlist08 // FAQ
Common
questions
Do I need military or intelligence experience?
No. We'll take you through the fundamentals and explain the military terms along the way. You don't need to complete IACC first.
How long does the course take?
If you're studying full time, we recommend allowing 10 weeks. But we know you'll have work and other commitments, so we've built MIOC to fit around your schedule.
How long do I have to complete the course?
Take as long as you need. There's no completion deadline, so you can slow down when life gets busy and pick it up again when you're ready.
Will I have lifetime access?
Yes. You'll keep access to the course materials after you finish, so you can come back whenever you need a refresher.
Is the course fully online?
Yes. You can work through the lessons online whenever they fit your schedule. You're welcome to join the weekly live group sessions with Cole, and you can catch the recordings if you can't make it.
What will I learn and practise?
You'll practise assessing the battlespace, planning collection, analysing reports and briefing a commander. There are eight modules and four exercises, finishing with the Exercise JADE DRAGON capstone.
How do OpenIPB and POET support the course?
You'll use OpenIPB to assess terrain and threats and build your battlespace picture. POET is our intelligence operations simulator, where you'll practise collection, assessment and briefing.
What feedback and support will I receive?
You'll get feedback on the practical work you submit through the course platform. If something needs more work, you'll have the chance to revise it and resubmit. You can also ask questions and contact an instructor through the course community.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Once you've successfully completed the course, you'll receive an ALCON certificate of competency recognising the skills and knowledge you've demonstrated.
Is the course certified?
CPD certification is actively being pursued.
Can my employer pay for the course?
Yes. Just ask us for an invoice that you can pass on to your employer.
What happens after I join the waitlist?
We'll email you enrolment updates for MIOC so you know when you can join. Joining the waitlist doesn't mean you have to buy the course.
09 // Waitlist
Join the
MIOC waitlist
Get enrolment updates for the Military Intelligence Operator Course.
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