The phrase "Sear the witch idiot" might seem confusing and even offensive at first glance. However, it could be understood as a metaphorical statement that highlights the dangers of blindly following societal norms and engaging in mass hysteria. It suggests that we should think critically and question assumptions, rather than indulging in mindless accusations or actions. At its core, this phrase is a commentary on the historical practices of witch trials and the persecution of individuals who were perceived as outsiders or threats to the established order. During the Salem witch trials in the late 17th century, for example, numerous innocent people were accused and executed based on baseless allegations and collective paranoia. In a broader sense, "sear the witch idiot" urges us to examine our own biases and prejudices, and challenges us to confront situations with empathy and understanding.
The Office of the Chief of Staff provides NGIC with the Command Group organization and services typical in a Brigade size military organization. The Office of the Chief of Staff consists of the Chief of Staff with five offices (S1- Personnel, S2- Security, S3- Operations, S4- Logistics, and Resource Management) and the Technology Integration Laboratory.
The NGIC also produces assessments of ground system trends and projections as well as analyses of foreign research, development, test, evaluation RDT E and production of systems and technologies used by ground forces. It provides scientific and technical intelligence S TI and general military intelligence GMI on foreign ground forces in support of the warfighting commanders, force and material developers, DA, DOD, and National- level decisionmakers.
In a broader sense, "sear the witch idiot" urges us to examine our own biases and prejudices, and challenges us to confront situations with empathy and understanding. Rather than blindly following the crowd and perpetuating harmful stereotypes or prejudices, we should actively engage in critical thinking and question the narratives presented to us. By highlighting the term "idiot," the phrase also suggests the importance of intelligence and reason in discerning the truth.
Chapter 8
National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC)
The NGIC, located in Charlottesville, VA, is a major subordinate command of INSCOM and is the Defense center of excellence for ground force production. It provides scientific and technical intelligence (S& TI) and general military intelligence (GMI) on foreign ground forces in support of the warfighting commanders, force and material developers, DA, DOD, and National- level decisionmakers. The NGIC also manages the Army's Foreign Material Exploitation Program and foreign material acquisition requirements and constitutes a single authoritative source for comprehensive ground forces threat to the Army and other services.
Production of ground forces intelligence in support of force and material developers, operational forces and DA/ DoD and National level decisionmakers
Mission
In addition to supporting S& TI and GMI requirements NGIC also provides Secondary Imagery Dissemination System (SIDS) and other imagery intelligence support to Army training, exercises and contingency planning. It has DoD production responsibility for maintaining the ground order of battle on twelve of the former Soviet republics; and is responsible for the execution of the Army foreign material and acquisition and exploitation program. During crisis or war, NGIC capabilities are used to reinforce theater JICs and combatants. Major production mission areas are:
Integrated Data Base Production. The NGIC has shared production program (SPP) responsibility for the maintenance of the DoD Integrated Data Base (IDB) ground order of battle for the Former Soviet Union (FSU), less the three Baltic States. Major customers include CIA, DoD and OSD policy makers and planners; the CINC of the unified commands, DA Concepts Analysis Agency, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC ) and other services.
Ground Force Assessments. NGIC supports Army and DoD force planners, war gamers, doctrinal developers and systems acquisition program managers with a wide range of current and futures oriented ground capabilities assessments. Key products and production programs include order of battle and TOEs for foreign ground forces, current and projected out years; detailed, integrated assessments of current and future tactical/ operational capabilities; conflict scenarios; and forecasts of future regions of conflict of interest to US force planners. NGIC is the only national production center that provides detailed (Division and below) and integrated (S& TI with GMI) assessments of foreign ground force tactical and operational capabilities as reflected in current and projected equipment, technologies, tactics, training and exercise. Major customers include Army Material Command (AMC), Forces Command (FORSCOM), DA DCSOPS, DA Concepts Analysis Agency (CAA) , Unified Command planners and theater Army components.
Ground Force Systems and Technologies. The NGIC has DoD- wide responsibility for the exploitation, analysis and production of system capabilities and parametric data for all foreign ground and ground related systems, to include helicopters, AAA air defense, infantry, armor/ anti- armor, fire support, engineer, mines and C3 systems. The NGIC also produces assessments of ground system trends and projections as well as analyses of foreign research, development, test, evaluation (RDT& E) and production of systems and technologies used by ground forces. This includes production of intelligence based on scientific research and discovery with applications for ground combat and ground force operations to include microelectronics, lasers and electro- optics, night vision, foreign computer science and information technologies, electronic warfare, physics, applied mathematics, chemical, propulsion and explosives technologies and associated foreign technology bases. Major customers include AMC, TRADOC, USN, USAF and USMC force developers, OSD/ DoD and national policy makers.
Foreign Material Acquisition and Exploitation. NGIC is the Army's executive agent for acquisition and exploitation of foreign ground systems as part of the DoD Foreign Material Acquisitions and Exploitation Program. The NGIC works closely with the Army and DoD customers to establish acquisition and exploitation priorities; with collectors to obtain high priority items; and with Army and DoD RDT& E communities to exploit foreign threat systems to better assess strengths, vulnerabilities and possible technology/ system improvements for US systems. Major customers include AMC, USN, USAF and USMC RDT& E community and OSD/ DoD policy makers.
Support to Training and Exercises. In support of the Army's "Train as you Fight" doctrine, NGIC provides 20- hour per day/ day a week imagery support to FORSCOM and Army Special Operations Command (ARSOC) elements deployed to the National Training Center (NTC) in Fort Irwin, CA and to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Fort Polk, LA as well as to multiple Corps and Divisions exercises. NGIC support focuses on tactical exploitation of national imagery capabilities and includes pre- deployment training both at NGIC and the unit. During actual exercise of CTC rotations, NGIC provides SIDS imagery to the units and/ or training centers. NGIC also provides hardcopy and softcopy target imagery in support of contingency and pre- deployment planning. Major customers includes FORSCOM and ARSOC.
NGIC Reinforcing Support to Operational Forces. During crisis or war, NGIC all source, imagery, general military, scientific and technical capabilities will be tailored to focus on opposing forces ground capabilities (tactics, doctrine, systems and equipment) on a hour a day, day a week basis. On order, NGIC capabilities will be used to reinforce the Theater Joint Intelligence Center in supporting Joint Task Force and/ or ground component intelligence requirements. NGIC personnel are also available to augment the ground team of the National Military Joint Intelligence Center (NMJIC).
Command Relationships
Command Relationships. NGIC is a Major Subordinate Command of INSCOM, which exercises administrative control (ADCON). Operational control of NGIC resides with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ODCSINT), Department of the Army. DOD directives provide for the implementation of the Ground Intelligence Program and specifically authorizes the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to assign tasks and issue instructions and guidance to DoD components as necessary to execute assigned functions and delegated production under the auspices of the Department of Defense Intelligence Production Program (DoDIPP). The Commander, NGIC is authorized direct contact with the following agencies, commands, and activities:
(1) DCSINT, HQ DA for Foreign Intelligence to provide threat support and receive taskings; other Army staff agencies and MACOMs for coordination of support, administration and operational matters related to the production and dissemination of Ground Intelligence productions within the Army.
(2) Director DIA on matters of intelligence production and dissemination within the framework of responsibilities delegated to DIA and HQDA to NGIC.
(3) USN, USAF and USMC staffs and intelligence productions centers, as necessary to address matters relating to the NGIC intelligence and production dissemination mission.
4) The National Security Agency (NSA) and DoD- DoD agencies such as the CIA, the State Department, FBI, DEA U. S. Customs and Department of Energy for matters relating to the production and estimation of intelligence products.
Organization and Missions
NGIC is organized into the Office of the Commander, Office of Chief of Staff, seven directorates.The Office of the Commander provides the Commander the appropriate personal, administrative, and policy support required to facilitate execution of command. The Office of the Commander consists of the Command Group (Commander, Deputy Commander, Executive Officer, Sergeant Major), Chief Scientist, Senior General Military Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Company, Equal Employment Opportunity Office, Program Analysis and Evaluation, and Re- enlistment Office.
The Office of the Chief of Staff provides NGIC with the Command Group organization and services typical in a Brigade size military organization. The Office of the Chief of Staff consists of the Chief of Staff with five offices (S1- Personnel, S2- Security, S3- Operations, S4- Logistics, and Resource Management) and the Technology Integration Laboratory.
Forces Directorate. Forces Directorate's mission is to provide warfighters, senior planners and decision makers with assessments and forecasts on issues relating to how ground forces of foreign regions organize, equip, train, and operate in current and future conventional and unconventional battle environments. Develop methodologies that integrate analysis of foreign technology, systems, force structure, and regional military strategic objectives into trends and forecast products.
Directorate consists of five divisions: Former Soviet Union (FSU)/ Europe Asia/ Americas, Africa/ Mideast, Modernization Trends, and Special Research.
(1) Former Soviet Union (FSU)/ Europe Division. Provide warfighters, senior planners and decision makers with assessments and forecasts on issues relating to intelligence and how ground forces of the FSU and Europe regions organize, equip, train, and operate in current and future conventional and unconventional battle environments.
(2) Asia/ Americas Division. Provide warfighters, senior planners and decision makers with assessments and forecasts on issues relating to intelligence and how ground forces of the Asia and Americas regions organize, equip, train, and operate in current and future conventional and unconventional battle environments.
(3) Africa/ Middle East Division. Provide warfighters, senior planners and decision makers with assessments and forecasts on issues relating to intelligence and how ground forces of the Africa and Middle East regions organize, equip, train, and operate in current and future conventional and unconventional battle environments.
(4) Modernization Trends Division. Provide warfighters, senior planners and decision makers with intelligence on the modernization capability of foreign ground forces.
(5) Special Research Division (SRD). SRD is located at Fort Meade, Maryland. SRD serves as the NGIC and DA all source intelligence element at the NSA for direct support to GMI and S& TI requirements for US ground warfare.
Systems Directorate. Systems Directorate's mission is to produce all source S& TI and GMI; identify, characterize, and project assigned ground forces systems and related sciences and technologies.
Directorate consists of the Artillery and Aviation, Radar and Air Defense, Maneuver Support, Battlefield Electronics, and Close Combat divisions and the Topical Intelligence Office.
(1) Artillery and Aviation Division. Produce all source worldwide, integrated, finished intelligence on current and future foreign artillery, rotary wing, tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and light fixed wing aircraft.
(2) Radar and Air Defense Division. Produce integrated technical assessments of current and projected capabilities for foreign battlefield Radars, anti- aircraft artillery (AAA) systems, and reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) integrated sensor platforms. Provide electronic intelligence (ELINT) analysis of foreign radar and jamming signals for entry into national data bases.
(3) Maneuver Support Division. Produce all source integrated, finished intelligence on current and projected maneuver support systems.
(4) Battlefield Electronics Division. Produce all source integrated, finished intelligence on foreign ground forces tactical and operational systems in the functional areas of command and control, communications, electronic warfare, information warfare, and related technologies.
(5) Close Combat Division. Produce all source integrated, finished intelligence on current and projected foreign armor and infantry close combat systems.
(6) Topical Intelligence Office. Provide general support for the timely production and dissemination of topical intelligence products.
Technologies Directorate. Technologies Directorate's mission is to provide timely, accurate, and responsive analysis and projections of the present and future threat of foreign scientific and technical capabilities, accomplishments, vulnerabilities using all source military intelligence, including MASINT and IMINT.
Directorate consists of five divisions: Chemical and Nuclear, Military Technologies, Signatures and Countermeasures, Sensor Exploitation, and Technology Assimilation.
(1) Chemical and Nuclear Division. Produce accurate and responsive military intelligence regarding the chemical and nuclear warfare capabilities of foreign military forces.
(2) Military Technologies Division. Produce timely, quality, all source intelligence assessments of foreign scientific and technological developments having either the potential to threaten US Forces or to enhance US combat capabilities.
(3) Signatures and Countermeasures Division. Produce signatures of foreign material in the infrared, radar, and acoustic ranges. Produce all source, worldwide, integrated, finished intelligence on current and projected foreign ground forces that are used as countermeasures to weapon systems.
(4) Sensor Exploitation Division. Analyze multisensor image data in order provide key support to S& TI for all ground force weapon systems for force developers. Provide geo- region based, GMI for force developers. Produce digital imagery training keys for TRADOC and USAIC& FH.
(5) Technology Assimilation Division. Produce all source worldwide, integrated, finished intelligence on foreign business, diplomatic, and academic travel and activity within the US and selected allied nations which may have an impact on DoD research and development equities, mission, and nonproliferation strategies.
Foreign Material Directorate. Foreign Material Directorate's mission is to execute management of the Army Foreign Material Exploitation (FME) and Foreign Material Acquisition Requirement (FMAR) Programs. Manage NGIC's multidisciplinary collection requirements program in support of worldwide integrated intelligence production. Produce scale models in support of the Army Signature Program
Directorate consists of four divisions: Foreign Material Acquisition, Foreign Material Exploitation, Material Operations, and Collection Requirements.
(1) Foreign Materials Acquisition Division. Manage the acquisition requirements for foreign material required to produce intelligence in support of the operational commanders, material and force developers, and National level decision makers.
(2) Foreign Material Exploitation Division. Implement and administer the Army Foreign Material Exploitation Program (FMEP). Manage exploitation of foreign material to produce S& TI and to support operational commanders, force and material developers, the research and development community, and National level decision makers.
(3) Material Operations Division (FOD). The FOD is located at Aberdeen Proving Grounds (APG), Maryland. FOD operates the U. S. FMEP receiving and trans- shipment points. Manages inventories, maintain systems, and support limited on site exploitation. FOD also produces complex scale models of foreign weapon systems in direct support of the Army Signatures Program.
(4) Collection Requirements Division. Provide multi- disciplinary collection requirements management in support of worldwide S& TI and military capabilities intelligence production.
Training and Contingencies Directorate (TAC- D). TAC- D is located in building 213, WNY, with the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA). TAC- D provides national imagery support for Army units and maintains the ground order of battle (GOB) for the FSU under the DoDIPP.
TAC- D consists of three divisions: Exercises/ Crisis, Military Capabilities, and Technology Services.
(1) Exercises/ Crisis Division. Provide exploitation of national imagery to meet Army requirements.
(2) Military Capabilities Division. Responsible for the maintenance and continuous update of the GOB units, installations, and faculties in twelve republics of the FSU.
(3) Technology Services Division. Provide national imagery services common to NGIC and the Army.
Information Management (IM) Directorate. IM Directorate manages supporting requirements for library functions, information research, photography, video, presentations, multi- media publishing, and translation services. Plans, acquires, organizes, and disseminates information and storage/ retrieval capabilities to satisfy customer requirements.
Directorate consists of four divisions: Library Services, Visual Services, Publishing, and Support Services.
(1) Library Services Division. Provide all source S& TI and GMI data information (traditional and electronic) support for NGIC users to include acquisition, indexing, storage, retrieval, research, dissemination, and Web based system services.
(2) Visual Services Division. Provide quality visual information in the form of digital and standard photography, digital and analog video support, graphic support to presentations, posters, publication graphics, web graphics, and animation.
(3) Publishing Division. Provide NGIC's publishing and foreign language support. Assist in designing and troubleshooting NGIC's publishing process and provide the required editorial, composition, web markup, printing, and production- related software support. Plan and provide NGIC's foreign language support including quick response and detailed technical translation, language training, and foreign document collection and exploitation support.
Information Technologies (IT) Directorate. IT's mission is to plan, acquire, develop, install, support, and manage information technology capabilities to satisfy customer requirements.
Directorate consists of four divisions: Customer Services, Information Engineering, Information Systems, and Technology Services.
(1) Customer Services Division. Manage and operate NGIC Computer and Communications Center and provide daily customer support on automation software and hardware.
(2) Information Engineering Division. Plan, engineer, develop, integrate, install, manage, and maintain NGIC information technologies including database software, modeling and simulation software, text processing software, and network planning for current and future NGIC automation architectures.
(3) Information Systems Division. Plan, engineer, develop, integrate, install, manage, and maintain NGIC information technologies capabilities including systems software, hardware maintenance and communications for current and future NGIC automation architectures.
(4) Technology Services Division. Provide the following automation information systems support with emphasis on customer support to TAC- D, SRD, and APG: computer and network operations, configuration management and hardware maintenance; data and telecommunications; applications development; testing and integration support and overall automated information systems planning, programming, and procurement.
Reserve Component Integration
Reserve Component Integration. NGIC integrated the RC into its production mission. The integration consists of Drilling Individual Mobilization Augmentee (DIMAs). Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMAs) and thirteen Strategic (Strat) MIDs. DIMAs and IMAs are assigned to positions within the Directorates.
Strat MIDs intelligence production contributions includes:
The Office of the Commander provides the Commander the appropriate personal, administrative, and policy support required to facilitate execution of command. The Office of the Commander consists of the Command Group (Commander, Deputy Commander, Executive Officer, Sergeant Major), Chief Scientist, Senior General Military Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Company, Equal Employment Opportunity Office, Program Analysis and Evaluation, and Re- enlistment Office.
It encourages us to resist the temptation to succumb to mass hysteria or groupthink, reminding us that the consequences of such actions can be devastating. Ultimately, the phrase "sear the witch idiot" serves as a provocative call to action, challenging us to resist the urge to blindly follow societal norms or engage in prejudiced behavior. It urges us to question assumptions, think critically, and strive for empathy and understanding in our interactions with others..
Reviews for "Why Do People Still Believe in Witchcraft? The Psychology of Idiotic Beliefs"
1. John - 2 stars: "I found 'Sear the witch idiot' to be extremely disappointing. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, making it difficult to follow along. The characters lacked depth and motivation, making it hard to connect with them. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and disjointed, with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. Overall, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it to others."
2. Sarah - 1 star: "I couldn't finish 'Sear the witch idiot' as the story didn't capture my attention at all. The pacing was incredibly slow, and nothing seemed to happen for the first half of the book. The prose was overly descriptive and excessive, making it a tiresome read. The characters were uninteresting and lacked any significant development. I was hoping for an exciting and thrilling witch story, but this book did not deliver. I would not recommend it."
3. Emily - 2 stars: "I had high hopes for 'Sear the witch idiot' but was ultimately let down. The book had potential, but it failed to live up to it. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The dialogue felt artificial and forced, making it hard to believe in the characters. While the concept was intriguing, the execution fell flat. I found myself losing interest midway through and struggled to finish the book. I was left unsatisfied and would not read anything else from this author."
4. Mark - 1 star: "'Sear the witch idiot' was a complete waste of my time. The writing was amateurish, filled with clichés and predictable twists. The main character was incredibly unlikable, and her actions felt unrealistic and forced. The pacing was off, and the story dragged on unnecessarily. I wasn't invested in the outcome and found myself skimming through pages just to finish. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging read."
5. Jessica - 2 stars: "I was hoping for a spooky and atmospheric witch tale, but 'Sear the witch idiot' failed to deliver. The writing style felt clumsy and lacked finesse. The descriptions were bland, and the world-building was minimal. The characters were one-dimensional, and their interactions felt contrived. The story lacked suspense and failed to create a sense of tension. Overall, this book did not meet my expectations and left me wanting more. I would not recommend it."