What are the steps in the HUMINT process?

• A. Orientation; Research (collection); Exploitation of information; Dissemination
• B. Initiation; Termination; Evaluation; Deployment
• C. Planning; Deployment; Evaluation; Review
• D. Analysis; Synthesis; Dissemination; Orientation

Answer: (A)

In HUMINT, the process follows a cycle from defining what you’re seeking to sharing the finished intelligence. It starts with Orientation, where you set objectives, identify questions to answer, and determine scope and constraints. Then comes Research (collection), actively gathering information from human sources through interviews, debriefings, and other direct reporting methods to build a body of data aligned with those objectives. Next is Exploitation of information, where you analyze and corroborate the collected data, connect pieces, assess reliability, and transform raw input into usable, actionable intelligence. Finally, Dissemination involves delivering the finished intelligence to the right decision-makers in the proper form and format, with appropriate classification and timeliness.

The other options mix or reorder steps that don’t match how HUMINT work typically flows—omitting essential collection activities, inserting non-HUMINT stages, or presenting steps in a sequence that doesn’t support turning data into actionable intelligence and then distributing it.