1-32. Commanders and staffs at all levels synchronize intelligence with the other warfighting functions to maximize their ability to visualize the operational environment and disrupt the threat simultaneously throughout the area of operations (AO) or perform the necessary stability tasks to consolidate gains. Collecting the intelligence required is often more complex and requires leveraging national to tactical intelligence capabilities. Commanders must be more involved in and knowledgeable of the intelligence warfighting function due to the complexity of operations. The following list provides some basic aspects of intelligence (discussed in more detail in subsequent chapters):