6.6 COVER AND UNDERCOVER

• Cover


  The means by which an individual, group or organization conceals the true nature of its activities, and/or existence from the observer. It is used so that the intelligence unit may operate with minimum interference from the outside elements.
• Undercover


  The process of being in an area/condition/status/cover by an undercover agent for considerable period of time in order to acquire a seemingly true identity for the purpose of gaining root of his accepted and fictitious background.
• Cover must provide the following: Security (Status) and Mission Accomplishment (Action)
• Essential uses of cover


  • Maintains secrecy of operations against enemy intelligence
  • Maintains secrecy of operations against friendly agencies not having the "need to know"
  • Pursues successful accomplishment of the mission
• Hazards to cover

  • Passive Opposition - people who are not directly involved in security and CI activities
  • Friendly or Unhostile Opposition - friendly organizations that may hinder operations
  • Unfriendly or Hostile Active Oppositions - enemy intelligence operations that may compromise the undercover
• Elements of cover


  • Mission
  • Environment
  • Person(s)
• In case of a compromise, the precautions or guidelines are: Move out immediately, start new facility for operation and develop it, build entirely new cover, use circuitous routes and provide careful counter-surveillance measures
• Aging of cover


  The process of being in an area/condition/status/cover by an undercover agent for considerable period of time in order to acquire a seemingly true identity for the purpose of gaining root of his accepted and fictitious background
• Criteria of cover

  • It should be simple. One that is easy to remember for the operator.
  • It is adequate. One that provides enough security for status and action
  • It is economical. Expenditures are commensurate to the desired information
• Objectives of organizational cover

  • To camouflage and protect operational personnel and their activities
  • To protect installation in which clandestine activities are based
• Types of organizational cover

  • Cell Cover - Intended for small operating groups, wherein the numbers of the group are not working together
  • Group Cover - Provides security for three (3) or more individuals appearing to be working together
  • Cover Family - Combination of compartmental
• Guidelines on organizational cover

  • Organizational cover must appear producing something as a front
  • Should so devised that not all personnel will work together at the same time
  • Cover should be devoted to the mission
  • Start with small organizational cover and provide room for expansion as it continues to exist
• Elements of planning and preparation for cover and undercover assignment

  • Mission analysis and target area study
  • Selection of personnel
  • Factors that help in the determination of appropriate cover
  • Meaning of cover story
  • Types of cover story
  • Factors to be considered in selecting a cover story
  • Documentation of the cover
• Undercover investigators must have ingenuity, resourcefulness combined with common sense and good judgment
• General qualifications of undercover investigators

  • Above average mental ability
  • Perceptible senses
  • Have self-confidence
  • Good memory
  • Long physical endurance
  • Good character
  • Strong personality
  • Natural attitude
  • Perseverance
• Specific qualifications of undercover investigators

  • Knowledge of the language
  • Knowledge of the area background and current events
  • Knowledge about the people's customs and habits
  • Physical appearance can blend to the area of operation
• Factors that help in the determination of appropriate cover


  • Provides freedom of movement
  • Protects the investigator in case of compromise
  • Provides adequate leisure time
  • It must be flexible to meet changing situations
  • Consistent with the financial resources available to the investigator
• Cover story


  A biographical account, true or fictional or a combination of true or fiction which portrays the undercover investigators' past history and current status
• Types of cover story

  • Natural Cover Story - Story using actual background data with minor adjustments to fill and/or fit the situation
  • Artificial Cover Story - Using biographical data which are invented for the purpose
  • Combination of True and False Personal Data
  • Cover Support - Agents in target areas with a primary mission of supporting the cover story
• Factors to be considered in selecting a cover story

  • Mutual point of interest
  • Justification of presence
  • Previous and permanent address
  • Deficiencies of his role
  • Freedom from movement
  • Means of communication
  • Social and financial status
  • Detailed and complete
  • Optional alternate place
  • Safe departure
• It is necessary to support the cover story. It includes documents which should be in the personal possession of the undercover investigator and those which should be on file in official and private offices in connection with some phase of the assumed background.
• Alias


  A fictitious name of a person. A pseudonym.
• Backstop


  Refers to falsified documents and materials prepared by an undercover to make his cover story credible.
• Learning Objectives

  • Define cover and undercover
  • Explain the importance of studying cover and undercover as method in intelligence operations