Information Operations: The Military's Role in Gaining Information Superiority

摘要

The use of Information Operations (IO) as an integration process is paramount in today's information environment to achieve information superiority. If it is true that information is an element of national power, then IO is the U.S. military's contribution to supporting the national information effort. Formalization of IO into the U.S. Army structure began in 1999 with the establishment of IO as a functional area. Over the past ten years, the U.S. military has witnessed continued refinement and evolution of the IO definition and employment, improved integration of core, supporting, and related IO elements into military operations, and the emergence of a variety of IO enablers. The intent of this project is to provide a consolidated look at IO in its current state, present some thoughts and recommendations from an IO practitioner regarding IO and the other capabilities that effect the information environment, and address some of the points of confusion regarding IO within the military. Six recommendations are provided on how the U.S., specifically the military, can improve the IO structure and its employment process.