Operational Implications of Public Affairs - Factors, Functions, and Challenges of the Information Battlefield

摘要

In today's operational environment the impact and influence of the public is becoming more relevant. With the ability to monitor daily operational decisions and actions, the public response can change the direction or outcome of a battle. This shift in influence has been a direct result of the advances in information technology during the past decade. These advances have reduced operational space, deceased the decision cycle, and added information collection and dissemination capabilities to the individual service member. The result is more information available to the public and an increased importance of public affairs management. The operational impacts of new media and command information concepts and capabilities have placed commanders in a reactive operational posture, struggling to counter perceptions and maintain public support, based on the fragmented operational snapshot provided by the media. In essence, today's informational environment has transformed public affairs into an operational function that commanders have failed to effectively synchronize. Unless operational commanders fully incorporate all public affairs capabilities into their operations, develop procedures to harness the information technology within their commands and establish habitual relationships with the media, they will not possess the ability to maintain the public will and operational tempo necessary to sustain and win on today's battlefield.