Info Ops

The Pentagon recently issued an updated doctrine statement on information operations.

The Nov. 27 document "provides joint doctrine for the planning, preparation, execution, and assessment of information operations across the range of military operations." According to a summary of changes to the prior doctrine, published in February 2006, the updated document:

* Identifies the information environment as the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate or act on information.

* Defines information-related capabilities (IRCs) as tools, techniques or activities employed within a dimension of the information environment, which can be used to achieve a specific end(s).

* Introduces the information-influence relational framework as a model illustrating the use of means and ways, through the applications of IRCs, to achieve an end(s) through influence of a target audience (TA).

* Defines TA as an individual or group selected for influence.

* Describes information operations (IO) as the integrated employment, during military operations, of IRCs in concert with other lines of operation, to influence, disrupt, corrupt, or usurp the decision making of adversaries and potential adversaries while protecting our own.

* Designates the IO staff as the combatant command focal point for IO and the IO cell as the planning element responsible for integration and synchronization of IRCs to achieve national or combatant commander objectives against adversaries or potential adversaries.

* Emphasizes IO must be integrated into all steps of the joint operation planning process.

* Articulates that it is vital to integrate multinational partners into joint IO planning, in order to gain agreement on an integrated and achievable IO strategy.