Handbook For Tactical Operations In The Information Environment

With its quick-reference format and series of illustrative vignettes, this handbook facilitates problem-solving and highlights how early-career officers in tactical units can contribute to operations in the information environment.

A no-nonsense treatment of information operations, this handbook makes clear what does and does not fall under information operations, how the military plans and executes such efforts, and what the role of IO ought to be in the war of ideas. Paul provides detailed accounts of the doctrine and practice of the five core information operations capabilities (psychological operations, military deception, operations security, electronic warfare, and computer network operations) and the three related capabilities (public affairs, civil-military operations, and military support to public diplomacy). The discussion of each capability includes historical examples, explanations of tools and forces available, and current challenges faced by that community. An appendix of selected excerpts from military doctrine ties the work firmly to the military theory behind information operations. Paul argues that contemporary IO's mixing of capabilities focused on information content with those focused on information systems conflates apples with the apple carts. This important study concludes that information operations would be better poised to contribute to the war of ideas if IO were reorganized, separating content capabilities from systems capabilities and separating the employment of black (deceptive or falsely attributed) information from white (wholly truthful and correctly attributed) information.

The modern means of communication have turned the world into an information fishbowl and, in terms of foreign policy and national security in post-Cold War power politics, helped transform international power politics. Information operations (IO), in which time zones are as important as national boundaries, is the use of modern technology to deliver critical information and influential content in an effort to shape perceptions, manage opinions, and control behavior. Contemporary IO differs from traditional psychological operations practiced by nation-states, because the availability of low-cost high technology permits nongovernmental organizations and rogue elements, such as terrorist groups, to deliver influential content of their own as well as facilitates damaging cyber-attacks ("hactivism") on computer networks and infrastructure. As current vice president Dick Cheney once said, such technology has turned third-class powers into first-class threats. Conceived as a textbook by instructors at the Joint Command, Control, and Information Warfare School of the U.S. Joint Forces Staff College and involving IO experts from several countries, this book fills an important gap in the literature by analyzing under one cover the military, technological, and psychological aspects of information operations. The general reader will appreciate the examples taken from recent history that reflect the impact of IO on U.S. foreign policy, military operations, and government organization.

Information is an element of combat power. Commanders conduct information operations (IO) to apply it. Focused IO-synchronized with effective information management and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance-enable commanders to gain and maintain information superiority. IO is a prime means for achieving information superiority. Users of FM 3-13 must be familiar with the military decision making process established in FM 5-0, Army Planning and Orders Production; the operations process, established in FM 3-0, Operations; and commander's visualization, described in FM 6-0, Mission Command: Command and Control of Army Forces. As the Army's key integrating manual for IO, this manual prescribes IO doctrine and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP). It also establishes doctrine and TTP for the IO elements of operations security and military deception. This manual implements joint IO doctrine established in JP 3-13, Joint Doctrine for Information Operations; JP 3-54, Joint Doctrine for Operations Security; and JP 3-58, Joint Doctrine for Military Deception. This manual establishes the following as the definition of IO used by Army forces: Information operations is the employment of the core capabilities of electronic warfare, computer network operations, psychological operations, military deception, and operations security, in concert with specified supporting and related capabilities, to affect or defend information and information systems, and to influence decision making. This definition supersedes the definition of IO in FM 3-0. It is consistent with joint initiatives.

Operations in the information environment require close coordination between intelligence and information operations personnel, but this does not often occur in practice. A review of these challenges highlighted a range of potential solutions.

Information operations (IO) creates effects in and through the information environment. IO optimizes the information element of combat power and supports and enhances all other elements in order to gain an operational advantage over an enemy or adversary. These effects are intended to influence, disrupt, corrupt or usurp enemy or adversary decision making and everything that enables it, while enabling and protecting friendly decision making. Because IO's central focus is affecting decision making and, by extension, the will to fight, commanders personally ensure IO is integrated into operations from the start

Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 3-90.90 facilitates development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in order to enhance efficiency and adaptability across the force. ATP 3-90.90 achieves this purpose through linking to a milWiki portal under the milSuite uniform resource locator (URL) containing guidance for tactical SOPs and unclassified examples of SOPs for reference. The SOP portal provides a baseline for developing new SOPs quickly and a forum for improving existing SOPs. The portal presents best practices consistent with doctrinal principles. The Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate established the SOP portal in 2009. The authors attempted to align the original information with pertinent doctrine and regulations. Where the portal's contents differ from current doctrine and regulations, the latter take precedence. The information in the SOP portal is not authoritative doctrine. The examples in the portal do not provide ready-to-use SOPs for Army units. Soldiers developing SOPs for their units are encouraged to apply critical thinking while referring to the models and other resources to aid their own content development. At a minimum, portal users must be familiar with this ATP, Field Manuals (FMs) 5-0 and 6-99.2; Army Regulations (ARs) 25-1, 34-4, and 380-5; and Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA Pam) 25-403. Soldiers are encouraged to use the portal to collaborate, to improve the portal's contents, and to upload new SOP examples. The SOP portal is secure and requires an Army Knowledge Online or Defense Knowledge Online login. The portal's contents are unclassified. Neither this manual nor the SOP portal is intended to regulate the appearance or content of unit SOPs. This ATP uses joint terms where applicable. When formal military terms are identified in the text of this ATP, the terms are italicized and the number of the proponent manual follows the definition. A standard operating procedure is a set of instructions covering those features of operations which lend themselves to a definite or standardized procedure without loss of effectiveness. The procedure is applicable unless ordered otherwise (JP 3-31). A SOP is both standing and standard: it instructs how to perform a prescribed and accepted process established for completing a task. Features of operations that lend themselves to standardization are common and usually detailed processes performed often and requiring minimal variation each time. Well-written and properly used unit tactical SOPs enhance effective execution of tasks; the benefits of SOPs are numerous. They reduce training time, the loss of unwritten information, the commission of errors, the omission of essential steps or processes, and the time required for completion of tasks. This does not mean, however, that carrying out SOPs never requires thought or that SOPs should never change. Indeed, tactical units must change some operating procedures as rapidly as operational environments and missions change. The SOP portal helps units avoid an unnecessary loss of effectiveness that could occur by maintaining unthinking dependence on outdated written procedures. The portal also helps units avoid a loss of effectiveness that could occur when units delay writing down processes that need to become standardized. The doctrine in this manual provides techniques for developing unit tactical SOPs. Units throughout the Army can take advantage of technology to obtain guidance, collaborate in real time, and find information quickly. This manual and the SOP portal are intended to enhance operational adaptability Army-wide. In the short term, the information in the SOP portal will help units establish or improve SOPs more rapidly. In the long term, the intention is that more and more units will build SOPs using the portal and the doctrine in this manual. SOPs throughout the Army should increase in similarity as the combination of doctrinal guidance and Army-wide milWiki collaboration facilitates consensus.

This two-in one resource includes the Tactical Commanders and Staff Toolkit plus the Liaison Officer Toolkit. Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA)) enables tactical level Commanders and their Staffs to properly plan and execute assigned DSCA missions for all hazard operations, excluding Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, high yield Explosives (CBRNE) or acts of terrorism. Applies to all United States military forces, including Department of Defense (DOD) components (Active and Reserve forces and National Guard when in Federal Status). This hand-on resource also may be useful information for local and state first responders. Chapter 1 contains background information relative to Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) including legal, doctinal, and policy issues. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the incident management processes including National Response Framework (NRF), National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), and Incident Command System (ICS) as well as Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Chapter 3 discuses the civilian and military responses to natural disaster. Chapter 4 provides a brief overview of Joint Operation Planning Process and mission analyis. Chapter 5 covers Defense Support of Civilian Authorities (DSCA) planning factors for response to all hazard events. Chapter 6 is review of safety and operational composite risk management processes Chapters 7-11 contain Concepts of Operation (CONOPS) and details five natrual hazards/disasters and the pertinent planning factors for each within the scope of DSCA.