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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. 127
In this case the US Army is stating that it foresees five core capabilities but
retained the wording for “supporting and related capabilities.” IO, the manual
asserts, encompasses attacking adversary command and control (C2) and
protecting friendly C2. The proper combination of the two produces IS at
decisive points. More important, however, is the assertion in the manual that IO
allows commanders to mass the effects of the information element of combat
power. IO and automated information systems and communications allow for
staff processes to be shortened and decision cycles to be compressed. This
increases operational tempo. 128
The US Air Force, in their new doctrinal publication Document 2-5,
Information Operations of January 2005, defines an information operation as
Actions taken to affect adversary information and information systems
while defending one’s own information and information systems. Also
called IO. [The definition continues with an Air Force only application]
Information operations are the integrated employment of the core
capabilities of influence operations, electronic warfare operations,
network warfare operations, in concert with specified integrated control
enablers, to influence, disrupt, corrupt or usurp adversarial human and
automated decision making while protecting our own. 129
The second draft of Joint Publication 3-13, Joint Doctrine for
Information Operations of 14 December 2004 defined IO as “the integrated
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
influence, disrupt, corrupt or usurp adversarial human and automated decision
127 FM 3-13, Information Operations: Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures,
November 2003, p. 13.
128 Ibid., pp. v, vi.
129 Air Force Document 2-5, Information Operations, 11 January 2005, p. 51 as
downloaded from the Internet. Author’s update as of January 2005.
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