Information Theory as a Foundation for Military Operations in the 21st Century
Abstract
The United States Army, along with its sister services, is struggling to create effective doctrinal concepts for warfighting in the Information Age. Man's ability to manipulate and transport information at light speed is changing the conduct of military operations. While the services agree that 'Information Superiority' is key to decisive operations, there is little consensus as to how to achieve it and what the conduct of 'Information Operations (IO)' should entail. The various conceptions for IO can generally be understood as one of two types: IO as an integrating strategy or IO as a capability. Each of these viewpoints emanates from a distinctly different basic conception, or theory, of the nature of information; and each carries vastly different implications for military doctrine. Carried to its logical conclusion, the IO-as-strategy mindset demands a fundamental reformulation of all warfare. The U.S. Department of Defense must identify and articulate a relevant and theoretically sound definition of information before it can develop practical and effective doctrine for warfighting in the 21st century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 14, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA403845
Entities
People
- Bryan N. Sparling
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College