Piercing the Fog and Information Superiority before the Information Age: The American Use of Information in War, 1776
Abstract
Information superiority, the advantage achieved by collecting, processing and disseminating information while preventing the enemy from doing the same, proved as crucial to the Continental forces of 1776 as it does to the modern American military. On modern battlefields, the advantages of information superiority are achieved through the use of technological advances, including; global positioning systems, tactical satellite radios, unmanned aerial drones and computer networks. While doctrine for information superiority is relatively new, and was written to support modern technology, American commanders fought to achieve information superiority as early as they fought to achieve independence from Britain. Continental forces relied on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, information tasks, information management, and knowledge management in order to gain an advantage over their British adversaries. They collected information through the use of human intelligence, spot reports and patrols. They used psychological operations, strategic communications, operational security, military deception and counterintelligence to control dissemination of information. To get information to right person at right time, they used information management. Finally, to promote situational understanding, they used knowledge management. The Continental forces placed great importance on gaining information superiority over the British in 1776. Although they did not have an established doctrine for the use of information, revolutionary Americans followed the principles of what would later be known as information superiority.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA534936
Entities
People
- Rodney J. Morgan
Organizations
- Marine Corps University