Information Operations as a Core Competency
Abstract
The United States fields the most capable military the world has seen. Some are concerned that the Nation will settle into complacency and wait for the historic norm -- for the high cost of military failure to stimulate change. Such repose would be inconsistent with the record of innovation the Armed Forces have realized over the past two decades and with the goals of current Department of Defense (DoD) leadership. Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and senior military leaders are intent on transforming U.S. forces to better prepare for 21st century challenges. Among other things, according to the DoD Transformation Planning Guidance of April 2003, pursuing transformation means "the Department must align itself with the information revolution not just by exploiting information technology, but by developing information- enabled organizational relationships and operating concepts." Put differently, the emerging American way of war means fighting first for information dominance. Nothing better exemplifies this bold push for transformation and information dominance than the DoD commitment to make information operations (IO) a core military competency. On October 30, 2003, Secretary Rumsfeld signed the Information Operations Roadmap, a detailed plan being implemented by the Pentagon. This article introduces the IO roadmap to a broader military audience to stimulate debate on its implications. The article summarizes the roadmap's contents in five major areas: IO policy, effective command and control and supporting organizations, a trained and ready career force, focused analytic and intelligence support, and enhanced core information capabilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA575200
Entities
People
- Christopher Jon Lamb
Organizations
- National Defense University