• Friendly vulnerabilities to adversary IO efforts. How is the friendly force vulnerable? What can it do to keep adversaries from exploiting those vulnerabilities? INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
1-31. The complexity of the information environment presents commanders
with significant and interrelated challenges. Most operations are conducted
in full view of a global audience. Information technology changes rapidly, affecting
friendly and adversary operations, and how they are perceived. Commanders
face challenges in the areas of policy and public opinion, soldier morale,
and legal considerations.
Policy and Public Opinion
1-32. The global expanse of the information environment allows news reports
and analyses to rapidly influence public opinion and decisions concerning
military operations. Audiences include the US public, decisionmakers, multinational
partners, other nations, and international organizations. It also includes
potential or actual adversaries. The news media will likely provide 24-hour
coverage of, and diverse perspectives on, any future operation.
1-33. Global visibility of operations can also affect strategic or operational
deterrence and affect commanders’ decisions. Stories in the global information
environment may be inaccurate, incomplete, or presented out of context.
They may be based on rumor or be the result of intentional disinformation
efforts. In such circumstances, commanders may be tempted to act in haste,
make emotional decisions, or make choices inconsistent with the real situation.
Effective commanders anticipate how adversaries might attempt to
shape the information environment. Preventing adversaries from setting the
terms of a conflict in the public arena is a form of maintaining the initiative
and a fundamental aspect of perception management.
Morale
1-34. The global audience’s perception of an operation may affect a command’s
combat power by influencing soldier morale. The rapid capabilities of
modern communications systems often disseminate information.accurate or
inaccurate.to soldiers faster than the chain of command does. Such activities
as the will to win, dedication to the cause, understanding of the mission, and
devotion to fellow soldiers and the unit can affect aspects of the human dimension
(see FM 22-100). Because the human dimension includes families and communities
as well as soldiers, a commander’s battlespace includes home station
(see FM 3-0). Bad news, misinterpretations, misinformation, and disinformation
can affect morale there and indirectly undermine the will of the force.
Legal Considerations
1-35. Legal use or access to INFOSYS and technologies is rapidly changing
as new laws and regulations are implemented. Even so, existing laws are often
outdated. Commanders may face complex legal challenges and other constraints,
such as, rules of engagement, treaties, or status of forces/mission
agreements. Commanders include the staff judge advocate in the conduct of
IO to ensure that legal and policy issues are thoroughly addressed.
