Preparing the american soldier in a brigade combat team to conduct information operations in the contemporary operational environment.

Abstract

This thesis examines whether the Army is adequately preparing its tactical leaders and soldiers in Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) to conduct Information Operations (IO) in the Contemporary Operational Environment (COE). First, an explanation of IO and its Army applicability is presented using current examples from military operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While conducting counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in Iraq, IO has become a critical combat enabler because of its nonlethal ability to influence adversarial, foreign friendly, and neutral audiences. Second, the author identifies select IO skills and IO applications in which American soldiers in a BCT should be trained to effectively conduct IO within a BCT. The skills are intercultural communication, language, negotiation, and media awareness. The applications are laws of war, rules of engagement, ethics and morality, and commander's intent. Third, the thesis examines the Army's institutional education and operational training of IO at the BCT level and below. Using institutional course management plans from select officer and noncommissioned officer schools and current operational training directives for deploying units to Iraq, an analysis of IO education and training was conducted. The thesis concludes with recommendations to the institutional and operational Army for improving IO education and training for American soldiers serving in a BCT.