This monograph discusses how the Information Revolution is leading the Revolution in Military Affairs. Specifically, it examines the operational implications of the changing information environment, the army's doctrinal response (Information Operations), and the utility of Information Operations. The monograph examines the information environment and concludes that it gives nations and military forces unprecedented capabilities to acquire, manipulate, process and disseminate information. This implies that military forces will become much more efficient in maneuver, fires, and protection of forces. It also implies that information can be used as a separate element of combat power to attack directly the enemy's will to fight, to bolster US and coalition support for military operations, or to attack an enemy's information system to prevent him from doing the same. Because of this environment, information operations is emerging as a new area of warfare, and information is commonly considered as a fifth element of combat power. The monograph then examines the army's doctrine for Information Operations (IO). It finds that the army primarily treats IO as a force multiplier which enables ground forces to maneuver, fire, and protect the force more efficiently, rather than implementing IO as an element of combat power. The army doctrine does not detail the capabilities of the present force structure to support IO, and suggests creating no new force or task organization. The doctrine recommends an assistant staff officer in the operations staff section to synchronize IO, without detailing the responsibilities inherent. The doctrine credibly treats IO as a supporting function which enables the force to develop the capability to execute simultaneous attack in depth. The monograph recommends additions or changes to the army doctrine as appropriate. The monograph finally examines the implications of the environment, as well as the utility of IO, for the operational commander. It finds that the environment requires that the operational commander conduct information operations as part of every campaign, and that the commander should treat information operations as a separate combat function. It also recommends how the commander can use information operations to achieve the campaign end state.

ADA 300222 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)