AR 525-20 Information Operations
The DOD IO Roadmap signed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense directed that all the services make IO a core military competency. The Army has come a long way toward this goal but five years later the Army still does not have an Army Regulation that provides policy guidance for IO. During the 26 April 2007, Council of Colonels meeting, DAMO-ODI was tasked with developing the draft copy of an Army Regulation that provides guidance on IO.
With this in mind AR 525-20 Command and Control Countermeasures dated 31 July 1992, has been rewritten and renamed AR 525-20 Information Operations.
AR 525-20 is currently in staffing. For those with an AKO account, PM me and I will send you a copy of the draft. It goes counter to FM 3-0 and the rewrite of FM 3-13. It is more nested in Joint Doctrine.
FA30 get's it first General Officer
And it is about time. Congrats to COL (P) John Davis.
Newest evolution of FM 3-13, Information
It looks like the new FM 3-13, Information, will be released in the next week or so. The intention of the manual is to go into much greater detail concerning the doctrinal changes made to Information in Chapter 7 of FM 3-0, Operations.
Specifically, there is going to be further development in the processes and techniques required to ensure Information is properly executed in full spectrum operations. With the elevation of stability and civil support operations on par with offensive and defensive operations, Information has become even more important. The war fighter that wakes up to the reality of the importance of Information across all operations will be given a much stronger base from which to engage in one, or all, of the Army information tasks or communicate with those staff and operational elements that do.
The update will also help the force “open its hand” and use Information to engage, communicate and elaborate by, with and through relevant publics and actors as opposed to merely using the closed fist of the destructive capabilities of information.
I'm interested in what information practitioners, and others that are interested, have to say about evolving information doctrine a la US Army.
The New FM 3-13, Information
The Army has now in fact released its latest version of FM 3-13, Information.
This version of FM 3-13 describes how commanders can use Information as an element of combat power to shape the operational environment. It expands the Army’s approach to the use of Information beyond “Information Operations” to one focused on applying the five Army Information Tasks that are fundamental to full spectrum operations.
Three main ideas frame the organization and content of the FM. They are:
- Complexity, caused by world-wide connectivity and information saturation, is the unique challenge for conducting full-spectrum operations in the 21st Century.
- Understanding and leveraging this information-driven complexity is fundamental to the art and science of military operations and impacts all aspects of those operations.
- To be effective in this environment, Army forces must be as highly skilled in the art and science of engaging, communicating, and collaborating as they are in disrupting, corrupting, or usurping enemy decision-making.
The manual continues a doctrinal evolution started with FM 3-0. Very interested in thoughts and comments you have.
DRAFT FM 3-13, Information
Interested parties can obtain a copy of the 27 Feb 09 DRAFT FM 3-13 by:
- clicking on the link graciously provided by Jedburgh - or -
- send an EMAIL request to: FM3-13_CRM@conus.army.mil
Appreciate all the interest.