Surprise . . . the Marine Corps Way

Acknowledging the increasingly central role that information will play in twenty-first-century armed conflict, the Marine Corps recently articulated a structured, formalized approach to the management of information in support of its maneuver warfare efforts. Known as Information Operations (IO), this approach employs multiple information-based activities to deny, degrade, disrupt , destroy, or influence an adversary commander s methods , means, or ability to command and control his forces and to inform target audiences. ^[18] These activities include deception, electronic warfare, psychological operations, physical destruction, information assurance, public affairs, civil-military operations, and computer network operations.

While broader in scope than the topics covered in this chapter ”that companies would jam each other s signals or launch computer viruses against one another seems unlikely ”IO can, nevertheless, serve as a useful guide to achieving surprise in the business environment. Like surprise, IO involves the management of information to shape competitive encounters. Beyond this basic similarity, IO is noteworthy to the aspiring practitioner of maneuver warfare because of the degree to which the Marine Corps has committed to it. The Marines have dedicated personnel and resources to IO and have formally incorporated it into mission planning and execution. As a result, the management of information in support of maneuver warfare has become more than just the articulation of a good idea; it is now an integral part of all Marine Corps combat operations.

IO Cell

IO starts with the dedication of personnel and resources to an IO cell in support of a larger combat operation. Led by a full-time IO officer, the IO cell consists of a diverse group of individuals with backgrounds in operations planning, intelligence, electronic warfare, fire support, communications/information systems, and public affairs. These individuals may or may not be fully dedicated to the cell, but they have core responsibilities as part of it.

IO Plan

Based on the commander s guidance for shaping the conditions of the operation at hand, the IO cell selects an appropriate subset of information-based activities and formulates a preliminary plan for their employment. Working closely with the other constituencies involved in the planning of the operation, the IO cell then refines this plan and ensures that it is fully integrated into the operation s overall scheme of maneuver. Among the requirements for successful integration: extensive coordination with the other constituencies and participation in interactive war games that test the IO plan s flexibility and adequacy.

The IO plan that survives this rigorous process is then incorporated into the overall operations order (OpOrd). To symbolize its importance, IO even has its own section in the OpOrd.

IO Implementation

The responsibilities of the IO cell extend well beyond the completion of the IO section in the OpOrd. During the execution of the operation, the IO cell monitors the effectiveness of its efforts, reacts to changing events as necessary, and makes the appropriate adjustments. Thus, from start to finish, the IO cell is intimately involved in all aspects of the operation.

^[18] Marine Corps White Paper 3-40.4, Information Operations, December 10, 2001, 5.