Training the Information Operations Workforce

AOC Australian Chapter 2014 Conference

Mr Jeff Malone

Defence Science and Technology Organisation (Australia)

Scope

• Workforce Context: An Overview of IO

• IO Workforce Taxonomy

• Continuums in the IO Workforce

Workforce Context: An Overview of Information Operations

The Emergence and Evolution of IO

• C3CM concept originates in the 1970s, based on exploiting identified vulnerabilities in Soviet C3I systems

• Successfully employed in Operation DESERT STORM, in concert with PSYOPS

• Rebadged as C2W/IW in early 1990s

• IO emerges in mid 1990s, based on perceived limitations of C2W/IW

• IO remains core (US joint) term of reference

Trends in the Evolution of Information Operations

• From warfighting only to applicability across the spectrum of operations

• Expansion from C3I target set to human decision making more generally (including the systems which enable and support decision making)

• Expansion in the range of information-based capabilities to be integrated and deconflicted

IO: US Joint Doctrinal Definition

• “The integrated employment, during military operations, of information-related capabilities in concert with other lines of operation to influence, disrupt, corrupt, or usurp the decision-making of adversaries and potential adversaries while protecting our own.”

Source: Joint Publication 3-13, Information Operations, 27 November 2012

Information-Related Capability (IRC)

• “A tool, technique, or activity employed within a dimension of the information environment that can be used to create effects and operationally desirable conditions.”

Source: Joint Publication 3-13, Information Operations, 27 November 2012

Examples of IRCs

• Electronic Warfare (Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations)

• Cyberspace Operations

• Operations Security

• Military Deception

• Psychological Operations

• Kinetic Targeting

• (and many others)

Source: Joint Publication 3-13, Information Operations, 27 November 2012

The Information Environment

Source: Joint Publication 3-13, Information Operations, 27 November 2012

Enabling and Supporting Activities

• Enable/support IO in general and/or specific IRCs

• Include (indicatively):

– Intelligence

– Information/Knowledge Management

– Spectrum Management

– CIS Operations/NETOPS

– Information Assurance

Source: Derived from Joint Publication 3-13, Information Operations, 27 November 2012

Information Operations Workforce Taxonomy

Elements of the IO Workforce

• Common Elements

• Generalist

• IRC Specialist

• Enabling Activity Specialist

• IO Specialist

• Non-Military

Common Elements

• Might be characterised as ‘lowest common denominator’ level of knowledge

• Knowledge level of IO/IRCs in the context of the information environment being a facet of the overall military operational environment

Generalists

• Might be characterised as ‘traditional warfighters’

– Strong roots in their ‘alma mater’ operational environment

– Career path of senior Service and Joint commanders

• Knowledge of IO/IRCs in the context of how they contribute to overall operational design and success

IRC Specialists

• Career centred on mastery of specific IRC

– Might (or might not) also have a Generalist background as well

• Deep technical knowledge of specific IRC; working knowledge of how their IRC integrates into IO

Enabling Activity Specialist

• Career centred on mastery of specific enabling activity

– Might (or might not) also have a Generalist and/or IRC background as well

• Deep technical knowledge of specific enabling; working knowledge of how their specialty supports or integrates with IRCs or IO as a whole

IO Specialist

• Holds an IO-specific appointment

– Career path could originate from a variety of sources

• Deep (?) technical/procedural knowledge of integration of IO into overall operations

• Some level of knowledge of IRCs/enabling activities, especially in regards points of synergy and conflict

Non-Military

• Individuals from outside the military with a background in disciplines that intersect with IO or specific IRCs/enabling activities

– Civilian Government; Private Sector; Academia; Civil Society/Non-Government/International Organisation

• Deep technical knowledge in their own discipline

• Likely no knowledge of military concepts or processes

• Might be deeply suspicious or hostile to military in general and/or to IO/IRCs specifically

Continuums in the IO Workforce

Career Continuum Generic Model

Senior Commander (O6+)

Manager/Commander (O4-05)

Supervisor (E5-E9/O1-O3)

Operator (E1-E4)

Common Elements

• Individual Training

– Limited training at the pre-Operator/entry level

– Refresher/currency training as required

• Collective Training

– Limited incorporation into collective training (for this workforce element)

• Non-Training Solutions

– High reliance on non-training solutions (policies, governance frameworks) to achieve compliance

Generalists

• Individual Training

– Incorporate familiarity-level training into career courses through continuum; specific IO training for identified individuals

• Collective Training

– Incorporate IO-related issues/serials into collective training to extend familiarity

• Non-Training Solutions

– Incorporate IO into doctrine, processes and support tools as guidance/aide memoire

IRC Specialists• Individual Training

– Incorporate familiarity-level training into career courses through continuum; specific IO training for identified individuals

• Collective Training

– Incorporate IO-related issues/serials into collective training to extend familiarity

– Focus: how their IRC relates to others and to IO in toto

• Non-Training Solutions

– Incorporate IO into doctrine, processes and support tools as guidance/aide memoire

Enabling Activity Specialists• Individual Training

– Incorporate familiarity-level training into career courses through continuum; specific IO training for identified individuals

• Collective Training

– Incorporate IO-related issues/serials into collective training to extend familiarity

– Focus: how their Enabling Activity relates to IRCs and to IO in toto

• Non-Training Solutions

– Incorporate IO into doctrine, processes and support tools as guidance/aide memoire

IO Specialists• Individual Training

– Specific IO training should be integrated into the training continuum after generalist/IRC/Enabling Activity training and development to Supervisor/Manager level

– Implication: pathways for developing IO professional originate in generalist, specialist IRC and (to some extent) Enabling Activity career continuums

• Collective Training

– Incorporate IO-related issues/serials into collective training to extend familiarity

– Focus: demonstrating worth to others

• Non-Training Solutions

– Incorporate IO into doctrine, processes and support tools as guidance/aide memoire

Non-Military• Individual Training

– Incorporate familiarity-level training at appropriate lateral levels for specific IRCs/Enabling Activities

– Might be as much about working with the military

• Collective Training

– Incorporate IO-related issues/serials into collective training to extend familiarity

– Focus: demonstrate the intersection between their profession and IRCs/Enabling Activities/IO in toto

• Non-Training Solutions

– Incorporate IO into doctrine, processes and support tools as guidance/aide memoire

– Might need to focus on translating military jargon

Conclusion