Blinding First, Striking Fast: Why the Marine Corps Needs Information Groups
There is an active debate in the U.S. Marine Corps about the value of operations in the information environment as a central aspect of maneuver warfare.
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Some critics have called new force structures, like the Marine expeditionary force information group, a failed experiment, while leaders wonder if the Marine air-ground task force should include an information combat element.
The question remains: if war is violent, what do operations in the information environment entail?
Sticks and stones break your bones, but what about words? They can trick enemies and set them up for a mighty fall.
These operations utilize cyber tools, electronic warfare, deception, operational security, and targeted messaging to deny an adversary the ability to orient and coordinate on the battlefield.
Author's summary: Marine Corps debates information environment operations.