Employing Information Operations at the Marine Expeditionary Unit Level in the Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility

<p>Information operations (IO) are defined as actions taken to affect adversary information and information systems while defending one's own information and information systems. Based upon this definition at the tactical level the focus of IO is on affecting an adversary's information and information systems related to command and control intelligence logistics maneuver and firepower as they relate to the conduct of military operations while protecting our own capabilities. Military activities at the tactical level will often bear a resemblance to traditional operations with the IO dimension being the effect these activities have at the operational level. The significance of this IO capability for a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander specifically within the Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) is important because it provides that commander with another way of effecting an opponent through direct or indirect means. Currently the Marine Corps does not possess the capability to perform IO at the MEU(SOC) level. The purpose of this monograph is to explore how the Marine Corps intends to employ offensive IO within the Sixth Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). The United States Marine Corps has maintained an active presence within the Sixth Fleet's AOR (Mediterranean Sea) since the end of the second World War. The MEU(SOC) is uniquely task organized equipped and trained to meet complex missions ranging from Noncombatant Evacuation Operations to amphibious raids. These missions would be enhanced once the Marine Corps develops the capability to employ IO at the MEU(SOC) level. The Marine Corps intends to develop this IO force for use within each of the MAGTFs (MEF MEB and MEU). The projected capabilities of this IO team would be to conduct limited offensive and defensive IO for the MEU commander. This IO force would also have the ability albeit limited in scope and scale to initiate an IO campaign for the MEU based on a</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>