Operationalising Intelligence Support to Information Operations: A Training Framework Derived from Live Environment Training

Abstract:
Recent doctrinal change frames information as a dynamic of combat power and calls on commanders to create and to exploit information advantage across all operations. Intelligence structures, however, remain largely optimised for kinetic targeting and physical terrain. This paper examines how a U.S. Army Theater Information Operations Group used four Live Environment Training (LET) deployments to develop and to refine a model for Intelligence Support to Information Operations (ISIO). The study describes how operational observations informed the development of a mission-essential task (MET), supporting subtasks, and a Training and Evaluation Outline (T&EO) for ISIO. It then outlines a practical training framework that links doctrine, METL-based tasks, and scenario-based exercises driven by open-source intelligence (OSINT). The result is a repeatable approach to building intelligence teams capable of enabling information advantage rather than servicing only traditional targeting requirements.
AUTHORS

151st Theater Information Operations Group
Fort Totten, New York, United States of America
Major Amy Forza is a Civil Affairs (Airborne) and Military Intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserve with more than 20 years of service as both an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer. She previously commanded a Drill Sergeant company responsible for training Initial Entry Training soldiers and has served in intelligence roles supporting operations in Afghanistan and Qatar. She currently serves with the 151st Theater Information Operations Group, where she served as the Group Intelligence Support to Information Operations (ISIO) officer researching the unit’s Live Environment Training (LET) deployments and documenting how intelligence support to information operations was practiced and refined across those rotations. Forza holds a Master of Science in Digital Scholarship from the University of Oxford.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
Quick Links
Archive

