Information Operations (United States)

United States defense category Information Operations is a category of direct and indirect support operations for the United States Military. By definition in Joint Publication 3-13, "IO are described as the integrated employment of electronic warfare (EW), computer network operations (CNO), psychological operations (PSYOP), military deception (MILDEC), and operations security (OPSEC), in concert with specified supporting and related capabilities, to Information Operations (IO) are actions taken to affect adversary information and information systems while defending one's own information and information systems." History of Information Operations in the U.S. Military U.S. Army leaflet targeting the 45th North Korean DivisionThe modern U.S. military can trace its use of information operations back to World War 2 when the Army activated the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the "Ghost Army", on January 20, 1944. This secretive unit was responsible for executing 22 large-scale military deceptions in Europe using techniques such as inflatable vehicles, false radio transmissions, loud-speaker sound effects, and phony generals. Specific operations the 23rd was noted for having s