Center for law and military operations report: the Judge Advocate General's legal center & school - CLAMO

Army Lawyer, March, 2004 by Pamela M. Stahl, Toby Harryman

A PA representative is also a member of the IO cell. Public Affairs supports IO through print and electronic products, news releases, press conferences and media facilitation. (35) Although PA does not shape the beliefs and attitudes of a population, it assists IO by providing factual information that enables the staff to make informed decisions. (36) Finally, the CA representative to the IO cell synchronizes CA activities with the IO themes and mission. (37) In stability operations, CA and IO work hand-in-hand to ensure that CA projects support IO themes, such as the United States restoring a safe and secure environment for the local population.

As reflected in the above examples, IO campaign objectives include many disciplines. For example, information about a weapons turn-in policy and collection sites may be disseminated through a variety of means, to include direct contact by CA personnel with the local population; PSYOP print and broadcast products; or PA news releases or press conferences. (38)

Information operational planning is conducted at all levels of command. At the Joint Forces Command (JFC), an IO cell develops and promulgates IO guidance and plans, and then passes them to the components and supporting organizations and agencies for mission planning and execution. At the JFC, the operations officer (J-3) usually has responsibility for IO. The J-3 normally designates an IO officer to supervise the IO cell. The IO officer also serves as the IO representative to the Joint Targeting Coordination Board. (39) The IO cell contains select representatives from each staff element, component, and supporting agency responsible for integrating IO capabilities and related activities, including a judge advocate. (40)

The Joint Task Force (JTF) also conducts IO. An excellent example of this process and how it nests with effects-based operations at the JTF level of command is Combined Joint Task Force 180 (CJTF-180) in Afghanistan. At CJTF-180, IOWG meetings plan and synchronize all IO components two weeks out, to include PAO, combat camera, PSYOP and EW. The operational law planner attends these meetings and both the chief, operational law and the fiscal law attorney review the recommended tasks, including PSYOP products such as posters, handbills, and leaflets. (41)

Combined JTF-180 uses the Joint and Army doctrinal targeting concepts of D3A to conduct joint targeting and the effects process. As such, the IOWG is just one group that contributes to effects-based mission planning through the joint effects working group (JEWG). Others include the operational effects working group (EWG), the operations planning group (OPG), and the assessment working group (AWG). (42)

First, in the decide phase of the targeting process the EWG meets to determine any changes to operational guidance, as interpreted from U.S. Central Command and Joint Chiefs of Staff planning orders, and to define the effects that the CJTF would like to achieve in their area of operation (AO) from both lethal and non-lethal fires. The resulting guidance is published in an effects tasking order (ETO). The ETO is then used in the detect phase to develop, validate, nominate, and prioritize targets. The OPG uses the ETO in the tactical MDMP to plan tactical operations three weeks out. The operational law planner's focus at these meetings is on the impact of the ROE on the tactical combat operations. (43) Also based on receipt of the ETO, the IOWG begins planning two weeks out to identify operational and tactical requirements and targets. As part of the targeting process, the IOWG nominates targets and recommends particular weapons to engage the targets. In this sense, weaponeering is not limited to lethal platforms, but may include the production of leaflets, stories, radio messages, etc. (44)