Defining information operations forces: What do we need?

For our purposes, this article uses a combination of definitions adopted by joint doctrine and the Batdespace 21st Century (B21) model.6 Our universe consists of three primary domains: physical (including the terrestrial, atmospheric, marine, space, and electromagnetic [EM] environments as well as the tangible components contained within them), cognitive (the single and collective consciousness that exists in the minds of individuals),7 and information (existing within both the physical and cognitive domains and hosting the creation, manipulation, storage, and sharing of data and information).8 An operational domain represents a portion of one or more primary domains chosen for a specific national or military operation.9 Essentially, it is an artificially defined (in that it is defined by humans), bounded area of the universe. "13 Having defined some operational terms, we turn to the current doctrinal meaning of IO, defined by Joint Publication 3-13, Information Operations, as "the integrated employment of the core capabilities of electronic warfare, computer network operations, psychological operations, military deception, and operations security, in concert with specified supporting and related capabilities, to influence, disrupt, corrupt or usurp adversarial human and automated decision making while protecting our own.