Concepts of Information Warfare in Practice

This monograph looks for historical examples of information warfare in order to gain insight into its current practice. It first describes key elements of the concept of information operations, particularly as they relate to battle command. It then explores how George S. Patton and his Third Army Information Service demonstrated those ideas, and how their example offers direction for current developments in information warfare.

Key sources used in research included emerging doctrinal literature on information warfare, biographical information on the professional development and command qualities of Patton, and after action reports of the Third Army and 6th Cavalry Group, the unit that constituted the Army Information Service.

This monograph found that Patton aggressively sought information advantage as a battle commander, and that he demonstrated the key qualities of vision and intuition. The Third Army Information Service developed a relevant common picture of the battlefield by the expanding the instrument of directed liaison.

What needs emphasis in current concept of information warfare is the improving the ability of commanders and staffs to process information. We must reemphasize the human dimensions of information operations through refined professional development.