Information has long been a key part of human competition-those with a superior ability to gather, understand, control, and use information have always had a substantial advantage on the battlefield. From the earliest recorded battles to the most recent military operations, history is full of examples of how the right information at the right time has influenced military struggles. The Air Force recognizes the importance of gaining a superior information advantage-an advantage obtained through information operations (IO) fully integrated with air and space operations. Today, gaining and maintaining information superiority are critical tasks for commanders and vital elements of fully integrated kinetic and nonkinetic effects-based operations. Information operations are conducted across the range of military operations, from peace to war to reconstitution. To achieve information superiority, our understanding and practice of information operations have undergone a doctrinal evolution that streamlines the focus of IO to improve the focus on warfighting.
