From Flight Lines to Headlines: Harnessing Tactical Air Force Information Warfare for Strategic Effects

The current United States Air Force (USAF) information operations (IO) force posture, which operates predominately at the operational level with a small portion integrated at the tactical level within Special Operations Wings (SOW), is not distributed to effectively exploit the informational aspects of military activities. This research highlights the criticality of integrating IO officers across the levels of warfare, emphasizing their potential in conventional tactical units. This research analyzes the untapped synergy of IO, Agile Combat Employment (ACE), and air advising and finds that their integration demonstrates how integrated deterrence can be operationalized. Moreover, the study reveals discrepancies between doctrinal prescriptions and operational realities, which have led to impractical and occasionally inaccurate interpretations of how IO is employed in practice. In response, this research recommends revising the roles and functions of IO officers to align more closely with operational realities. Finally, the research advocates instilling an IO practitioner mindset across the force, emphasizing the significance of cognitive resilience--the capacity to counter foreign malign influence--as a fundamental function of IO. These recommendations aim to fortify the USAFs tactical integration of IO, ensuring a more dynamic and resilient force capable of addressing the complexities of modern conflict.