text: Chapter 1
  1-7. States and non-states are rapidly expanding their investment in cyberspace and space capabilities and
  forces. They recognize the leveling effect these domains, especially cyberspace, offer in terms of achieving
  parity or overmatch at minimum relative cost. A significant portion of the threat’s information asymmetry
  comes from its growing capacity in space and cyberspace.
  1-8. Threats operate among populations with whom they often share cultural or ethnic identity, making it
  difficult to distinguish threat from non-threat. This fact requires U.S. forces to interact and communicate, in
  nuanced fashion, with a wide range of audiences and actors in order to separate those willing to support U.S.
  intentions from those who are not. The ability of the threat to operate among populations and harness
  commonalities provides the threat yet another asymmetric advantage.
  INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
  1-9. The information environment is not separate or distinct from the operational environment but
  inextricably part of it. In fact, any activity that occurs in the information environment simultaneously occurs
  in and affects one or more of the operational environment domains.
  1-10. The information environment is comprised of three dimensions: physical, informational, and cognitive.
  Within the physical dimension of the information environment is the connective infrastructure that supports
  the transmission, reception, and storage of information. Also within this dimension are tangible actions or
  events that transmit a message in and of themselves, such as patrols, aerial reconnaissance, and civil affairs
  projects. Within the informational dimension is the content or data itself. The informational dimension refers
  to content and flow of information, such as text or images, or data that staffs can collect, process, store,
  disseminate, and display. The informational dimension provides the necessary link between the physical and
  cognitive dimensions. Within the cognitive dimension are the minds of those who are affected by and act
  upon information. These minds range from friendly commanders and leaders, to foreign audiences affecting
  or being affected by operations, to enemy, threat or adversarial decision makers. This dimension focuses on
  the societal, cultural, religious, and historical contexts that influence the perceptions of those producing the
  information and of the targets and audiences receiving the information. In this dimension, decision makers
  and target audiences are most prone to influence and perception management.
  1-11. The information environment has increased in complexity. Due to the widespread availability of the
  Internet, wireless communications and information, the information environment has become an even more
  important consideration to military planning and operations, because the military increasingly relies on these
  technologies. Activities occurring in and through the information environment have a consequential effect
  on the operational environment and can impact military operations and outcomes. Therefore, commanders
  and their staffs must understand the information environment, in all its complexity, and the potential impacts
  it will have on current and planned military operations.
  SECTION II – INFORMATION OPERATIONS DEFINED AND DESCRIBED
  1-12. Information Operations (IO) is the integrated employment, during military operations, of information-
  related capabilities in concert with other lines of operation to influence, disrupt, corrupt, or usurp the decision-
  making of adversaries and potential adversaries while protecting our own (JP 3-13). This manual uses the
  term IO comprehensively to capture all activity employed to affect the information environment and
  contribute to operations in and through the information environment. IO includes:
  * Integration and synchronization of information-related capabilities.
  * Planning, preparing, execution, and assessment.
  * The capability and capacity that ensures the accomplishment of IO, to include the units and
  personnel responsible for its conduct.
  Breaking down the definition into constituent parts helps to understand its meaning and implications for land
  forces.