text: Chapter 4
  • Restore telecommunications infrastructure.
  • Support general infrastructure reconstruction programs.
  • Use money as a weapon system.
  CONDUCT INFORMATION ENGAGEMENT
  4-41. This is the integrated employment of public affairs to inform US and friendly audiences;
  psychological operations, combat camera, US Government strategic communication and defense support
  to public diplomacy, and other means necessary to influence foreign audiences; and, leader and Soldier
  engagements to support both efforts (FM 3-0). Information engagements are part of all military operations
  in an area. All leaders must be directly involved in conducting information engagements. These shape the
  information environment in three ways: by informing audiences using factual information (with public
  affairs), by influencing selected audiences in the area of operations (with psychological operations
  and face-to-face meetings), and most important, by persuading audiences through the actions of Soldiers.
  Considerations for Constructing an Information Engagement Plan
  4-42. Effective information engagement plans can rally popular support for counterinsurgent efforts,
  marginalize insurgent violent actions, and neutralize the insurgency’s political decision-making
  capabilities. Everything that a tactical unit does or fails to do in COIN plays a part in its information
  engagement plan. Therefore, information engagements must be synchronized and nested through common
  multiechelon themes. Themes must be tailored to different target audience by the manner in which they are
  presented or distributed. In COIN, perception is often more important than truth.
  Successful Planning Characteristics
  4-43. To effectively craft an effective information engagement plan, tactical units must ensure that it is
  decentralized to the lowest level, executed in a timely manner, account for HN culture, be planned with HN
  counterparts, and easily be combined into all COIN operations. The commander should take an active
  interest in his information engagement plan. He does this through his information engagement intent,
  emphasis to his staff and soldiers, and assignment of information engagement responsibilities. The staff
  should be integrated into the information engagement plan and dedicated to information engagement
  success. Higher headquarters should prevent information fratricide by subordinate units through integrating
  mechanisms, which most often comes through daily or weekly synchronization meetings.
  Themes
  4-44. Tactical units most often implement their information engagement plans through the construct of
  themes that address target audiences. Themes may include simple messages that can easily be repeated (the
  “bumper sticker”) and are often referred to as “talking points.” Successful themes are those that –
  • Keep objectives simple and achievable.
  • Manage expectations and perceptions of the HN populace. Keep counterinsurgent goals
  attainable.
  • Use previous HN contacts and relationships.
  • Can be distributed using formal and informal methods by Soldiers at all levels. Formal methods
  include posting public notices, briefings to community leaders, and talking to local media.
  Informal methods include patrols talking to local citizenry, handing out leaflets, and using
  loudspeakers.
  • Respond to events and insurgent propaganda rapidly, admit mistakes, and deals with the
  populace honestly.
  Target Audiences
  4-45. In COIN, themes must be tailored to resonate with the target audience. The tailoring process
  should take into account cultural understanding. In addition, audiences can be separated as far down as
  neighborhoods, ethnicity, religion, class, and other factors. The audience may include the US civilian
  population, international forums, US soldiers, HN population, and insurgents.