text: Unified Land Operations
  efficiently will help fill critical gaps in information requirements and relieve the supported command from
  providing critical communications to attached CA forces.
  INFORMATION ADVANTAGE
  3-72. CAO are designed to provide accurate, balanced, credible, and timely civil information to local
  officials, agencies, and external audiences. CA forces and CAO planners ensure CAO are consistent with the
  themes and messages of the command in order to ensure legitimacy and unity of effort. While the public
  affairs office, judge advocate general office, and Psychological Operations (PSYOP) forces are purveyors of
  messaging for the commander, CA forces enable messaging through dissemination of information to
  developed civil networks and other civil entities within the civil component of the AO. This dissemination
  of information enables developed civil networks to assist in the planning, preparation, execution, and
  assessment of targeted effects.
  Information Operations
  3-73. According to FM 3-13, CAO are an information-related capability. CAO are a capability that
  commanders employ to create effects and operationally desirable conditions. CA representation in the IO
  working group assists in—
  * Identifying civil networks to target.
  * Synchronizing communications media, media assets, and messages.
  * Providing news and information to the local population.
  * Provide civil knowledge.
  3-74. CAO complement IO and facilitate mission accomplishment by enhancing the relationship between
  the civilian populace and the military force. CAO enhance or enable conditions that create a decisive
  advantage in the information decision making cycles. It is critical when CA forces are used to support IO,
  that CA forces maintain their credibility with the civilian populace.
  Note: For more information regarding IO see FM 3-13.
  Public Affairs
  3-75. As an official spokesperson, the public affairs officer ensures—through established public affairs
  guidance—that the command speaks with one voice and observes operations security. CA, PSYOP, and
  public affairs elements use many of the same communications media and present similar messages to
  audiences for varied intended purposes. CA personnel engage IPI and unified action partners to influence,
  coordinate, and integrate their support for the command’s messaging. PSYOP personnel address friendly,
  neutral, and adversary populations to influence. Public affairs personnel address national and international
  news media and U.S. forces in order to inform.
  Military Support to Information Operations
  3-76. The importance of integrating CAO with the activities of PSYOP and public affairs personnel cannot
  be overstressed. For example, if information released to the host-nation populace by CA and PSYOP
  personnel conflicts with information released to news media and U.S. Soldiers through public affairs
  channels, the result may be a loss of credibility for all involved and a negation of any positive
  accomplishments.
  COMPETITION CONTINUUM
  3-77. Competition is the condition when two or more actors in the international system have competing and
  potentially incompatible interests but neither seeks to escalate to open conflict in pursuit of those interests.
  While violence is not the adversary’s primary instrument in competition, challenges may include a range of
  violent instruments including irregular forces with uncertain attribution to the state sponsor. This closely
  corresponds with the shape and prevent strategic roles and is where the vast majority of military operations