text: Signal Support to Operations to Shape and Prevent
  Signal Support to Security Force Assistance and Long-Term
  Consolidation of Gains—Colombia
  U.S. communications capabilities supported the government of Colombia as it
  confronted the destabilizing challenges of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
  Colombia. Through various long-term programs, the United States aided Colombian
  forces in their struggle against a protracted, bloody insurgency that at times controlled
  significant areas of the country.
  One of the programs was the development of bilateral information sharing agreements
  and the provisioning of a coalition network. The coalition network was a secure, secret-
  releasable communications network that linked more than 25 key Colombian command
  and control nodes, support elements from the United States Southern Command, and
  other U.S. Government agencies.
  The coalition network enabled the Army to provide technical, planning, and operational
  assistance to Colombian National Police and military forces, and fully integrate the
  military approach into interagency efforts. Improved, secure information sharing during
  police and military operations strengthened capabilities. The ability to share
  information reduced operational friction between friendly forces, increased the
  effectiveness of Colombian security forces, and bolstered their capacity.
  These capacity-building activities weakened transnational drug cartels and the
  Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, while fostering a culture of cooperation and
  information sharing in rising generations of Colombian military and government
  personnel. Ultimately, that made them more effective in current and future operations.
  SIGNAL OPERATIONS ASSESSMENTS
  3-5. Signal operations assessments are integral to planning and executing communications support.
  Operations assessments identify and analyze changes in the operational environment and determine the
  success of signal elements supporting the campaign or operation. Signal operations assessments help the
  theater army G-6 develop, adapt, and refine the theater communications support plan.
  3-6. Collecting information to develop an understanding of the operational variables provides the basis for
  signal operations assessments. A complete understanding of the operational environment, the theater
  campaign plan, and the commander’s priorities is critical to developing an accurate assessment.
  RISKS TO SIGNAL SUPPORT
  3-7. Enemies and adversaries will attempt to further their interests and achieve their goals without fighting.
  Threat actors will focus on disrupting and degrading networks and intercepting or manipulating information
  to undermine unified action partner relationships, raise political stakes, shape public opinion, and challenge
  U.S. resolve. The goal of threat activities during shaping operations is limiting allied action and freedom of
  maneuver.
  3-8. Cyberspace attacks may allow an enemy or adversary to extract sensitive information, contingency
  plans, or other data to degrade relationships or mitigate planned friendly operations. Adversaries may conduct
  reconnaissance in cyberspace to identify vulnerabilities in friendly networks, so they can plan cyberspace
  attacks to disrupt friendly forces’ ability to respond during crisis. Signal forces maintain cybersecurity
  compliance to prevent intrusions into the DODIN-A.