text: Chapter 2
  explain and justify friendly actions while delegitimizing enemy and adversary actions. Narratives
  simultaneously serve as both communication mechanisms and counterpropaganda instruments that gain the
  populaces’ favor. Narratives seek to neutralize or disable the support structures provided to adversary or
  enemy groups and factions. BCTs must knowthe multiple narratives within a given information environment.
  The BCT gains valuable insights from competing narratives to determine the multiple and disparate interests
  and motivations of the population and its subsets. BCT leaders rely on attached PSYOP and other key
  personnel to identify the actors and analyze the narratives to determine competing narratives; staffs then
  articulate these competing narratives to inform the commander’s decisions. Key staff members informing the
  commander’s narrative guidance and actions include the information operations officer,public affairs officer,
  brigade civil affairs operations staff officer(S-9),PSYOP staff planner,and brigade judge advocate.
  2-44. The BCT addresses enemy propaganda efforts by preempting and countering enemy propaganda to
  neutralize their effects on friendly actions and objectives. The BCT maintains credibility with the host-nation
  populace and counters enemy propaganda that seeks to delegitimize host-nation government and friendly
  forces actions to maintain the initiative. Use of mainstream media,social media,community meetings,key
  leader engagements,and other messaging mechanisms provide multiple means to counter enemy propaganda
  and address accusations and misinformation before the local, regional, national, and global audience
  perceives deceit and lies as truth and fact. The BCT must actively collect information and intelligence that
  allows unhindered observation of enemy messaging and propaganda platforms to identify enemy information
  campaigns that seek to degrade the effectiveness of friendly actions and activities. The BCT employs
  specifically trained capabilities to construct narratives, identify enemy messaging and propaganda efforts
  through information collection,and aggressively delivercountermessages that discredit enemy propaganda.
  They also assess the impact of friendly and enemy influences upon the populace at the local, regional,
  national,and international level to mitigate the effects ofenemy propaganda.
  2-45. Networks of systematic crime and corruption that undermine progress for their own political or
  economic gains require transparency, accountability, and combined oversight with host-nation partners.
  Political environments and security organizations allow opportunists to infiltrate legitimate systems and
  pursue agendas outside the interests,aims,and objectives that support sustainable and favorable outcomes.
  Political subversion undermines legitimacy and gives enemies and adversaries insider information about
  friendly motivations and operations.
  2-46. The BCT commander and staff must understand the external and internal influences of corruption
  within host nation political,economic,and security systems. The BCT,in partnership with the host nation,
  must identify corrupt officials, discredit enemy influence in legitimate systems, and eliminate subversive
  elements that promote negative influences onlegitimate governmental processes or other pillar organizations.
  When the host nation denies enemy organizations sanctuary in pillar organizations,they are forced to seek
  support elsewhere or retire from a given area,thereby making themselves vulnerable to friendly forces that
  can identify transitions,seize initiative,exploit weakness,and neutralize or destroy enemy forces.
  2-47. Above all, the BCT supports efforts designed to bolster host-nation partner legitimacy among the
  populace and global audience. Legitimacy takes on varying forms depending upon the social, cultural, and
  political systems of a particular society. Rule of law is fundamental to legitimate governance. Partnered
  security operations between the BCT and host-nation security forces are essential to gaining and maintaining
  the rule of law and a sustainable security environment. The populace decides whether the governance
  mechanisms within their society are legitimate, because local and cultural norms define legitimacy and
  acceptance by the people. Measurable and noticeable progress, however slight, enhances legitimacy that
  improves the security,law and order,economic situation,and social structure over time.
  2-48. The BCT commander and staff that exhibit an understanding of the information environment are
  prepared to synchronize information-related capabilities to enhance the effectiveness of operations.
  Information operations communicate action and intent to the populace, encourage cooperation through
  persuasion and relationships, effectively counter enemy propaganda, expose and defeat corruption, and
  bolster the legitimacy of host nation partners. Effective information operations create effects in the
  commander’s portion of the information environment and enable sustainable outcomes that lead to rule of
  law,effective governance,address the needs of the people,and enhance mission accomplishment.