FM 3-18 · Assessments of communications inirastruoturo. • Assessments of military communication and C2 intrastructures. • Assesamcnts of military training and prolicioncy (to determine susceptibility to denial, military deception, and psychological opera- tions}. • Literacy rates. . Assessments of ethnic lactional relationships and languages. L78. During peace, execution of some l0 activities requires stratcgiwlevel approval (soo figure 1·2, page 1-15). However. IO assessment. planning, preparation, and training during peace allow commanders to dovclop links between governmental and nongovernmental agenixioa that are useful during crisis and war, Those activities also allow different uchelons to ooordinatu and deconflict their I0 plans before mceiving a mission. Commanders at all echelons can determine the approval authority for the various I0 elements! related activities and synchronize their plans. Commanders also learn to rec» oyznlze the risks involved and the tradeollh required to conduct efiective IO. L79. Department of Defense (DOD) and other intelligence agencies publish reports and other products to support contingency planning {see AR 38141). These are available under the DOD Intelligence Dissemination Program. New production requirements, less requirements for signals intelligence end products (SEPs}. are processed under the Department of Defense Intelligence Production Program. Authorized users submit requests using the automated Community On-line Intelligence System for End Users and Management (COIJSEUND. SEP requirements are submitted thmugh major Army com- mands bo the United Status Army Inttdligente and Security Command UNSCOM). 1-80, In addition to preparing for possible contingencies, some forces conduct IO to accomplish the objectives of an actual deployment. For example, IO has been a mzgior, if not the decisive, aspect of peace operations in the Balkans. Commanders conduct I0 to irttluencc decisionmnkors and other actors in thc information environment. During peace, X0 are oiten the primary means gow graphic oumbatsmt commanders usc to shape the strategic environment. CRISIS LBL During crises, Army Sorces conduct I0 based on existing contingency plans or a crisis action plan (see JP 5~0). A potential or actual contingency requires commanders at all echeluns to gather additional information and re- Ene their oontingcnty plans based an a spociiic A0 or target set. Geographic wrnbatant wmmnnders may use the relationabips and conditions in the in- Hirmation environment created during peace to iatluencc potential adversary dticisionmakors to uct in ways that will msolvc the crisis peacefully. Other I0 may attempt to influence actors within the targct g1oup`s political, etonomic, military, and social structums. Still other IO tollcct inliwrramrion about target groups to use in decisionmaking and in conducting operations, if netessary. Operational and tactical commanders prcpare Ru l0 as part of their depl<>y— ment preparations, They coordinate preparations with the JFC to ensure unity of elibrt and prevent information liatrinide. Preparing for I0 includes obtaining inhirmation about potential adversaries from all available soumes. 1—2l7
