Title

How to protect troops from an assault in the cognitive domain

Authors

Jan Kallberg, Army Cyber InstituteFollow
Stephen S. Hamilton, Army Cyber Institute

Document Type

Editorial

USMA Research Unit Affiliation

Army Cyber Institute

Publication Date

11-4-2020

Abstract

Great power competition will require force protection for our minds, as hostile near-peer powers will seek to influence U.S. troops. Influence campaigns can undermine the American will to fight, and the injection of misinformation into a cohesive fighting force are threats equal to any other hostile and enemy action by adversaries and terrorists. Maintaining the will to fight is key to mission success.

Influence operations and disinformation campaigns are increasingly becoming a threat to the force. We have to treat influence operations and cognitive attacks as serious as any violent threat in force protection. Force protection is defined by Army Doctrine Publication No. 3-37, derived from JP 3-0: “Protection is the preservation of the effectiveness and survivability of mission-related military and nonmilitary personnel, equipment, facilities, information, and infrastructure deployed or located within or outside the boundaries of a given operational area.”

Therefore, protecting the cognitive space is an integral part of force protection.

Web Link

https://www.c4isrnet.com/opinion/2020/11/04/how-to-protect-troops-from-an-assault-in-the-cognitive-domain/