1st Information Operations Command (Land)

The 1st Information Operations Command (Land), formerly the Land Information Warfare Activity Information Dominance Center (LIWA/IDC), is an information operations command of the U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER).

It provides multi-disciplinary Information Operations (IO) support to the component and major commands of the United States Army. 1st IO CMD has broad authority to coordinate IO topics and establish contact with Army organizations, the United States Navy (USN) and United States Air Force (USAF), and JCS IO Centers, and with United States Department of Defense (DoD) and National Agency IO elements.^[2]

Mission

1st Information Operations Command provides IO support to the Army and other military forces through deployable IO support teams, IO Reachback planning and analysis and the synchronization and conduct of Army Computer Network Operations (CNO), in coordination with other CNO and network operations stakeholders, to operationally integrate IO, reinforce forward IO capabilities, and to defend cyberspace in order to enable IO throughout the information environment.^[3]

Organization

1st IO Command is composed of two battalions. They conduct the command’s Information Operations, Vulnerability Assessment and Computer Network Operations mission. The Army Reserve Element augments and supports the battalions and Brigades. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company provides Command and Control, military justice, administration, training and logistical support.^[4]

Staff

The 1st IO Command’s brigade staff sections support soldiers and staff to carry out 1st IO Command's Mission. The CJA (command judge advocate) is the primary legal advisor to the commander's legal matters in the command. Resource Management provides budgetary support and oversight. Contracting staff is directly responsible for the command’s services contract administration. The brigade’s S1 through S6 provide support in the areas of personnel, intelligence, operations, logistical and automation or information technology.^[5]

• S1 - Personnel
• S2 - Intelligence
• S3 - Operations
• S4 - Logistics
• S6 - Automation
• CJA - Command Judge Advocate
• Resource Management
• Contract Management

Headquarters and Headquarters Company

Mission

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) provides Command and Control (C2), military justice, administration, training, and command logistics in support of 1st Information Operations Command’s Brigade and Battalion level, Active Component (AC), Active Guard Reserve (AGR), Army Reserve (AR), Army National Guard (ARNG), Department of the Army (DA) Civilians, contractors, and Families.^[6]

Functions

• Support the commander’s leadership responsibilities for moral, welfare and discipline
• Manage unit-level supply and maintenance
• Facilitate various Army training courses
• Provide human resources support
• Facilitate family readiness group

1st Battalion

Mission

Organize, train, and deploy multi-skilled IO teams world-wide in support of Army, Joint, and Interagency information operations and vulnerability assessment to provide supported commanders a unique advantage in the information environment.^[7]

Functions

• Deploy in support of unit operations
• Analyze, assist, and challenge a unit’s posture in the information environment
• Participate in unit training and exercises
• Assist with IO planning from strategic to tactical levels
• Conduct IO policies, procedures and accreditation review
• Train and certify OPSEC officers

2nd Battalion

Mission

Plans, synchronizes, and conducts Army Computer Network Operations (CNO) through deployed CNO support teams and CNO reach back capabilities in order to gain and maintain information dominance throughout Cyberspace.^[8]

Functions

• Computer Defense Assistance Program
  • Network assistance visit
  • Network damage assessment
  • Penetration testing
• Computer network operations planning and exercise support
• Deployable mission support teams
• RCERT support for COCOMs
• IO range support

Army Reserve Element (ARE)

The Army Reserve Element (ARE) has Administrative control of Army Reserve personnel assigned to 1st IO Command. It provides trained and ready soldiers in support of 1st IO Command's global mission to operationally integrate information operations, defend cyberspace and provide reach-back planning and analysis for Army and Joint stakeholders.^[9] On December 3, 2013, the ARE won 1st and 3rd places in the annual DC3 Digital Forensic Challenge. The Defense Cyber Crime Center Digital Forensic Challenge, provides digital artifacts comparable to what Soldiers might examine in a real-world cybersecurity situation. DC3 asked players to identify hidden files, perform analysis of suspicious network traffic, analyze registry entries and recover user passwords.^[10]

Command responsibilities

Operations

Acting as an operations center, an intelligence analysis center, and a communications hub, the 1st IO CMD Information Dominance Center is the focal point of all 1st IO CMD activities in support of the Army and of Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations. 1st IO CMD teams deployed worldwide are continuously linked to the IDC via a number of communications means: common user circuits, strategic communications links, and dedicated satellite terminals. The IOC performs as a typical command operations center, maintaining the status of IO events worldwide, and orchestrating the activities of 1st IO's deployed teams and internal supporting activities.^[2]

Analysis

As an analysis center, the IDC provides dedicated support to 1st IO CMD's deployed teams and the commands they serve. Tailored analytical products are generated, frequently on a quick-response basis, to meet a deployed team's immediate needs. The IDC also monitors potential trouble spots worldwide, preparing to support contingency operations with IO-related products should the need arise. The IDC uses high-capacity communications links to access selected information from a number of databases maintained by a number of other commands, agencies, and organizations. In addition to providing IO support to the operations process, the IDC provides an advanced environment to leverage new technologies and explore emerging concepts. The IDC is also prepared to provide support to exercises.^[2]

Communications

The IDC's communications capability serves both operational and analytical functions by using a variety of links to supported commands and deployed 1st IO CMD teams. The IDC also has access to DoD and non-DoD government organizations participating in IO at the National level, and exchanges information with intelligence organizations possessing IO information and subject matter expertise. Collectively, the ability to communicate worldwide permits the small number of analysts resident in the IDC to provide tailored assessments rapidly and efficiently. Finally, in support of the Army Computer Emergency Response Team (ACERT), the IDC uses communications to flash computer intrusion alerts and countermeasures across the Army.^[2]

References

External links

• 1st Information Operations Command Shoulder Sleeve and Distinctive Unit Insignia, from the Institute of Heraldry
• Unit home page
• Land Information Warfare Activity (LIWA)/Information Dominance Center, Federation of American Scientists