Assessing the Effects of Computer Network and Electronic Attack: Does Joint Doctrine Measure Up?

Abstract

Abstract : The nature of today's combat operations, coupled with the ascendancy of the Information Domain as the key ideological battleground, dictates that U.S. forces shift from kinetic to non-kinetic means to achieve operational objectives. The current operating environment demands our forces to operate more jointly than in past operations, especially with regard to information operations (IO). Two sub-disciplines of IO, computer network attack (CNA) and electronic attack (EA), are often the means of choice to affect U.S. adversaries. With CNA and EA constantly evolving and being employed more often, it is appropriate to ask the following question: Does joint doctrine adequately support the assessment of these means? A careful examination of pertinent joint doctrine reveals that, on the whole, joint doctrine does provide enough guidance to support assessment at the operational level. Practitioners of CNA and EA have mixed views of the usefulness of joint doctrine, but it is still consulted as definitive guidance for the roles and responsibilities of assessment functions. What joint doctrine lacks is consistent guidance for assessment in IO sub-disciplines like CNA and EA. Adding and expanding material covering assessment concepts and challenges unique to CNA and EA will significantly enhance joint doctrine's usefulness to warfighters at the operational level of war.