25 ID information operators build partnerships

By Major Cheree Browne, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Information Operation OfficerOctober 23, 2014

25 ID information operators build partnerships
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Soldiers from across the 25th Infantry Division attended the Information Operations in the Pacific Symposium from Oct. 21-23 at the Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, to discuss and examine the role of information operations in h... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Soldiers from across the 25th Infantry Division attended the Information Operations in the Pacific Symposium from Oct. 21-23 at the Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, to discuss and examine the role of information operations in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

More than 75 service members and civilians from Oahu's military organizations and countries throughout the Pacific's area of responsibility participated in panel discussions that ranged from leveraging the ally and partner actions in the information environment to the supporting role information operations provides during disaster relief efforts in the Asian- pacific region.

Working with partnered countries, U.S. participants discussed how multinational information operations could help shape conditions for response to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in the Pacific Theater. The symposium provided a venue for increased awareness of Asia-Pacific issues and an opportunity for networking with delegates from Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Australia and Canada.

Symposium attendees explored options on how information can be utilized at the strategic and tactical levels while addressing the challenges of the information environment. Participants and panel members addressed alliance and partner cooperation and the need for transparency in a time of shifting military strength in the Pacific. They also discussed the need for information operations to be integrated into multilateral operations in the Indo- pacific region.

For 1st Lt. Joshua Spychalla, an operations planner for 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, the symposium gave him insight into how to work on developing a way forward for understanding how to utilize information operations in support of partnered countries for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

"I think the IO symposium is a great way to be exposed to the concerns that our partnership counties in the Asia Pacific Region face in the realm of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," said Spychalla. "I think this was a great opportunity to reinforce a continued desire to build up engagement opportunities with our military and civilian counterparts across the area of responsibility."

Maj. Bruce Chojnacki, Information Operations officer for 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and graduate of the Information Operations Qualification Course said the symposium provided an opportunity to discuss how to leverage the information environment.

"The IO symposium was a great opportunity for IO practitioners, across the services and the PACOM area of responsibility, to share ideas and experiences aimed at improving multinational cooperation for disaster relief," said Chojnacki. "Additionally, we discussed the importance of placing command emphasis on integrating information operations into humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations."

Staff Sgt. Joshua Bozeman, a military information support to operations planner for 3rd IBCT agreed, saying the most important aspect of the symposium was the opportunity to form relationships and develop multilateral cooperation among the participants.

"We couldn't execute our mission in the Pacific area of responsibility without the help of partner countries like Australia and Singapore, and I am so appreciative that they came to Hawaii and supported this event," Bozeman said. "It has been a great experience to gain various perspectives from our partner countries."