Nicholas Slayton
The U.S. Army is planning a long-term strategy when it comes to dealing with disinformation. A new unit, part of U.S. Army Pacific, is tasked with taking on information warfare from enemies, with a goal rapidly responding and debunking influence campaigns in the region.
Earlier this month the Army officially activated the 1st Theater Information Advantage Detachment, or 1st TIAD, and this past week shared additional details on the nature of the unit and how it will operate. Based out of Fort Shafter, Hawaii, the 1st TIAD comprises 65 soldiers across five teams, specializing in “cyber, intelligence, psychological operations, public affairs, electronic warfare, civil affairs, and information operations,” according to the Army.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said that the 1st TIAD is meant to “counter malign influence, protect friendly information, strengthen cooperation with key partners, and promote regional stability.” Essentially, when influence campaigns can be nearly as important as military positioning and logistics, the unit has to win the information and public affairs war. Col. Sean Heidgerken, the new unit’s commander, said that the 1st TIAD is “designed to maneuver within the information environment and maintain positions of advantage.”
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