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56th Theater Information Operations Group

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The 56th Theater Information Operations Group is a brigade-sized command of the United States Army National Guard based in Washington, and Maryland. In 2015 it took on the additional role as a major subordinate command in the Washington Army National Guard, aligning military intelligence and special operations forces under its command for administrative control.[3]

56th Theater Information Operations Group (TIOG)
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Active2006-present
Country United States
Allegiance Washington
BranchUnited States Army
TypeInformation Operations
SizeBrigade (equivalent)
Part ofWashington Army National Guard
Garrison/HQJoint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
Motto(s)Defending Mercury[1]
ColorsTeal Blue & Gold[1]
EngagementsOperation Inherent Resolve
Commanders
Current
commander		Col. Nicholas Parker
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia[2]

As one of three TIOGs in the United States Army, the 56th provides information operations planning, synchronization, and assessment support to Army echelons at theater and Army Service Component Command down to brigade level. The 56th and its battalion elements have never deployed as commands but instead form and deploy purpose-built information operations teams designed to provide the support required by requesting commands.[4] TIOGs maintain regional focuses to provide supported commands additional regional expertise and capability to plan, synchronize, and assess information operations, activities, and investments within the area of operations.[5] The 56th is identified by the U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) as one of its units supporting its Influence core capability. The command relationship with ARCYBER is unclear.[6]

The 56th TIOG is regionally focused as the primary provider of information operations forces for USINDOPACOM,[7][8] under USARPAC, but has also supported operations in USCENTCOM[9] USAFRICOM[10] and USSOUTHCOM.

Composition

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156th IO Battalion trains with airborne leaflet drops, with support from the 12th Psychological Operations Battalion and 1-168th GSAB at Joint Base Lewis-McChord July 2023.[11]

Two battalions and a headquarters company are assigned to the 56th as a Theater Information Operations Group. It assumed its current organizational structure as of September 1, 2009, when the Maryland Army National Guard activated the 110th Information Operations Battalion.[12][13]

In 2015, the Washington Army National Guard reorganized, designating the 56th TIOG as a major subordinate command within the state. Under this designation, the 56th assumed administrative control, and operational control (Title 32 and State Active Duty operations) of additional Washington National Guard units. As a major subordinate command, it has the following organizational structure.[15]

  •   Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 56th TIOG – JBLM, Washington
  • Special Operations Detachment - Pacific
    • 1161st Rigger Detachment
  • 122nd Theater Public Affairs Support Element
  •   156th Information Operations Battalion
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment (HHD)
    • Company A
    • Company B
  •  341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist)
  •  Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) – Buckley, Washington.

History

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In September 2006, the Washington Army National Guard organized Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th Theater Information Operations Group to stand up the first of two TIOGs in the U.S. Army.[16] Three years later, the 56th was federally recognized on January 28, 2009, as a subordinate unit under the 96th Troop Command.[17]

In July 2015, the Washington Army National Guard reorganized the 96th Troop Command, separating the 56th and elevating them to a major subordinate command.[18] Later that year, on September 29, 2015, the 56th moved into the Information Operations Readiness Center (IORC), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, after commemorating its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This 127,100-square-foot facility came at a cost of $27 million and serves as the headquarters for the 56th and the majority of its subordinate units.[19][20]

Operation Inherent Resolve

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Since 2014, the 56th TIOG's 156th Information Operations Battalion has been supporting rotational forces into the USCENTCOM region in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.[21] In 2019, they were joined by another 56th unit, the 122nd TPASE, which divided its mobilized forces between Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Resolute Support, in Afghanistan.[22]

Horn of Africa

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For more than 13 rotations, the 110th Information Operations Battalion has deployed specialty teams in support of CJTF-HOA.[23][24]

Domestic operations

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Washington Army National Guard Soldiers stand by as a quick reaction force in the Dirksen Senate Office Building during the 2021 presidential inauguration

In January 2021, the 56th TIOG established and assumed command of a 380-person joint task force composed of Washington Army and Air National Guard personnel that soon deployed as part of 25,000 National Guardsmen to Washington D.C., providing security for the 2021 Presidential Inauguration[25][26] as part of Operation Capitol Response. In March of the same year, the 156th was activated to provide support to the Washington State Employment Support Department.[27][28]

Notable members

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "56th Information Operations Group". U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry. U.S. Army. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ^ Jonathan P. Wood; Bradley W. Young. "Information Operations in Current and Future Warfare" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ^ "History of the 56th Theater Information Operations Group". Washington National Guard. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  4. ^ Jonathan Rittenberg; Mike Barry; Daniel Hickey; Bryan Rhee; Holly Cross (March 2019). "Integrating Information Warfare:Lessons Learned from Warfighter Exercise 18-2". Military Review: The Professional Journal of the U.S. Army (March–April 2019): 106. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  5. ^ FM 3-13 Information Operations (PDF) (12/2016 ed.). Fort Belvoir, VA: Army Publishing Directorate. December 2016. pp. 3–7. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Our Units". U.S. Army Cyber Command. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  7. ^ Teeter, Alyson. "Washington National Guard, Malaysia Conduct Joint Exercise". National Guard Website. National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  8. ^ FM 3-13 Information Operations (PDF) (12/2016 ed.). Fort Belvoir, VA: Army Publishing Directorate. December 2016. pp. 3–9. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Nicholas Parker". Information Professionals Association. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  10. ^ "56th Theater Information Operations Group 2020 Annual Report". issuu.com. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  11. ^ Nieves, Elaina. "Washington Guardsmen Put Information Operations to the Test". National Guard Website. National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  12. ^ Bowery, Charles. "110th Information Operations Battalion Lineage and Honors". U.S. Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  13. ^ Rauschenberg, Kurt. "Information and cyber operations modeled by Maryland Army Guard". U.S. Army Official Website. U.S. Army. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  14. ^ Testa, Aaron. "Maryland National Guard has Information Operations Symposium". National Guard Website. National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  15. ^ "56th Theater Information Operations Group 2019 Annual Report" (PDF). DVIDS - Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. Washington National Guard. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  16. ^ "History of the 56th Theater Information Operations Group". Washington Military Department. Washington National Guard. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  17. ^ "History of the 56th Theater Information Operations Group". Washington Military Department. Washington National Guard. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  18. ^ "History of the 56th Theater Information Operations Group". Washington Military Department. Washington National Guard. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  19. ^ "56th Theater Information Operations Group 2020 Annual Report". issuu.com. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  20. ^ "High-tech secure environment for the Washington Army National Guard". AHBL. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  21. ^ "156th Information Operations Team prepares for deployment to Middle East". Washington Military Department. Washington Military Administrator. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  22. ^ Mitchell, Neil. "122nd in Afghanistan is there to tell the Guard's story". U.S. Central Command. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Maryland Guard Information Operations Team deploys to Horn of Africa". The Baynet. 110th Information Operations Battalion. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  24. ^ Henry, Kristine. "Maryland National Guard information unit continues to deploy". National Guard Website. National Guard Bureau.
  25. ^ "Washington Military Department Annual Report". Washington Military Department Annual Report (2021–2022). Washington Military Department: 45. 25 January 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  26. ^ Bernton, Hal (18 January 2021). "Inauguration week starts quietly at Washington state Capitol amid show of force by military and law enforcement". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Washington Military Department Annual Report". Washington Military Department Annual Report (2021–2022). Washington Military Department: 45. 25 January 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  28. ^ Roberts, Paul (19 March 2021). "Overpayment mess at Washington state's unemployment agency gets help from National Guard". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
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