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56th Theater Information Operations Group

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]

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]

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.

  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.

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