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4th Military Information Support Group
The 4th Military Information Support Group (MISG) remains the Army's only active military information support operations unit.
The ranks of the 4th MISG include regional and language-trained experts who understand political, cultural, ethnic and religious subtleties. With functional experts in all aspects of tactical communications, the 4th MISG offers joint force commanders unmatched abilities to influence target audiences as well as support to U.S. diplomacy.
Military information support operations are a vital part of the broad range of U.S. political, military, economic and ideological activities used by the U.S. government to secure national objectives. MISO are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals in a manner favorable to the US policy and national objectives.
Used during peacetime, contingencies and declared war, these activities are not forms of force, but are force multipliers that use nonviolent means in often violent environments. Persuading rather than compelling physically, they rely on logic, fear, desire or other mental factors to promote specific emotions, attitudes or behaviors.
The ultimate objective of U.S. military information support operations is to convince enemy, neutral, and friendly nations and forces to take action favorable to the United States and its allies.
Military information support operations support national security objectives at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of operations.
Both tactical and theater-level MISO may be used to enhance peacetime military activities of conventional and special operations forces operating in foreign countries.
In addition to supporting commanders, MISO units provide interagency support to other U.S. government agencies. In operations ranging from humanitarian assistance to drug interdiction, Military Information Support Operations enhance the impact of those agencies’ actions.
Their activities can be used to spread information about ongoing programs and to gain support from the local populace.