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]
156th Information Operations Battalion – JBLM, Washington
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
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
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
For more than 13 rotations, the 110th Information Operations Battalion has deployed specialty teams in support of CJTF-HOA.[23][24]
Domestic operations
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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