PSYOP is one of the oldest military disciplines, but the new DoD doctrine continues to struggle with fundamental questions of definition. These sample sentences are automatically selected from various online information sources to reflect the current use of the word «psyops.» The opinions expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us your feedback. It supports a new negative definition of the term «propaganda», previously used in a neutral sense to refer to «any form of communication in support of national objectives that aims to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes or behaviour of a group in order to benefit the sponsor directly or indirectly». From now on, propaganda will refer only to what the enemy does: «Any form of adversarial communication, especially of a biased or misleading nature, aimed at influencing the opinions, emotions, attitudes or behavior of a group in order to directly or indirectly benefit the sponsor.» In May 2006, USCAPOC was reorganized to report to the Army Reserve Command instead, and all active PSYOP elements were deployed directly into USASOC. Although the PSYOP reserve forces are no longer part of the USASOC, this command retains control of the PSYOP doctrine. Operationally, PSYOP individuals and organizations support military and joint maneuver forces or inter-agency organizations. An unusual technique developed in real time has been called the «Ma Bell Mission» or, more formally, surrender missions. A number of Panamanian bases continued to have telephone access. By assigning Spanish-speaking special forces to a combat unit that would otherwise take the base by force, Spanish-speaking personnel would call the Panamanian commander, tell him to put away his weapons and gather his men in parade square, otherwise he would face deadly consequences. Due to the heavy reliance on phones, these missions were called «My Bell» operations. During this ten-day period, TF BLACK elements were instrumental in the surrender of 14 shells (bases), nearly 2,000 soldiers and more than 6,000 weapons without a single American casualty.
Several of Manuel Noriega`s high-ranking cronies who were on the «most wanted» list were also captured in Ma Bell`s operations. [32] The CIA wrote a manual for right-wing rebels – the Contras – entitled Psychological Operations in Guerrilla Warfare to support their struggle against the Marxist Sandinistas. See also CIA activities in Nicaragua The message to be conveyed can be adapted to tactical situations, but the promises made must be consistent with national policy. On December 9, 2008, the Associated Press reported that various musicians coordinated their objections to using their music as a technique to soften prisoners through an initiative called Zero dB. [42] [43] However, not all musicians questioned the possibility of their music being used during interrogations. Stevie Benton of the Drowning Pool Group commented with support:[43] Psychological operations have been widely used in Vietnam, with white propaganda under the U.S. News Agency and the Vietnam Military Assistance Command and gray and black propaganda under the Central Intelligence Agency and the Study and Observation Group. The initial mission was to provide information to the military and civilians of the three warring parties (Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs) in order to support the restoration of a peaceful environment with the ultimate goal of saving lives and reducing tensions. The main means of disseminating information was the dissemination of radio and television, as well as the considerable distribution of leaflets, posters and souvenirs such as footballs and colouring books.
At the beginning of the mission, PSYOP troops in Sarajevo were often under fire from snipers. Although several vehicles of the 6. The PSYOP HUMMWV battalions were damaged by gunfire, there were no casualties. The fire largely subsided in the first 90 days of the mission. [35] As an example of the use of PSYOP in a humanitarian relief operation, Maj. Gen. Anthony Zinni, director of operations for Unified Task Force Somalia, said that U.S. PSYOP forces are generally prohibited from trying to change the opinions of «American people» (i.e., citizens and residents) anywhere in the world. [8] [9] However, commanders can use PSYOP forces to provide public information to the U.S. public in the event of a disaster or crisis. Information support for a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) by PSYOP forces to provide evacuation information to US and third-country nationals would also be in line with the order. [7] The use of PSYOP forces to provide the necessary public information to an American public was established as part of the relief efforts after Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Tactical Psychological Operations (TPT) teams have been deployed to broadcast information via loudspeakers about the location of shelters and emergency facilities. The integrated use of the basic capabilities of electronic warfare, computer network operations, psychological operations, military deception and operational security, combined with specified and related support capabilities, to influence, disrupt, corrupt or usurp enemy human and automated decision-making while protecting our own. [2] «These people have never heard heavy metal. You can`t stand it. When you play it for 24 hours, your brain and body functions begin to slip, your thinking train slows down, and your willpower is broken. Then we go in and talk to them. [40] Following the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995, active PSYOP units were reinforced by U.S. Army reserve personnel sent to Bosnia in support of NATO`s Peace Implementation Forces (IFOR). Elements of the 6th PSYOP Battalion served as the coalition`s «headquarters, joint IFOR information campaign» (IFOR-CJIIC) in Sarajevo and initially operated from the former Olympic Stadium in Zetra. Security in Sarajevo was provided by British, French, Italian and Turkish conventional forces, which operated there under the control of the United Nations until the launch of NATO operations.
Parts of 3. PSYOP battalions were also sent to Sarajevo to carry out the development of products for print, radio and television. Elements of the 9th PSYOP Battalion were sent to Tuzla to directly support the 1st Armored Division in order to broadcast the media by radio and leaflet. [35] Most of PSYOP`s activities and achievements in Panama have not been noticed by either the U.S. public or the military community at large. But the special operations community has noticed. The knowledge gained in Panama has been incorporated into the standard operating procedures. Where possible, immediate changes have been made to build on the successes of PSYOP operations in Grenada and Panama. This resulted in an improvement in production, performance and impact during the next emergency, which took place within 6 months of the return of the last PSYOP elements from Panama. The operations [in Iraq] have occupied PSYOP on a scale and efficiency that many attribute to Panama`s lessons. [7] Before these actions can be taken, intelligence analysts must profile potential targets to determine which objectives would be most beneficial.
To find out, analysts need to determine the vulnerabilities of these groups and what they would be vulnerable to. Analysts also determine the attitudes of the target groups towards the current situation, their complaints, ethnic origin, frustrations, languages, problems, tensions, attitudes, motivations and perceptions, etc. Once the appropriate objectives have been set, the PSYOP can be created. The commander of the Marine Corps has placed a renewed emphasis on working in the information environment. The Marine Corps seeks to meet this demand by building the ability to influence audiences and advise employees and partners on cultural considerations to achieve tactical and operational objectives. Information Operations (IO) includes all measures taken to influence hostile information and information systems while defending friendly information and information systems. IO focuses on the adversary`s key decision-makers and is conducted at all stages of an operation, across the full range of military operations and at all levels. IO strives to coordinate and integrate MAGTF actions and communication into planning and execution and to improve all MAGTF operations. PSYOP transmits selected information and indicators to foreign target groups in order to influence their emotions, motivations, objective reasoning and, ultimately, the behavior of foreign organizations, groups and individuals in a manner that is favorable to the commander`s goals.
PSYOP enables the Marine Corps to understand and achieve effects in the information environment. Psyop Marines are primarily responsible for the analysis of cultural factors, as well as the development and distribution of products that cause informative and psychological effects.