Employment of Psychological Operations The versatility and flexibility of Psychological
Operations throughout the continuum make it a combat multiplier and
weapons system available to the maneuver commander.
Psychological Operations or PSYOP are planned operations
to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to
influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately
the behavior of organizations, groups, and individuals. Used in all
aspects of war, it is a weapon whose effectiveness is limited only by
the ingenuity of the commander using it.
A proven winner in combat and peacetime, PSYOP is one of
the oldest weapons in the arsenal of man. It is an important force
protector/combat multiplier and a non-lethal weapons system. The
success of employing PSYOP starts with knowing its capabilities:
ò Project a favorable image of U.S. and allied
forces Operations Other Than War:
ò Humanitarian Assistance PSYOP employment may be done through various media,
i.e., visual: newspaper, posters, pamphlets, handbills; audio: radio,
loudspeakers; face to face, an EC130 (Commando Solo,) and being both
audio and visual, television. All media must go through an approval
process chain. Approval authority normally rests with the JTF
commander/supported CINC. Maneuver commanders can request products in
support of battalion, brigade, and division operations.
PSYOP Support Detachments
Tactical PSYOP is also associated with 'face to face'
(direct) operations in support of the maneuver units within the
theater. Tactical PSYOP Teams enable tactical maneuver commanders to
communicate directly with the enemy and foreign civilians. The PSYOP
detachments are normally task organized as:
Corps PSYOP Detachment (CPD)
ò nine to fifteen soldier HQ (BN command group) Division PSYOP Detachment (DPD)
ò five to seven soldier HQ (1-2 OFF, 3-5 EM) Brigade PSYOP Detachment (BPD)
ò three to four soldier HQ (1 OFF, 2-3 EM) Tactical PSYOP Teams (TPT)
ò three soldier team(1 E6, 1 E5, 1 E4) Tactical Teams/Detachments can disseminate approved
printed materials, conduct loudspeaker operations, face to face PSYOP,
gather and assess the effectiveness of friendly and hostile PSYOP or
acquire PSYOP relevant information on the local populace using
linguistic skills.
How does PSYOP integrate into the maneuver unit?
As part of the J3/G3 Battlefield Operating System (BOS)
under J3/G3 staff proponency, at all levels, each PSYOP team:
ò advises commander on PSYOP employment How can a maneuver commander, employ PSYOP?
As part of the J3/G3 (non-lethal) Battlefield Operating
System (BOS) under J3/G3 staff proponency, the mission of tactical
PSYOP is to provide the supported maneuver commander with the ability
to communicate directly with the human element on the battlefield.
Tactical PSYOP can be employed on the battlefield as the
climate for operations dictate:
CLOSE OPERATIONS:
ò surrender instructions DEEP OPERATIONS:
ò induce surrender REAR OPERATIONS:
ò conduct area assessments How is PSYOP used in a combatant environment?
Tactical PSYOP soldiers can conduct psychological
operations using several types of media - audio, visual, and print.
However, during combat operations, loudspeaker systems are the only
medium that can achieve face to face communication providing immediate
feedback from enemy forces. During loudspeaker broadcasts, the enemy
becomes a captive audience unable to escape the message. As a result,
tactical PSYOP rely heavily upon loudspeaker operations at the Corp
PSYOP
Detachment, Division PSYOP Detachment, and Brigade PSYOP Detachment
levels. Loudspeaker systems can be mounted on a vehicle or carried by
a soldier in a backpack.
The advantages of loudspeaker operations include:
immediate feedback from the target audience, flexibility, mobility,
range of transmission, exploitation of targets of opportunity,
effectiveness with illiterate audiences, and ability to pinpoint
targets. The limitations include: vulnerability to enemy fire,
distortion of messages over distance and time, and employment of enemy
countermeasures.
How can tactical PSYOP shape the maneuver commanders AO?
The key to a successful loudspeaker operation lies in
tailoring each message to fit the situation. Loudspeakers are useful
in tactical support of exploitation, retrograde movements, static
situations, consolidations, and counterinsurgency operations. They
also provide public service announcements to small rural areas.
Exploitation: When friendly forces are exploiting the
breakthrough of the enemy lines, loudspeaker operations can accomplish
spectacular results. Surrender appeals and ultimatums are particularly
effective when enemy units have been surrounded, isolated, or
bypassed.
Retrograde: Loudspeakers can be used to clear roads,
thereby facilitating the operation.
Static Situations: When lines are stabilized, TPT
loudspeakers can broadcast news of successes to the enemy, build upon
enemy tensions or promote nostalgic themes about home and family.
Primary objectives are to encourage dissatisfaction, malingering,
individual distractions within the enemy force, and desertion by
creating an atmosphere of fear, insecurity, and disillusionment.
Consolidation: In newly occupied terrain, TPTs can be
utilized to assist in civilian, traffic, or mob control.
Counterinsurgency Operations: TPTs can be used to
broadcast a wide variety of programs and messages to civilian
populations and insurgents.
The utilization of PSYOP Deception
To be successful, PSYOP deception operations must be
planned, coordinated, integrated, synchronized, and executed
successfully. Failure in any one area will result in failure of the
whole plan.
What must I do, as maneuver commander, to ensure an
effective PSYOP campaign?
Tactical PSYOP support at each level must integrate the
needs of the maneuver commander with the CINC/JTF PSYOP campaign plan.
This results in a PSYOP plan that supports each maneuver commander
while ensuring consistent PSYOP themes and objective at all levels.
An effective PSYOP campaign requires regional analysis,
detailed coordination, and the inclusion of tactical PSYOP soldiers
into the planning process as early as possible. Early planning results
in well planned, integrated PSYOP campaigns, deployment with the
supported unit, and immediate operations upon arrival. When
incorporated early and coordinated at all levels, tactical PSYOP will
provide an effective weapons system for the maneuver commander.
However, knowing the limitations of any weapons system is key to its
effectiveness.
Limitations of tactical PSYOP are:
ò Tactical PSYOP teams require security Tactical PSYOP as a combat multiplier, in combination
with other assets, increases the effectiveness of the overall
operation. PSYOP enhances the plan when forward deployed or positioned
at critical points in the AO. On weakened or bypassed units, PSYOP
decreases their effectiveness and prevents units from fighting
doggedly; which is the cause of higher friendly casualties and
expenditure of resources. PSYOP messages must remain truthful to
maintain credibility however,
the impact on the target audience is only limited by the imagination
of the PSYOP specialist, the staff, and the commander.
SOURCES:
Headquarters, Department of the Army, FM 33-1-1,
Psychological Operations, May 1994
9th Psychological Operations Battalion Tactical Primer,
Commander's Guide to Tactical Psychological Operations, April 1993
USSOCOM, Joint Publication 3-53, Doctrine for Joint
Psychological Operations, July 1996.
Author unknown
ò Inform target audiences in new or denied areas
ò Amplify the effects of a show of force
ò Assess attitudes and impressions
ò Give opponent audiences alternative courses of action
ò Overcome censorship, illiteracy, or interrupted communications
ò Diminish morale, reduce the will to fight or resist
ò Exploit ethnic, cultural, religious or economic differences
ò Support deception operations
ò Noncombatant Evacuation Operations
ò Counterdrug Operations
ò Foreign Internal Defense
ò Unconventional Warfare
ò Peace Keeping/Peace Time Operations
ò highest level of tactical PSYOP
ò BN CDR is Corps CDR'S PSYOP officer
ò contains three BPDs
ò works in the G3 section
ò contains four Tactical PSYOP Teams
ò works in the brigade S3 section
ò conducts planning and coordination with BN S3
ò works a battalion level and below
ò analyzes all higher OPLANS/OPORDS
ò conducts mission analysis, course of action development,
wargaming
ò writes PSYOP annex/estimate
ò coordinates for operational level PSYOP support (Radio, TV,
Newspaper, etc.)
ò discourage/disrupt enemy operations
ò control civilian/enemy personnel
ò assist in deception operations
ò discourage/disrupt enemy operations
ò create favorable U.S. image in civilian populace
ò counter enemy/negative propaganda
ò assist in deception operations
ò create favorable U.S./friendly forces image
ò counter enemy/negative propaganda
ò publicize civilian control measures - assist Civil Affairs
ò Product approval process takes time
ò Often must use supported unit's communications equipment
ò All products developed must fall within a approved PSYOP campaign
plan