Psychological Operations

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Psychological Operations

• Captain Stephanie Allison, PhD
• United States Air Force

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• Disclaimer information in this briefing was
  compiled from multiple sources and may have been
  modified or shortened to fit the educational
  purpose, format and training time available.
  Views expressed are those of the author and do
  not reflect the official policy or position of
  the United States Air Force or other US military
  services, Department of Defense, or the U.S.
  Government.

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Capture their mind and their hearts and souls
will follow
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What is PSYOP?

• 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.
• The purpose of United States psychological
  operations is to induce or reinforce attitudes
  and behaviors favorable to U.S. objectives.

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How do you PSYOP somebody?

• Target Audience Analysis
• culture
• Intended Outcome
• Product Development
• Dissemination Method
• Measure of Performance
• Measure of Effectiveness
• Intelligence Gathering

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How is PSYOP disseminated?

• Face to Face
• Audio visual (television)
• Audio media (radio or loudspeaker)
• Visual media (leaflets, newspapers, books,
  magazines, posters)

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Leaflet Drop
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Commando Solo
"Attention! People of Afghanistan, United States
forces will be moving through you area. We are
not here to harm you! We are here for Usama bin
Laden, Al Quaeda, and those who protect them!
Please, for you own safety, stay off bridges and
roadways, and do not interfere with our troops or
military operations. If you do this, you will not
be harmed. "Do not approach United States
forces. Stay in your homes! We are not here to
occupy you, or to overrun your country. If you
see United States forces, you need to find
shelter and not leave it until we have left the
area. This is for your protection. Roadways and
bridges will be unsafe for travel. Your home will
be the safest place. Do not listen to the Taliban
or Al Quaeda. We will not harm you if you comply
with these instructions. Once again, we do not
want to harm any innocent people."
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History of PSYOP
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World War I
German Taube (Dove) Scout Plane of the type
flown by v. Hiddessen
Germany Conducted first leaflet drop of WWI Lt
Ernst von Hiddessen dropped leaflets on Paris 29
August 1914
The German Army is at the Gates of Paris it
only remains for you to surrender -Lieutenant
von Hiddessen.
UNCLASSIFIED
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World War I Contd
WWI British post card leaflet This was air
dropped on German civilians To counter German
propaganda that their Prisoners of war were being
mistreated
Besides bombs which kill the body, his allied
airmen also throw down leaflets whichkill the
soul. Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg
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World War II
Captain Monroe
Monroe Bombs
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Korean War
Holds 45,000 leaflets
Leaflet printed by the 581st Reproduction
Squadron, 581st Air Resupply and Communication
Wing
M16A1 Cluster Adaptor Leaflet bomb used during
The Korean War 1950 - 53
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Vietnam
An Air Force C-47 drops leaflets over Vietnam
Safe Passage Leaflet
EC-121S Super Constellation, 193rd Tactical
Electronic Warfare Squadron (PA ANG) CORONET SOLO
PSYOP broadcast mission 1967
M129E1/E2 Leaflet Bomb Developed for use in
Vietnam
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Modern PSYOP
PDU-5/B Leaflet Bomb
Vote for Pedro
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The most deadly weapon is the truth
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Three Types of PSYOP

• White
• Gray
• Black

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White PSYOP

• White is acknowledged as an official statement or
  act of the U.S. Government, or emanates from a
  source associated closely enough with the U.S.
  Government to reflect an official viewpoint
• The information is true and factual
• Includes all output identified as coming from
  U.S. official sources

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Gray PSYOP

• The source of gray propaganda is deliberately
  ambiguous.
• The true source (U.S. Government) is not revealed
  to the target audience
• The activity engaged in plausibly appears to
  emanate from a non-official American source, or
  an indigenous, non-hostile source, or there may
  be no attribution

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Black PSYOP

• The activity engaged in appears to emanate from a
  source (government, party, group, organization,
  person) usually hostile in nature
• The interest of the U.S. Government is concealed
  and the U.S. Government would deny responsibility
• The content may be partially or completely
  fabricated, but that which is fabricated is made
  to appear credible to the target audience
• Black activity is also usually designed to cause
  embarrassment to the ostensible source or to
  force the ostensible source to take action
  against its will

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The Approval Process
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When PSYOP Goes Wrong
Come out, come out, wherever you are!


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Smith-Mundt Act

• The US Information and Educational Exchange Act
  of 1948 (Public Law 402), popularly referred to
  as the Smith-Mundt Act, specifies the terms in
  which the United States government can engage in
  public diplomacy.
• The act also prohibits domestic distribution of
  information intended for foreign audiences.
• E.g. Voice of America
• information produced by VOA for audiences
  outside the United States shall not be
  disseminated within the United States

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PSYOP in the USA

• Forbid U.S. PSYOP forces to target (i.e., attempt
  to change their opinions) U.S. citizens at any
  time, in any location globally, or under any
  circumstances.
• Commanders may use PSYOP forces to provide public
  information to U.S. audiences during times of
  disaster or crisis.
• Shelter locations
• Vaccination instructions
• NEO evacuation

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Inform versus Influence
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Questions?