Psychological Operations

1. Psychological Operations Captain Stephanie Allison, PhD United States Air Force

2. 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.

3. Capture their mind and their hearts and souls will follow

4. 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.

5. How do you PSYOP somebody? • Target Audience Analysis • culture • Intended Outcome • Product Development • Dissemination Method • Measure of Performance • Measure of Effectiveness • Intelligence Gathering

6. How is PSYOP disseminated? • Face to Face • Audio visual (television) • Audio media (radio or loudspeaker) • Visual media (leaflets, newspapers, books, magazines, posters)

7. Leaflet Drop

8. 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."

9. History of PSYOP

10. 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

11. World War I: Cont’d 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 which…kill the soul.” Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg

12. World War II Captain Monroe “Monroe Bombs”

13. 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

14. 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

15. PDU-5/B Leaflet Bomb Modern PSYOP “Vote for Pedro”

16. The most deadly weapon is the truth

17. Three Types of PSYOP • White • Gray • Black

18. 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

19. 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

20. BlackPSYOP 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

21. The Approval Process

22. When PSYOP Goes Wrong “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” + =

23. 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”

24. 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

26. Inform versus Influence

28. Questions?