Psychological Operations - Key Strategies and Historical Insights.

It is now more important than ever to integrate all national power instruments in order to maintain operational success in today's complex and fast changing information settings. Effective influence in the workplace is obtained through understanding and responding to our audience with precision, as well as by maintaining consistency in both our actions and words. 

The Department of Defense (DOD) is an essential aspect of a larger United States Government (USG) communications strategy on the military and information tools of national strength. All DOD communications initiatives must innately uphold the validity, veracity, and credibility of USG operations in order to be successful.  

Psychological operations (PSYOP) are specifically designed to affect the perceptions of foreign audiences and their subsequent actions as part of authorized programs in support of military goals and USG policy. 
 

Professionals in PSYOP adhere to a methodical process that combines an analysis of the environment with the commander's objectives; chooses pertinent target audiences (TAs); creates targeted, culturally and environmentally sensitive messages and actions; uses advanced media delivery techniques, and produce quantifiable, and observable behavioral responses.  
 
PSYOP forces are involved in all types of military operations. Regularly planned and evaluated PSYOP have a crucial role in the success of major operations as well as peacetime engagements.  

The explicit legal authorities that oversee PSYOP, control and decide how the capacity is used.  
PSYOP units have a rich history that begins with World War I and is entwined with the history of the Special Forces. The 1st Psychological Warfare Battalion was established in the early 1950s, which coincided with the initial PSYOP assessment and selection.  

In 1951, six weeks of PSYOP training took place at Ft. Riley, Kansas, under the auspices of the Army General School. In those days, there were just a few graduates from the psychological officer and non-commissioned officer courses—39 officers in June and 45 NCOs in November.  

What are the three categories of PSYOPS? 

The three primary categories are tactical, operational, and strategic.  

Tactical PSYOP are carried out in the region under the jurisdiction of a tactical commander in a bid to support the tactical mission against opposing troops.  

 
Operational PSYOP are carried out in a designated operational area during a variety of military actions, even during peacetime, to increase the efficacy of the joint force commander's (JFC) campaigns and tactics.  

Strategic PSYOP includes informational operations carried out by US government entities outside of the military sphere, although many make use of Department of Defense (DOD) resources.

 
Psychological operations units

The Army comprises the bulk of U.S. military psychological operations activities. Regional radio/TV stations and the Voice of America are sources of White PSYOP. Units within the Central Intelligence Agency are likely to be strategically in charge of black and some gray PSYOP. White PSYOP originates from Voice of America or the US Information Agency, particularly at the strategic level.  
 
Within the Department of Defense of the United States, there are Psychological Operations units in the Air Force (8th Psychological Operations Group), Army (4th Psychological Operations Group), and Air Force Special Operations Command (193rd Special Operations Wing) with COMMANDO SOLO units. Limited PSYOP missions are also planned and carried out by the US Navy.