Psyops program during wwii

The giant strides made in the area of behavioral sciences, which can now enable us to know and understand why people behave as they do, combined with the development and perfection of mass media communications, have greatly multiplied the capability and value of PSYOP as a means of achieving our own national objectives without needless bloodshed. This recognition of the important role of PSYOP has resulted in its integration into many training programs and tactical exercises, as well as the consideration of PSYOP employment in all future military operations.

Tactical PSYOP is addressed to a specific enemy combat group, to induce them to perform a specific action that will affect the current or short-range combat situation. Support our own and allied forces cover and deception operations. There are numerous examples of the use of psychological warfare throughout history. The following are some historical examples which illustrate the attainment of each of these four objectives.

Perhaps one of the earliest examples of Psychological Warfare was attributed to "Alexander the Great of Macedonia. Alexander had conquered most of the known world during his reign. With each region he conquered he left behind soldiers to keep control of the newly conquered area.

Eventually, there came a point when Alexander realized that he had stretched his army too thin and was now in danger of losing to a large opposing force.

Alexander's only option was to retreat and regroup forces with the armies he left behind. However, to do so would certainly incite the opposing force to pursue him and very possibly capture or defeat his now smaller army. Alexander knew that if he could intimidate the opposing force they would be scared to follow his army. Alexander instructed his armorers to make several oversized armor breastplates and helmets that would fit "giants", men 7 to 8 feet tall.

As Alexander and his forces withdrew during the night they left behind the oversized armor. The oversized armor was of course found by the opposing force who then believed that they had come close to engaging in a battle with giants. A battle that they surely would have lost. The oversized armor coupled with the stories they had heard from travelers of the savagery of Alexander's army caused enough doubt and fear that they elected not to pursue Alexander's army.

Sun Tsu, recognized as one of the greatest military tacticians of all times, strongly advocated the use of psychological warfare as a force multiplier.

Sun Tsu wrote that:. To capture the enemy's entire army is better than to destroy it; to take intact a regiment, a company, or a squad is better than to destroy them. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence.

Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy. Next best is to disrupt his alliances by diplomacy. The next best is to attack his army.

And the worst policy is to attack cities. Sun Tzu understood that given the opportunity, an adversary will surrender to a superior commander prior to conflict.

In order to have a chance to be that superior leader, PSYOP must be coordinated and included in initial planning and implemented prior to conflict. If hostilities begin, proper PSYOP implementation can end the conflict earlier than otherwise expected. PSYOP is a force multiplier and resource saver. In Ancient Egypt it was believed that cats captured the glow of the setting sun in their eyes and kept it safe until morning.

This made it unlawful for cats to be killed except in ritual sacrifice by priests. When Cambyses II led the Persian Army against the Egyptians in the battle of Pelusium they tied cats to their shields and won a staggering victory. In B. It is said that the inhabitants of Pelusium worshiped cats as gods. Their enemy knew of this belief and took advantage of it.

The Persians deployed their forces to the villages and towns of the surrounding countryside, capturing as many cats as they could lay their hands upon. Once satisfied with the number of animals they'd collected, the Persian army returned to the city of Pelusium. The Egyptians immediately attacked, but were frozen in their tracks as hundreds of panic-stricken cats were released onto the battlefield. Confusion spread through the Egyptian ranks. The Persian forces then advanced, each of the Persian soldiers holding a cat.

The Egyptian soldiers dared not engage the enemy or shoot their arrows, fearing that to do so might endanger the lives of the cats. The Persians quickly scattered their enemy and their city defenses as Cambyses hurled cats over the walls of the city. After the taking of the city Cambyses showed his contempt of the Egyptians by carrying a cage of cats in front of him upon his horse, and hurling them with insulting taunts and laughter, into the faces of his foes.

Mongol leader Genghis Khan was widely known for leading hordes of savage horsemen across Russia and into Europe. While not totally unfounded, the Mongols' image of total, barbaric domination was greatly enhanced by Khan's use of PSYOP, deception, operational security OPSEC , and targeting his adversaries' decision-making process.

Khan also used deception to create the illusion of invincible numbers by using rapid troop maneuver, making his army look larger than it really was.

He had a network of horsemen called "arrow riders" to communicate quickly with his commanders, and he targeted enemy messengers to prevent enemy commanders from communicating with each other. When the Mongol warriors traveled, they dragged large objects behind their horses to create dust storms. The dust storms made the advancing troops appear to be much larger than they were. One example of this is the Interservice Committee on Human Resources, which was created in by the DOD to coordinate all military spending on communication studies, social psychology, sociology, and the social sciences.

The DOD and a group of influential academic individuals used the committee as a confidential focal point for government and academic networking. One committee member was William C.

Menninger of the Menninger Foundation, a major defense contractor. It recommended and approved major research projects. The committee had four divisions. Of particular interest is the Panel on Human Relations and Morale which oversaw most of the psychological warfare research for the military.

The panel was composed of military and academic specialists that conducted studies on PsyOp. It was chaired by Charles Dollard, president of Carnegie Corporation. Through these and other organizations, prominent social scientists participated in research projects during the war. Some of these individuals served in two or more groups at the same time. Wilbur Schramm, for instance, was a social scientist at the University of Illinois and Stanford.

He was a central figure among social scientists in the US regarding communication research between and His writings on propaganda, such as The Process and Effects of Mass Communication , have been used as training manuals for US government propaganda programs. Some of his important work done in the s concerning PsyOp was conducted in connection with the CIA and military, and therefore, remains classified. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations during this time.

On 10 August I proposed that various items known to be scarce in the Philippines, such as cigarettes, matches, chewing gum, candy bars, sewing kits, and pencils be sent to the islands by submarine in great quantity for widespread distribution. Each package would bear the crossed American and Philippine flags on one side, and on the other the quotation "I shall return" printed over a facsimile of MacArthur's signature. Millions of such items were distributed in the Philippines and the words were printed on walls or placed wherever the people and the Japanese might see them.

This was the equal of the "V" for victory campaign waged in occupied Europe. Many of the Navy propaganda leaflets were archived in classified "Confidential" booklets. A number of them exist. Examples are:. This booklet sets forth the general principals, means, and methods of employing propaganda in the Pacific Theater. It is a page instructional booklet. This booklet contains samples of psychological warfare leaflets and newspapers prepared prior to the date of publication starting with leaflet and ending with This booklet contains 54 leaflets, staring with and ending with This booklet contains 57 leaflets, staring with and ending with Supplement 3 consists of two sections.

The first contains copies of all newspaper and newssheets with translations distributed after 1 June The second contains copies of all newspapers without translation printed prior to 1 June The booklet I studied contains 48 newspapers, staring with and ending with This is a series of lectures taught to the new OWI agents.

Part One of Psychological Warfare breaks down the code numbers of the leaflets into categories and explains their themes. I have greatly edited the explanatory paragraphs.

I also added some examples of the Leaflet titles in each category to show the reader the general concept of the U. Leaflets bearing these numbers have been prepared for the period of bombardment of an entire tactical area, preliminary to any further action to be taken in that area.

Leaflets bearing these numbers are designed for that period of intensive bombardment, usually by surface ships, just prior to the invasion. To the Japanese soldier. I raise my two hands to live for my country. Leaflets bearing these numbers are designed for that phase when the actual landings are made and the main engagement begins. To Japanese officers! You can't fight tanks with bayonets! Leaflets bearing these numbers should be used when the enemy realizes that our forces will be successful in their attacks.

Die for the military caste or live for your home and country If you commit seppuku. Think it over carefully. Leaflets bearing these numbers should be used when resistance has been broken and only mopping-up remains. Are you so determined to die that you won't listen to reason? What are you fighting for? Life-saving guarantee. Do you intend to continue to live like a beast in the jungle? Your island has been isolated and cut off from all aid and supplies. Instructions for negotiations.

It should be noted that although we call these Navy leaflets, they were prepared in partnership with the American Office of War Information with Pacific Headquarters in San Francisco , and a forward outpost on the Island of Saipan. Leaflet depicts a map of the entire western Pacific to include Japan , Australia , part of China and Southeast Asia. Two lines appear on the map, one in red, one in blue. The blue line depicts the furthest advances of the Japanese Empire, while the red line shows the current status of the war with Allied forces moving closer to the home islands.

The lines visually prove that the Japanese Navy cannot protect the Empire and that Allied forces are advancing to within striking distance of Japan itself. Some of the demoralizing text is:. The Gilbert Islands conquered by America November 20, ! Saipan, Tinian and Guam conquered by America July ! Is Japan next? There is reason to believe that this ridicule of the Japanese Navy worked. According to Report on Psychological Warfare in the Southwest Pacific Area , American admirals believed that the Japanese Navy could be needled into coming out to fight.

As a result, messages and leaflets said that the Japanese Navy would abandon its troops in the Philippines just as they had those isolated troops on the southern islands. After the campaign of ridicule they attacked Leyte Gulf on 24 October It was a disastrous defeat. Army Colonel Sidney F. No one will ever under-estimate the part which the campaign of ridicule, so ably carried out by the Psychological Warfare Branch, played in bringing out the Japanese Navy to be destroyed.

Leaflet depicts the bound hands of a Japanese naval officer dripping with blood. The theme is that the only way to save Japan is to end the war.

Anyone can see that it is hopeless for Japan to fight against the whole world. The military leaders who were foolish enough to lead you into such a conflict will be punished. But, if Japan is to survive and not destroy itself, the war most be ended before all the young and potent men are killed. Save the nation by saving yourself. Leaflet is an early attempt to induce the Japanese to surrender by promising humane treatment and by citing past instances as proof of this claim.

The leaflet is in black ink on white paper with a green border. The front depicts a group of United States Marines playing a game with Japanese prisoners. The faces of the Japanese have been partially blocked in an attempt to protect them and their families. It was later determined that the Japanese officers cited this masking as proof that the soldiers pictured were not really Japanese. Reacting to this counter-propaganda, later leaflets depicted the prisoner's face in full.

There is no text on the front. Your leaders have told you so many false stories about American cruelty that you fear and hate us. You have apparently forgotten about America 's aid to Japan during the great earthquake disaster of , and the long tradition of American kindness and generosity. Don't be deluded by falsehoods. Your soldiers who came over to us on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam received food, water, clothing, and medical treatment, and they are now safe and happy.

When you cease fighting and come over to us, we will treat you the same way. Leaflet is a wonderful example of a divide and conquer leaflet. It is larger than most at 8 x 10 inches. The leaflet is in blue ink on a white background.

It depicts two forlorn Japanese soldiers on guard near their machine gun watching two officers walk toward a Japanese aircraft, obviously about to escape being trapped on a besieged island. The purpose of the leaflet is to stir up resentment in the Japanese soldier toward his officers.

It seems rather strange to us that Japanese officers should be evacuated wherever possible, whereas ordinary soldiers are expected to remain behind and die. Such conduct is hardly consistent with Bushido, and surely your lives are as valuable to you as theirs are to them.

Recently, for example, the commander of the second fleet, together with several officers, was evacuated from Manokwari by plane and taken to Japan. He should have remained and led his men, but apparently officers of high rank act to please themselves. They preach Bushido to you, but they act upon different principals. Is your life of so little value to you that you will throw it away in vain?

A few minutes of thought should convince you otherwise! Navy leaflet depicts the Japanese Emperor Meiji. The text reminds the troops that until feudal lords controlled Japan. The leaflet indicates that the militarists are nothing more than the rebirth of the ancient feudal lords and have usurped the power of the Emperor and need not be followed. Notice that the Emperor is not attacked, it is the Gumbatsu that has made Hirohito a victim.

The Emperor is above all, and it is he who the soldiers owe their loyalty too, not the militarists. When the powers of government were restored to the Emperor Meiji in , Japan truly became a nation and the loyalty of all citizens was given to the Emperor. Before that time, feudal lords controlled the country and every man gave loyalty to the Lord under whom he lived.

The restoration of the Emperor corrected this unfortunate situation. Recently Japan has returned to the error of the pre-Meiji days. Militarists have usurped the powers of government. The name of the Emperor is used, but in reality there is a new bakufu in control. To fight for men who have involved the nation in a hopeless war is not true loyalty. Give your loyalty to the nation. The bakufu mentioned in the text can be translated as "tent government. The Emperor still functioned, and his court appointed civil governors, collected tax, and controlled his capital, but the feudal lords informally ran the country through control of the military and police functions.

Leaflet was designed to offer a positive course of action to Japanese troops who have been cut off, resulting in surrender rather than suicide. It paves the way for a future surrender. The leaflet depicts a Japanese soldier with his hands raised. The leaflet is printed in black on white paper, but red has been used to highlight the soldier and the text. Text at the right of the vignette is, "I raise my two hands to live for my country.

The Allies are invading the homeland of Germany. The Allies are attacking the homeland of Japan. Accept Allied protection until the war is over. You will be given medical treatment and food. The threat of Japanese suicide was very real and the United States produced a great number of leaflets in an attempt to convince the Japanese soldier to live to return home. The Japanese warrior code stated that death in battle brought honor both to individual and to the nation.

The preferred method of hara-kiri or seppuku is to stab yourself in the left abdomen and pull the knife across your stomach, disemboweling yourself. This should be done without showing any pain or emotion. Many Japanese would have a friend stand by with a sword and if they wavered their friend would do them the honor of beheading them before they expressed pain and dishonored themselves. An Office of Strategic Services Interrogation dated 9 June mentions a Japanese officer explaining to his troops the way they should die rather than be captured in a situation where seppuku was impossible and time was of the essence: Point your rifle under your chin.

Place a stick in the trigger guard. Use both feet to force the stick down. Release the safety pin of a hand grenade and place it close to your body. Plunge your bayonet into your body. It is very interesting to note that although the American propagandists tried to keep Japanese enlisted personnel from killing themselves, they had no reserve about urging Japanese officers to commit seppuku.

Not all propaganda directed at the military sounded as compassionate as the anti-suicide appeals. One of the more hard-hearted and devious facets of the campaign consisted of inciting Japanese officers to perform seppuku when they failed in their military mission.

The Allied reminded Japanese battle-level officers that, while they committed soldiers to commit hara-kiri instead of surrendering, their senior leaders, including Tojo, often failed to kill themselves after their failures in battle. One leaflet depicted a leader preparing to kill himself while kneeling beside a newspaper that chronicled his failure. If they do not take that action the people should demand that they do so.

Leaflet depicts a Japanese soldier watching an American tank approach. I selected this leaflet because the title was used by Allison B. I have the book in my library so will honor her by showing the original leaflet. Come over to us and let us give you food, water and medical treatment. Neither your resistance nor death can accomplish anything.

The Gumbatsu mentioned in the text is a combinations of the militarists sometimes called "the military clique" , industrialists Later called the Zaibatsu , large land owners and political office holders. They had the real power and control over the Japanese people. The Allied used this term in a number of propaganda leaflets. Navy leaflet depicts two Japanese prisoners-of-war happily playing "Chinese checkers" in an American camp.

The leaflet was specifically designed to create doubt in the soldier's mind about the wisdom of the "banzai charge" or suicide. When the war is over soon, you won't be alive to enjoy peace and happiness. If you come over to us -. You will be able to return home when peace comes.

All Japanese, military and civilian, will be in the same status. There will be no shame for anybody. Navy leaflet depicts a pagoda with the inscription: To Japanese Colonists on the front. The leaflet assures the non-combatant Japanese colonists that they will receive friendly treatment at American hands. The leaflet further stresses both Japan's failure to aid them and the kind treatment offered by the Americans.

The procedure for surrender is also indicated. The text on the reverse of the leaflet printed in violet ink and reads:. You have come to the South Seas to till the soil and develop the myriad islands of the Pacific. You have worked hard. You are far away from the home land and from your friends. Life has not always been easy. But you endured because the military leaders promised to send ships.

The Arawashi will not come out to save you in the South Seas. All their promises have been broken. Now the American fleet and land forces have come to occupy this island.

The American air force has driven the "Arawashi" away. They have driven back the Japanese fleet. But you need not die.

After the fighting is over you will be returned to your farms and your homes will be rebuilt. You will be given food, water, and medical care immediately. Here is what to do: Come out unarmed in the daytime, wear white or colored clothes, and carry white flags held high. Show the American troops that you are friendly and they will treat you as friends. Leaflet depicts a peaceful scene of a deer, trees and a pagoda in the background. The text is similar to that of leaflet , and tells the Japanese soldier that it is proper to cease resistance and it is only the wrong teaching of the militarists that make him believe that the act is dishonorable.

Many Japanese believe that it is a disgrace to cease hostilities at one's request after fighting to the best of one's ability.

Where did you get this idea? Who made you think this? There was no such idea when the Tokugawa submitted to the Emperor Meiji.

There was no such idea when more than two thousand Japanese prisoners were returned to Japan after the Russo-Japanese War. Many of these men are now in high positions in Japan. Why has the Gumbatsu suddenly taught that it is a disgrace to return to Japan? The Tukugawa Shogunate was the longest period of uninterrupted peace Japan ever enjoyed. Yet, it was not a happy time. The brilliant and ruthless administration of the Tokugawa military administration combined with the rigid seclusion of the country to produce the Japan that we know today.

Navy leaflet depicts a smiling United States Marine giving a small Japanese child a ride on his shoulders. This is certainly one of the most informal poses presented on any American leaflet and meant to show the Japanese military and civilians that Americans were not the monsters that their propaganda had claimed. When once the violent battle is concluded, a period of peace and relaxation ensues.

The American forces, which annihilated the Japanese troops on Saipan, extend kind treatment and protection to the old and young of both sexes who were left behind. Japanese even become close friends with American troops. Both the boy and the Marine who is carrying him on his shoulders appear to be having great sport. One of the most attractive U. Navy leaflets is It was the first in a series of leaflets to be dropped over Japanese troops stranded on bypassed islands.

The text is black brushwork on slick paper. The front depicts a beautiful plate of mixed sushi and other Japanese delicacies in full color. To see this leaflet is to salivate. You have almost no food and are slowly starving to death.

You are as human as we are and the thought of your hunger is far from pleasant. We will then be able to help you. He adds:. Our Marine fighter squadron was based on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands during the last year of the war. The squadron was originally supposed to be an observation squadron but was changed to a fighter squadron a few months after it was formed.

The men were really anxious to get into the battle, but instead, the squadron was used to train pilots before they were sent to the front to join a fighting unit. As part of their training the pilots flew missions against the many islands in the chain that were still occupied by the Japanese.

These stragglers were supplied by an occasional enemy submarine. It was during these training missions right at the end of the war that the pilots strafed, bombed and dropped the leaflets. The leaflets were placed in wooden boxes and attached to the bomb hooks on the F4U Corsairs and dropped on these runs.

The fighters received some anti-aircraft fire on these missions but none of the aircraft were ever hit. Some of our dive bombers were hit and had minor damage during their training missions over the isolated islands. I worked in the carpenter shop where we built the boxes that were used to make the drops.

Later, down by the flight line, the pilots gave me a few of the leaflets as souvenirs. The new pilots trained for 3 months before moving on and being replaced by another group of fliers. Early in the war when American soldiers were starving, the Japanese dropped a leaflet that depicted a beautiful salad plate and American soldiers trapped on a small island, their burning fleet in the background.

The text is, "Iron-rationed stranded. Nothing but dog-biscuits. Day after day, positively. How about a dish of salad like this? Perhaps their own dietary customs intruded on their propaganda.

Leaflet is the third in a series of leaflets for specific by-passed islands. The front depicts a montage of photographs, including those of Japanese troops, U. Text on the front over the photographs is: Friendship , military might , and which is it to be? Your situation is getting steadily worse. There is no chance for outside air, nor is there any chance of escape. Our Navy controls the sea and air. Your position is entirely hopeless. We don't need the island and will merely use it for bombing practice but we fell that it is shameful that you should have to die of hunger, thirst, and sickness without any accomplishment.

Therefore, we who hate to see you die a useless death offer you a chance at survival. You have nothing to fear. We abide by international law and treat those who cease resistance as fellow men.

It will cost you nothing to negotiate with us. Surely there must be volunteers who are brave enough to follow instructions, which will be dropped next. As an indication of your willingness to negotiate with us display a large visible cross at the southeastern intersection of the aircraft runway. This leaflet was dropped wherever and whenever the Japanese showed a willingness to cooperate or surrender. It was printed on yellow paper and as a result, the image is not particularly clear.

The front depicts a group of Japanese prisoners near a U. Large cans of water are everywhere. Superimposed on the picture is the word: water. We have seen the indication of your willingness to negotiate with us. The plane will return soon with full instructions. Supplies of fresh cold water, good food and medical assistance will be made available immediately after the completion of the negotiations.

I added leaflet to this report because it is unique. Few leaflets use this type of image to capture the audience. The leaflet is plain black and white and depicts a sinking Japanese light cruiser in the crosshairs of a submarine periscope. The purpose is to emphasize Japanese shipping losses caused by American submarine action.

When Admiral Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, made mention recently of the effectiveness of the blockade against Japan, Domei was quick to reply that Japan is a land of rice and that she had enough food. During August, however, Tokyo admitted that the rice crop this year is causing greater concern than the crop in previous years.

You, however, really know the truth. You know how desperately in need of shipping Japan really is, and you should know how remarkably effective American submarines have been against your shipping.

If Japan were really strong, she would concern herself not with big talk about her highly doubtful self-sufficiency, but with an attempt to overcome the terrible submarine menace to her ships. But, unfortunately for you, that can only be done by ships, not be words. A somewhat similar leaflet depicts a cargo ship sinking and aircraft overhead attacking a cargo ship. I was not going to depict this leaflet but happened upon the official Air Force leaflet that was the source of the image.

The purpose of the leaflet is to create anxiety among the Japanese about the adequacy of their food supply. Leaflet is a leaflet that uses the theme of Japanese hypochondria to lower enemy morale.

It is deigned to exploit the perceived Japanese fear of disease and uncleanliness. It depicts a strange monster-like figure representing death and disease crawling over the bodies of Japanese women and children.

Disease comes with every war. Water lines and electricity will be destroyed by bombs. Food will become scarce. Thus you will weaken and become sick. Medicine will not be easy to buy and recovery will be difficult. With every bombing the country becomes more unclean, and it is more difficult to control disease.

Put an end to this needless suffering. Also, the PsyOp term will cover related ones such as EBO and neocortical warfare due to their underlying similarities regarding techniques and goals. For the course of this study all of these terms will be referred to as PsyOp. PsyOp has been used since ancient times as a form of terror by kingdoms and groups. Some of the earliest human civilizations used symbols as instruments of power.

The Chinese military philosopher Sun Tzu documented the sophisticated use of psychological tactics as early as the 5th century B. The Romans used disinformation against the Carthaginians during the Punic Wars. Psychological manipulation of opposing forces continued throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The natives of North America used symbols and ceremony to boost morale and terrify their opponents. PsyOp is as old as the history of the human race.

More recently, it has been used by totalitarian regimes such as Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, and militaristic Japan. Organizations which had a significant influence on the development of modern PsyOp include private foundations such as Menninger, Rockefeller, Russell Sage, and Ford, as well as the Carnegie Corporation.

Some of these groups were involved in such research as early as the s. These groups went into partnership with the US military to conduct early PsyOp studies. They kept most of their research results classified. CMO combines military, federal agencies, NGOs, civilian organizations and authorities, and the civilian population.

It takes place in friendly, neutral, or hostile operational areas. This includes populated civilian areas in which no other military activity is conducted. PsyOp activities, regardless of national origin, are coordinated by and synchronized with these organizations.

The host nation HN provides the military with civil assistance in the area of operation AO. This includes civilian resources such as materials, facilities, services, administrative support, and other resources. It also includes civilian logistics.

PsyOp units work with the civilian population in the AO. These units use civilians and their resources as irregular forces. These are global activities, occurring domestically in the US, allied countries, and opposing countries.

Before describing the PsyOp units, their capabilities, methods of profiling, and the themes that they use to attack their TAs, it is necessary to have an understanding of products. What some publications describe as a product, others say is a distribution dissemination method.

Others appear to use the terms product and distribution interchangeably when referring to the same thing. Also, some things can be accurately described as both. For instance a TV broadcast can be a distribution method which transmits a product. The internet which is part of the battlespace can also be described as a distribution method which contains products. The context that these terms are used here should make their meaning clear.

A product is an action, event, or media used to get the attention of a TA and transmit a message. It is also expected to provoke a response in the TA to achieve psychological objectives. Some include novelties and gifts which may be commercially produced. Products are typically used as part of a line of communication known as a theme to convey a message to the TA. The products used to transmit PsyOp messages are limitless. The three basic categories of PsyOp products are audio, visual, and audiovisual.

Audio products include radio broadcasts, music, telephone conversations, and loudspeaker announcements. Visual products include items that can only be seen. Some of these are commercially produced. Examples are print media such as newspapers, inserts, magazines, leaflets, posters, pamphlets, books, drawings, paintings, notebooks, calendars, and stickers. Existing literary media is also used to promote themes.

A wide variety of gifts, novelties, and supplies can be used as PsyOp visual products. In addition to the physical product itself, these products may contain short text or symbolic messages.

They include: matches, lighters, soap, nail clippers, cards, balloons, puzzles, buttons, pins, T-shirts, hats, other types of clothing, toys, durable goods, sporting equipment, packaged foods, medical supplies, school supplies, etc.

Other visual products are: billboards, vehicles with lettering, statues, gestures, skywriting, and graffiti. Electronic visual products are text messaging, emails, web sites, fax, and chat rooms. Graffiti can be done using symbols or short messages in conjunction with other PsyOp products to fortify the theme.

It has the benefit of being quickly distributed in the area of operation AO on sides of buildings, fences, etc. PsyOp audiovisual products use sight and sound to communicate with a TA.

This includes TV, videos, and slides with sound, personalities, theater, internet, face-to-face communication, and performances known as psychological actions PsyActs , which will be discussed shortly.

To help create professional quality audiovisual products, PsyOp personnel can use expert contractors with advanced audiovisual studios. There appears to be some ambiguity in military documents regarding PsyOp organizational structure terms such as group, unit, team, element, etc.

To simplify matters, the term group will mean the largest organization conducting PsyOp. Teams and elements are the smallest factions of this structure. This should be of little consequence, however, because the activities that these organizations perform are the same. So far, multiple military and other government sources have revealed that PsyOp is being used on civilians in the US and other countries.

Before explaining these forces in more detail, another look at the battlespace will be instructive. The AO includes the air, space, land, and sea. An area of responsibility AOR is a portion of the battlespace which is under the control of a particular PsyOp unit, which is charged with the psychological preparation of that area.

They prep the area to allow for the attack of multiple TAs. This includes a psychological operations group POG , which plans, coordinates, and executes PsyOp activities at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of warfare. The POG may contain a regional and dissemination battalion.

It has sections that specialize in operations, plans, training, intelligence and information, and logistics including supply and transportation. It deploys anywhere in the world on short notice for all levels of conflict. It plans and conducts civil affairs and PsyOp in support of unified commanders or government agencies.

It has intelligence sections that gather intelligence and analyze the TA. To help accomplish this, it uses military and civilian experts in linguistics, politics, culture, religion, and other subject areas. These experts profile the TA in order to decide how to best communicate with them. The 4th POG provides support such as propaganda, product development, media production, and tactical product distribution.

It has quality print graphics, photography , audio, and audiovisual production and distribution capabilities. Professionals in technical fields such as, print, graphics, communications, etc.

It has mobile radio monitoring stations that are capable of listening to almost any broadcast on the planet. The 4th POG is equipped with high-powered AM, FM, and shortwave radio transmitters for long-range broadcasting, supported by experts in communications and propaganda. It has propaganda development teams that can develop written material on any theme. The 4th POG has portable printing facilities capable of producing professional quality magazines, brochures, pamphlets, posters, banners, books, etc.

It also has tactical teams that conduct short-range PsyOp that are equipped with van-mounted printing, photographic, and media distribution facilities. SOCOM conducts PsyOp, civil affairs operations also called civil-military operations , counterterrorism, and other functions.

It may be part of a joint psychological operations task force JPOTF if other services or agencies are included. It plans develops, designs, produces, and distributes PsyOp products. This includes the various media, themes, and messages transmitted to the TA. In provides an in-depth profile analysis of the TAs in an AO. It recommends products to influence the TAs and evaluates their effect. It provides tactical PsyOp support to brigade and battalion-sized units in support of Special Forces. The TPD conducts mission assessment, determines distribution priorities, and tracks the various products that have been distributed throughout the AO.