The Newsletter of the PSYOP Veterans Association
(POVA)
Founded 1988
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President's Letter
Fellow Psywarriors,
This will be our last POVA newsletter before the arrival of the "year end holidays," so on behalf of our POVA Board, please accept our best wishes for a safe and happy season for you and your family.
2018 has seemed to fly by without a break, and we've done so much. 2019 is beginning to look like another good year for POVA, and we're hoping to expand the benefits of membership a bit further. We're working on additional recognitions for those Psywarriors who go above and beyond, a possible scholarship plan for our members and families, and a broader charitable donation program to help our fellow veterans and their families in need. Our membership looks like it will grow to include another service, and may further expand to include additional American Allied Psywarriors. We are on the move, and there is much about what POVA has done, and will do, that should be a source of pride!
It is time now to begin thinking about the leadership of POVA beyond our 2020 Biennial Reunion. Said plainly, we need new leadership for this great Association. The Viet-Nam generation of Psywarrior leaders of POVA both needs and wants to “hand-off” the reins of leadership to the “younger” Psywarriors who have served since the end of the Viet-Nam period. We created it in 1988. rebuilt it beginning in 2015, and now it is time to hand it off to younger and even more capable hands. POVA will NOT survive without new leaders!
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider "stepping up" for POVA:
- what is POVA doing that I like? Dislike?
- what is POVA doing that I want to preserve and continue?
- what can POVA do better? More? Less?
- what is POVA not doing that it should be doing?
- how can I make a difference for our Regiment, our members, our soldiers, friends, and families?
Those of us who want to “retire” will be here to help and advise, but our time is coming to a close.
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Give it some thought. If I can advise in any way, let me know. It is in our interest to help our future leaders to make POVA even better.
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Five (5) New POVA Life Members
POVA welcomes new Life Members John Repischak and Marc Wayman.
In addition, the PSYOP Qualification Course (POQC) Distinguished Honor Graduates and Honor Graduates Erik Dettenmayer, Joseph Auguello, and Evan Anderson are also granted Life Membership based on their outstanding academic performance. POVA’s Life Member roster now totals 160. You can view our entire Life Member roster on POVA’s website at
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POVA Scholarship Project Planning
POVA has appointed a project planning team to develop a new POVA Scholarship program to benefit our members. Details are yet to be developed, but this project will have three elements:
- designing the operating process, rules and procedures governing the scholarship program;
- developing eligibility, application, and decision-criteria; and
- finding the funding with which to actually endow scholarships.
The planning team consists of Vice President Curt Boyd, member Matthew Berriman, and Vice President Rich Hosier.
Our goal is to have this project running in time for the academic year beginning in late summer 2019. There is much to be done, but we have the right people in place.
We will update our members as this plan develops.
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New Issue of "Veritas" from USASOC
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The USASOC
Journal of Army Special Operations History
has published its most recent issue, and it is excellent. POVA Life Member Jared Tracy, PhD., is an Associate Editor of the Journal, and has written an excellent article on PSYOP initial deployment in Laos in the early 1960's. This is particularly significant, as POVA Life Member Ray Ambrozak was one of the key Psywarriors deployed to support the Royal Laotian government and played a critical role in the development of Allied PSYOP in Laos.
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Ray later earned the Silver Star for heroism as a District Advisor in Viet-Nam, has been inducted as a Distinguished Member of the PSYOP Regiment, and has also been inducted in the USSOCOM Commando Hall of Fame.
POVA strongly encourages all our members to subscribe to "Veritas." It is an excellent and professionally written publication that should be included on every Psywarrior's reading list. To subscribe, write to the following address:
USASOC
ATTN: AOHS
Veritas (Mr. Seals)
E=2929 Desert Storm Drive
Fort Bragg, NC 28310.
You can also email Mr. Seals at
robert.seals@socom.mil
. When contacting USASOC for
Veritas
,
please describe your connection to Army Special Operations or list any applicable military service. They will be happy to add you to the mailing list.
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Celebrating the PSYOP 100th Anniversary
It is no secret that PSYOP has crossed the "century mark" in 2018, celebrating 100 years of service to America's military. In recognition of this key milestone, our brother organization, the PSYOP Regimental Association (PRA) sponsored a celebratory dinner on 3 November at the Iron Mike Center on post at Ft. Bragg, NC. Attended by many PSYOP Regimental leaders, soldiers, PRA and POVA officers, a fine dinner and expert speaker spent quality time celebrating our past, but also discussing the future of US military psychological operations.
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The 100th anniversary was a great opportunity to reconnect with VP Curt Boyd, himself a former Commanding Officer of the 4th PSYOP Group (A), and a long-time POVA Life Member. Several POVA members were in attendance, as were members of the USACAPOC'S 2d and 7th PSYOP Groups. Picture at left are Curt and Chad at Ft. Bragg.
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This was also an excellent opportunity for POVA to attend the Worldwide PSYOP Conference, sponsored and held this year by USACAPOC. We were warmly welcomed by Commanding General MG Darrell J. Guthrie, who also attended the celebration banquet (MG Guthrie pictured at right).
MG Guthrie is a strong supporter of our PSYOP Regiment, and his comments to the Worldwide PSYOP Conference were excellent.
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Must we be wary of Facebook?
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Is Facebook just a corporate PSYOP program created, managed, and deployed for the sole purpose of generating revenue? That seems to be a logical conclusion based on a recent PBS
Frontline investigative report.
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Many POVA members use this social media application for a variety of reasons. In fact, many military organizations have pages and groups on Facebook, and use this app for a broad range of commo activities. POVA has a Group page on Facebook.
However, after viewing "The Facebook Dilemma," a PBS
Frontline
2-part "expose" of Facebook, it seems that the goal of "connecting the world and making it a better place" may not be what it appears to be. A central core issue throughout is the collection, unprotected use, and exploitation of the personal data of millions of people, and Facebook's failure or refusal to protect that data, all while generating revenue from the ads, the "Likes," the "Groups," etc.! Almost every name, every click, every "Like," every "Group" and "page" generates millions of dollars in ad revenue!
Aired in October 2018, this documentary portrays Facebook and its multi-billion dollar empire as little more than a revenue-generating machine that claims to have lofty altruistic goals, but in reality has allowed itself to be used as a platform for violence, insurrection, racism, hate groups, bigots, and national actors seeking to meddle in the internal affairs of their own and other sovereign nations.
We already know about Russia's success using social media to sow discontent in the 2016 and 2018 US elections......a classic use of propaganda. There is now ample evidence that Facebook has allowed itself to be used for ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, Russian attempts to destroy the Ukraine, and the apparent rise of political despotism in the Philippines. Other actors include Iran, North Korea, China, and others seeking to meddle through the use of Facebook as a propaganda platform.
Facebook's response when questioned or challenged? "We're aware and we're working on it." The truth appears to be, however, that as long as the advertising revenue continues to grow from their billions of contacts, "working on it" will generate little more than lip service.
Seems all "colors" of PSYOP are present here.....black, white, gray. "Persuade, Change, Infuence" is taking on new meaning, often measured in blood, treasure, and the destruction of populations in larger and larger measure. The real measure, however, is MONEY!
You can view the 2 part
Frontline
series at this link:
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POVA's Support for Milk & Honey Farms.....helping local veterans and families in need!
POVA has made a contribution to the continuing operation of the Milk & Honey Farms in central Pennsylvania. Created and operated by POVA Life
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Member and Trustee Tim Wallace, POVA's 2017 support helped the Farm generate almost 2 tons of food for local food banks and families in need, many of whom are veterans.
POVA donated $950 to help the Farm acquire critically needed honey bees and hives to assure that crops will be fully pollinated in the 2019 spring growing season. Bees are critical.....no bees, no food! Tim's goal is to generate at least 3 tons of food in the 2019 growing season.
In the picture above, POVA VP-Membership and Trustee Tim Wallace present one of the hives that POVA has provided. Tim's selfless work not only provides much-needed food, but also provides an opportunity for local scout troops, volunteer organizations, and veterans groups to help in the growth and development of the Farm, thereby strengthening the sense of community in this part of Central Pennsylvania.
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n 2017, under the guidance of Associate Member Gina Miller, POVA launched its "Battered Flag" logo. Those who have "seen the elephant" know that the flag provides us focus and guidance, not to mention inspiration, in the fight.
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The flag has been shot up, shot down, blown up, fragged and soiled in combat, but it is still our flag and we bear it with pride. POVA adopted this emblem combined with a golden "POVA" to commemorate the blood America's warriors, and our Psywarriors in particular, have shed. No matter how battered and soiled by war, it is still our flag, and we wear it proudly.
POVA's "Battered Flag" is now offered on our branded clothing, including hoodies, t-shirts, golf shirts. It can be placed on virtually any item sold in our POVA Store.
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n 2017, POVA launched its unique and beautiful Challenge Coin. Finished in a glistening high polish with our Regimental colors in deep relief, the coin's back includes the names of POVA's original founders, our "Ex Verba Victoria" motto, and a relief of a PSYOP "bird" on a leaflet mission.
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POVA will offer these on eBay for $15 (plus shipping), but you can buy it at our POVA Store for $12.50 and a small shipping charge. POVA has discounted the price for multiple coins made in the same order....10 coins for $10, 20 coins for $200. Details on our website.
Demand for our Challenge Coin has been strong. Join your fellow Psywarriors, and help us raise funds to support our charitable efforts.
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POVA Membership
POVA offers dues-free membership for currently serving active-duty and Reserve-unit Psywarriors. We accept your service to our Nation as your dues while you are serving, and are proud to continue this tradition. POVA began this practice in 1996, and there is no reason to change it. We only ask that our active-duty and Reserve unit members begin paying dues following their discharge.
POVA provides dues-free Life Membership for the families of our KIA's who fell while in service to our Nation. These family members are revered and honored by POVA, and the memories of their loved ones are celebrated during our Biennial reunions. Our Gold Star families are very special to POVA, and we cherish them.
For all others, POVA offers membership at the one-year, two-year, and Life Member levels, in addition to Associate Memberships for those who are not Psywarriors but who are supporters, friends, families, vendors, etc..
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Membership in POVA includes a personalized member certificate and a unique POVA membership pin. For Life Members, a beautiful gilt-edged certificate is presented along with our special Life Member pin. As we continue to grow, POVA will create and offer additional benefits of membership. Of course, membership in any excellent organization of veterans is a clear benefit, and one we all enjoy.....because we earned it!
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**POVA CONTACT INFORMATION **
PRESIDENT & NEWSLETTER EDITOR
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT/CHAPLAIN
VICE PRESIDENT FINANCE
VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP
VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGE
HOWARD PATRICK on temporary leave of absence
PRESIDENT EMERITUS & BOARD MEMBER
POVA HISTORIAN
POVA ARCHIVIST
POVA TRUSTEES
PSYOP Regimental Association Website.....www.psyopra.com
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