The Newsletter of the PSYOP Veterans Association
(POVA)
Founded 1988
|
|
|
President's Letter
There are days when leading POVA resembles a juggling act.....many different balls in the air, and not enough hands to do the job. Perhaps that is a little dramatic, but in the past four years, POVA has grown, developed, expanded, and become interconnected with several different military and veteran organizations. This has helped our Association become more broadly recognized, but also demonstrates that we are a serious organization with some truly awesome members......here at home and around the world.
The news recently from Ft. Bragg regarding our PSYOP Regiment is surprising, but largely because there is much that we simply don't yet understand. There are major changes coming that will affect the formal organizational structure of our PSYOP Regiment and its leadership. Once we understand these better, POVA will report to our members.
For Psywarriors, however, we are familiar with and used to "big changes" that affect our work, our perceptions, and the way in which we complete our missions. We are a very resilient profession, and will continue to be flexible when dealing with dynamic situations.....even those that are very close "to home."
More to follow.
Chad Spawr
President
|
|
Lest we Forget.......
Please remember that American men and women are deployed in many places around the world and are in constant danger. Please save a thought and prayer for our fellow deployed Psywarriors, and for all Americans deployed. They are our Brothers!
|
|
|
|
New POVA Life Members
POVA is very pleased to welcome new Life Members who joined with us in September:
Joel Juers
John Grimes
Theresa Barbour
Jeffrey Scott
John Gantzer
Paul D. Coverdell (Honorary)
Michael Schrauth (Honorary)
Edwin Burba (Honorary)
Ronald H. Walker (Honorary)
You can view our entire Life Member roster on POVA’s website at
www.usapova.org/pova-life-members
|
|
POVA Confers Honorary Life Memberships on PSYOP Veterans
POVA's Board has approved nominations to grant Honorary Life Membership to four PSYOP veterans who served in the early stages of the Viet-Nam War and whose following careers made significant contributions to our Nation. These four veteran Psywarriors include:
- Paul Coverdell, Psywarrior and former US Senator from Georgia;
- Mike Shrauth, Psywarrior and Diplomat-Pollitical Advisor;
- Edwin Burba, Psywarrior and General-Retired, USA
- Ronald H. Walker, Psywarrior and former Diplomat-Political Advisor
All of these Honorary Life Members served together on Okinawa in the early 1960's supporting US forces in Southeast Asia. Their unit, the USA Broadcast & Visual Activities unit, was one of the forefunners of the 7th PSYOP Group which provided very strong support to our forces in Laso and Viet-Nam. Each went on to outstanding careers in public service in our military and in government.
Recognizing the military and post-military successes and contributions of Psywarriors such as these is an important contributor to POVA's support of the traditions and values of our PSYOP Regiment. Sharing our history and traditions with today's PSYOP soldiers.....and tomorrow's.....is an important element of our Regimental traditions and esprit d'corps.
|
|
Passing of POVA Life Member Raymond Knagge
We are saddened to report the passing of Psywarrior Ray Knagge. A Retired Master Sergeant, Ray had been a POVA Life Member for several years, and was deeply respected by so many of our fellow Psywarriors. He had been ill for an extended period and passed suddenly on 20 July 2019 in Colorado Springs, CO.
POVA Life Member Ronald Deese, who served with Ray, offered this beautiful eulogy based on their time together:
I served with Ray in US Army Special Operations (PSYOP) many years ago (1987-1990) at Ft. Bragg, NC. We were young then (early twenties) and had fewer responsibilities. Even when things got tough, you could always count on Ray to lighten the mood in that trademark "Knagge" style. He always told you exactly what he thought ... no filter, which I loved about Ray. We were so different in many ways ... but shared in our love for our country and in supporting our "brothers". I'm honored to have served with him ... and to call him "friend" ... and "brother". My wife and I wanted to extend our deepest condolences to his family. We pray for God's peace during this time.
Ron and Andrea Deese
RIP Ray. Your fellow Psywarriors will remember you and miss you.
|
|
Major Organizational Change to our PSYOP Regiment
On 27 August, 2019, MG Patrick B. Roberson, Commanding General of the US Army JFK Center for Special Warfare and School issued new directives which will dramatically alter our PSYOP Regimental organization as we have known it.
As a quick summary, the current Commandants of the three ARSOF Regiments (PSYOP, Special Forces and Civil Affairs) will be redesignated as "Program Managers," and reduced from the O6 (Colonel) grade to O5 (Lieutenant Colonel) grade. Current Regimental Commandant positions will be eliminated, and the role of Regimental Commandant for all three Regiments will now reside with MG Roberson.
POVA has no position on how the Army organizes and regulates this or any other Regiment. Our total focus as an Association is growing and enhancing the sense of belonging, participation, tradition, commitment to, and esprit d'corps associated with membership in an elite organization. Our PSYOP Regiment is such an organization, and POVA's only goal is to support our soldiers in Our Regiment.
While POVA is interested in what happens at Ft. Bragg, the fact of the Regiment itself is much larger than mere organizational structure, mechanics, or staffing perturbations.
|
|
POVA Membership Update
POVA's growth over the past several years has been outstanding, and that includes growth among our Allies and now with our fellow Psywarriors in the US Marine Corps.
POVA was "at death's door" in early 2015, but today stands strong with membership nearing
600 in the following categories (as of 29 September):
Life Members 180
1 yr & 2 yr Members 95
Active Duty 106
Reserve Duty 185
Gold Star Families 11
Associate Members & Friends 21
We are very pleased and proud that our membership has grown so strongly since 2015, and are especially pleased that more of our members are stepping up to assist with recruitment and participation in our various activities. When all is said and done, however, the strength of any voluntary association is the commitment and involvement of its members, so POVA not only grows in numbers, but also in strength as an organization.
|
|
POVA 2020 Biennial Reunion Planning Update
Our 18th Biennial Reunion, to be held in Fayetteville, NC, will run from 19 May through 23 May 2020. Details of specific events are still be defined, but here are some of the activities that are being planned to make this a most memorable Reunion.
Two key reunion updates in this report:
We reported last month that the Reunion Banquet has been scheduled for Friday 22 May 2020, at the Iron Mike Conference Center on post at Ft. Bragg. Iron Mike is a beautiful facility which does a superb job providing excellent banquet service for groups both large and small. Menu details, specific times, etc., are still being developed.
The Reunion HQ and hotel will be the Bordeaux Convention Center at the Ramada Plaza-Baymont Inn and Suites, located at 1707 Owen Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304.
Room rates (PLUS TAXES) are as follows:
King Room: $79.00
King Suite: 109.00
2 Dbl Beds: 79.00
Complimentary breakfast included
POVA will notify when the reservation window opens.
As further details develop, we'll update you by newsletter, by
POVAcomm messages, and via our website at www.usapova.org.
Stay tuned!
|
|
Operation Regimental Resolve
POVA previously announced the creation of
Operation Regimental Resolve, an initiative to strengthen POVA's support to our PSYOP Regiment and its soldiers worldwide.
Taking cues from such other famed Regiments as Special Forces, 82d Airborne and the Ranger Regiment, POVA is designing steps and processes to strengthen awareness of our Regiment among all PSYOP soldiers, veterans, families, and friends, and to build a strong and cohesive sense of esprit d'corps and pride in being a member of our Regiment.
A key objective is the creation of POVA Ambassadors, POVA members who will be connected to and with PSYOP Groups, Battalions, and Companies across the company. Ambassadors will work to establish relationships with soldiers at all levels, sharing with them a strong sense of history of military PSYOP, knowledge of the Regiment and the strong values associated with being a member of an elite military organization, and promote POVA’s “four foundations” and membership in our Association.
The Ambassador Program is already in development, and our goal is to launch it later in 2019.
|
|
Sharing Our Concerns About PSYOP Funding with Congress
During POVA's planning session in August at Ft. Bragg, our officers discussed how POVA could provide information to our Congressional representatives to help them understand the critical need for proper funding of Psychological Operations. Funding is always a tricky issue, but especially so for PSYOP......funds and billets have been moved out of PSYOP to other parts of the Special Operations world, projects requiring budget dollars lapse for lack of funds, and the active duty PSYOP force is down to about 60% of its authorized strength. Much of the burden of PSYOP support to deployed conventional forces overseas is absorbed by our Reserve PSYOP units in USACAPOC.
POVA is developing a "form-style" letter that our members can personalize and send to the Congressional representatives. We will share this letter in an upcoming
POVAcomm message in early October. All POVA members are encouraged to help support PSYOP, both AC and RC, by sending this letter to each of our Congressional representatives. Perhaps enough questions will be asked that the realities of funding will be reviewed as they negatively impact our PSYOP force as it trains and deploys in the very near future.
|
|
POVA In Memoriam Roster
For several years, POVA has maintained a roster of those Psywarriors who have passed away. We maintain a roster for our KIA's as well as a larger roster of those who have died either during service (not from hostile action) or following their military service.
We believe remembering our fellow Psywarriors is a key attribute of POVA and our traditions as a Regiment. We never forget our brothers and sisters with whom we served and who passed away. Our
In Memoriam
roster is maintained by POVA VP Matt Robbins. We will display the most up-to-date roster at each POVA Reunion.
To report the passing of one of our Psywarriors, please notify Matt of the name and approximate date of passing of the veteran. Matt's POVA email address is:
matt.robbins@usapova.com.
|
|
**
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
VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING
ILYA NEMTSOV
ILYA.NEMTSOV@GMAIL.COM
GATEWAY CHAPTER PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT EMERITUS & BOARD MEMBER
POVA HISTORIAN
POVA ARCHIVIST
POVA TRUSTEES
PSYOP Regimental Association Website.....www.psyopra.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
