Fellow Psywarriors,

Happy Birthday? When Rich Hosier and I assumed leadership of POVA in July 2015, we decided that we must renew and expand communication with our loyal POVA members; and to start a major effort to grow our membership beyond the few surviving Viet-Nam veterans who started this so long ago. This issue of "The Leaflet Drop" is the 60th issue since we began our work. By this time, however, I'd hoped that we'd have a newsletter editor who would take this on and make it a first-class publication, but in the meantime, you're stuck with me. With any luck, our 2021 reunion will see the appointment of a Newsletter Editor who can take this newsletter to a whole new level!

I received a message recently from Life Member and past-POVA Vice President Ray Ambrozak. It included a quote from Gen. Paul E. Funk, CG of the US Army Training and Doctrine Command. While not specifically a PSYOP message, it is an important message nonetheless, because it reflects on values important to today's youth and the Army in which they are entering service. The message came in the General's comments following the swearing in of future soldiers.

“This generation is the next ‘Great Generation’. Think about it ---they are joining during a time of war, joining during a time of internal strife in the nation, joining during the middle of a COVID pandemic,” Funk said. “And they still have the courage to come together and say, ‘Send me’. That is what makes them so special.”

One of the most important elements of effective PSYOP is the message itself. This is a very important message about a group of young people who, despite the many challenging issues facing our nation, are able to rise above it and offer to "go." After all, those of us coming up the time of the Viet-Nam War and its aftermath rose up. We always figure out a way,don't we?

Chad Spawr

President

Remember Everyone Deployed

Please remember all our fellow Americans deployed around the world. Most of us know what that is like.

Update on POVA's Campaign to Support the National Museum of the US Army & The Veterans' Hall

Earlier in July, POVA announced a campaign to raise funds (yes, in these difficult economic times) to allow purchase of a commemorate plaque for POVA to be placed in the Museum's new Veterans' Hall. While our goal was $2,500, our members' generosity and support quickly exceeded our goal, and we actually raised over $5,000. Many thanks to those members who "came through" to help put POVA's name as representative of our PSYOP community in the new Veterans' Hall.

The new plaque will be installed in the near future; with the additional funds, POVA has also commissioned an engraved walkway paving brick which will once again commemorate our PSYOP soldiers and Regiment in the overall framework of support for our US Army.

Thanks again for the awesome support so many of you gave to this important POVA initiative.

Did you Know?

Here is yet another historical fact about the deployment of military PSYOP, going back to its use in the earliest times in history. This history is reported on Life Member Ed Rouse's Psywarrior website ( www.psywarrior.com )

While it isn't (and has not been) an official military term or defined technique, military PSYOP has been capable of delivering a "kinetic" PSYOP message. This has in the past come in the form of messages that "hell is coming," or in the case of World War II, messaging delivered via the venerable M5A1 light tank.

The Army Special Operations Forces Office of the Command Historian has published an excellent history of the growth and use of "PSYWAR" during and after World War II. The US developed and fielded five "Mobile Radio Broadcast" teams; using lessons learned from WWII, learnings were applied to the US operations in Korea. Here is a link to the excellent ARSOF Command Historian's information page:

https://arsof-history.org/articles/v7n2_rebuilding_psywar_page_1.html

Many Psywarriors have served in armor units since WWII. While attached to the 11th Armored Cavalry in Viet-Nam, one 6th PSYOP Battalion soldier quipped that "Charlie better hear our message......do it our way, or we'll kill you!" A bit dramatic, but it surely links the potential interaction of messaging and kinetics. Seems Saddam Hussein's soldiers learned that about B-52 strikes at the start of Operation Desert Storm.

Have you Joined POVA's Facebook Group?

POVA created a Facebook account for all Psywarriors to join and commo across this huge social media platform. One need not be a POVA member, but you must apply for admission and indicate your connection to military PSYOP. We encourage all POVA members to join this group, share in the tremendous dialog and commentary that further expands our inter-connectedness as a PSYOP community.

To join our FB group, visit Facebook and search for "Psychological Operations Veterans Association," and click the button to "Join." You'll be asked a couple of questions about your PSYOP service; assuming your answers meet our few criteria, one of our Administrators will approve you for membership.

Three guidelines: no politics, no personal attacks, and keep the language civil. We are all adults and professionals, so let's keep it that way (you'd think these guidelines wouldn't be needed, but.......guess what?).

Long-Serving PSYOP NCO Promoted

POVA Member SFC Gudets was promoted to his current rank on 2 July 2020. He joined the Army Reserve in 2000 and attended Basic Training at Ft. Benning Georgia and followed on to Ft. Jackson for AIT as a Heavy Wheel Vehicle Mechanic and subsequently the Vehicle Recovery Specialist Course.

During his military career, he has served in a variety of commands and roles in Engineer and PSYOP units and in several different locations. He joined HSC 16th PSYOP Battalion at Ft. Sheridan, IL, in 2005. In 2009, he was reassigned and later deployed under the 305 ^th PSYOP Company out of Ft. Story, VA and later assumed duties as Motor Sergeant. He later reclassed to a Psychological Operations Specialist at FT. Dix, New Jersey and transferred to the 316 ^th PSYOP Company in Grissom ARB, Indiana where he assumed duties as a Team Chief for 7 years before being deployed to the Horn of Africa under the Combined Joined Task Force Horn of Africa.

In 2017, he transferred back to HSC 16 ^TH PSYOP BN and assumed responsibilities as a PSYOP Team Sergeant in the Operations Section. As of October of 2019, he has been working in Ft. Irwin California assigned to Operations Group working as an Observer/Controller Trainer assisting in the training of Psychological Operations Teams.

He was promoted to Sergeant First Class on July 2 ^ND, 2020 and will be assigned to 416 ^th TEC in Darien, IL. In his 20 year civilian career, SFC Gudets has served as a Journeyman Diesel Mechanic in the Beverage Industry.

 

His awards consist of Army Commendation Medals (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal(3),Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (5), National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Operation Iraq Freedom Medal ( 3 stars) Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hourglass and “M”Device, Non- Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (2), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon (2) and Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon. He is also authorized the Mechanics Badge with Mechanic, Wheeled and Special Operator Bars and Two Meritorious Unit Citations

New Army Information Warfare Capability to be Launched

POVA Life Member Jesse Manning forwarded this interesting news to share with our community. There is extensive discussion about the multiple information-related roles in the Army today, one of which is Psychological Operations. These include Information Warfare, MISO, Cyber, Public Affairs, PSYOP, MILDEC, etc.. This puts an interesting perspective on the developing role of Information Warfare!

The Army plans to launch a new company-level unit in fiscal 2021 to support information warfare efforts, according to military officials, under the purview of the 915th Cyber Warfare Battalion, with a contract already awarded to its parent battalion.

During the last year, the Army already activated its first two companies under 915th.



The 915th is relatively new. It was created by Army Cyber Command and consists of 12 teams that  support brigade combat teams or other tactical formations . These “fly away” teams, as some officials call them, would help plan tactical cyber operations for commanders in theater and unilaterally conduct missions in coordination with forces in the field. However, that will require interoperable equipment within the brigade.

More information on this new unit's roles and capabilities can be found at:

https://www.c4isrnet.com/information-warfare/2020/07/08/heres-what-tactical-army-cyber-units-will-use-to-conduct-operations/?fbclid=IwAR0QKK0E6yPFV1DaklX4QUTKAx-h9OaYDS1I4i_LX0kyN4P5K_7o___pBRA

A New Wave for Psychological Operations Messaging: DEEPFAKES?

Is it real, or is it fake?

An article in WIRED magazine, forwarded by Life Member Jesse Manning, raises the very interesting question of the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in generating messaging in advertising, training, and potentially Psychological Operations. Here is a brief clip from this WIRED article:

This month, Advertising giant WPP will send unusual corporate training videos to tens of thousands of employees worldwide. A presenter will speak in the recipient’s language and address them by name, while explaining some basic concepts in  artificial intelligence . The videos themselves will be powerful demonstrations of what AI can do: The face, and the words it speaks, will be synthesized by software.

WPP doesn’t bill them as such, but its synthetic training videos might be called  deepfakes , a loose term applied to images or videos generated using AI that look real. Although best known as tools of harassment,  porn , or duplicity, image-generating AI is now being used by major corporations for such anodyne purposes as corporate training.

The full article can be found at: https://www.wired.com/story/covid-drives-real-businesses-deepfake-technology/?fbclid=IwAR1gPIlFpLYlT79yyFvmNeAP-WG3r7dAXosKNPkI_XXaVXGaX2YHTd6-ZNw

Key PSYOP Officer Promotions

POVA is very proud to announce that several of our POVA members have been promoted in the latest round of announced promotions.

Promoted to COLONEL

POVA Life Member Xavier Colon

Promoted to LIEUTENANT COLONEL:

POVA Life Member Chad T. Alexander

POVA Life Member Eric Kreitz

POVA Member Christina Griggs

POVA Member Joseph Lane

POVA Member Patrick Taylor

POVA is very proud of the accomplishments and outstanding service to our Nation and to our Regiment provided by these outstanding leaders!

Promoted to MAJOR:

POVA Member Kenneth Kim

Understanding the PSYOP Regimental Honors: Distinguished Member of the Regiment (DMOR) and Honorary Member of the Regiment (HMOR).

Neil Heupel, President of the PSYOP Regimental Association (PRA), a POVA partner, has provided an excellent and detailed introduction to the DMOR honor designation. Here is Neil's letter:

 

In an effort to make members of our regiment aware of honors and awards that the PSYOP Regiment bestows on members and those affiliated with the regiment. The USA John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) gets a very small amount of nominations for regimental honors and awards. By raising awareness of these honors and awards we are hoping to raise the number of nominees for each.

Previously I wrote an article describing the Psychological Operations Regimental MG Robert A. McClure Medallion award program. That is one of the three parts of the regimental honors program as described in USAJFKSWCS policy 01-20 Regimental Honors.   The second part of the Regimental Honors Award program consists of Distinguished Member of the Regiment (DMOR) and Honorary Member of the Regiment (HMOR). The intent of the DMOR and HMORs Program is to bestow life time recognition on individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on the PSYOP Regiment in and out of uniform. Criteria for both awards are described below.

Criteria for nominations of a DMOR is that the person must be retired or separated and have been a qualified member of the PSYOP Regiment and served within the PSYOP Regiment on Active Duty, or in the Army Reserve or National Guard. The DMOR nominees must epitomize the highest standards of performance through their contributions to the PSYOP Regiment as a result of their military service and/or continued contributions to the regiment after retirement or separation.  Nominations should highlight contributions the nominee made to the regiment during their military service and/or in their local community after separation or retirement. 

Examples of these contributions are service to the regiment in the capacity of a Government Service employee; contributions to their local community and the regiment as a member of a Veterans Service Organization or Regimental Association; volunteer support to wounded Soldiers and their families; or volunteer activities in support of current members of the regiment. The DMOR Awardee is automatically awarded a Gold MG Robert A. McClure Medallion. A person may be nominated up to two times to be a DMOR but can only be selected once. A retiree or a Soldier who has separated from the Army cannot be nominated until four years after their retirement or separation in order to allow time to acquire continued service to the regiment and their local community.

HMOR nominees can be Active Army, Army Reserve, or National Guard Soldiers as well as Soldier’s spouses, retirees, Soldiers who have separated from the service, or civilians who are not qualified PSYOP Soldiers but have contributed to the PSYOP Regiment through their service or actions. HMOR nominations will describe the nominee’s contributions and service to the regiment.  Examples of HMOR Nominees could include non-MOS 37 Soldiers who have served in PSYOP units providing exceptional support or making a large impact on operations; government civilians or contractors who directly and significantly supported the PSYOP Regiment through their day-to-day activities; or military spouses who conspicuously contributed to Family Readiness Group leadership for PSYOP units during challenging times.

Nominations for DMOR or HMOR can be submitted by members of the regiment, affiliate or legacy organization of the regiment. Nomination packets are addressed to the Commanding General, USAJFKSWCS and can be submitted anytime throughout the year. The packet consists of a nomination letter demonstrating the nominee’s contributions to the regiment, along with a biography of the nominee with military/civilian career highlights and decorations and photos of the nominee. USAJFKSWCS holds a DMOR/HMOR board and ceremony on average of twice a year. 

If selected the nominator will be notified as well as the nominee. An appropriate time and venue will be selected by USAJFKSWCS and invitational travel orders will be offered to the selectee.

Regimental Honors Questions or nomination packets can be submitted to the PSYOP Proponent Office Attn: Mr. Jeffrey L. Kennedy, 3004 Ardennes Street, Stop A, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28310 or digitally at [email protected] or [email protected] . Additional information, Regimental Honors policy letters and nomination letter examples can be found at the following link: http://www.psyopregimentalassociation.org/regimental-honors-references.html.

Regimental Honors Questions or nomination packets can be submitted to the PSYOP Proponent Office Attn: Mr. Jeffrey L. Kennedy, 3004 Ardennes Street, Stop A, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28310 or digitally at [email protected] or [email protected] . 

Additional information, Regimental Honors policy letters and nomination letter examples can be found at the following link: http://www.psyopregimentalassociation.org/regimental-honors-references.html.

We hope that this information has stirred your interest in nominating someone deserving of one of these honors or the before mentioned MG Robert A. McClure Medallions. Next time there will be information regarding the last type of regimental honor and that is the Honorary Leadership Positions.

Take care of yourself and your families. May all of you stay safe and stay healthy.

Neil Heupel

President, PSYOP Regimental Association (PRA)

USACAPOC Change of Command

POVA learned recently that MG Darrell Guthrie, CG USACAPOC, has assumed command of the 88th Readiness Division, headquartered at Ft. McCoy, WI. MG Guthrie has been a good friend and supporter of POVA; in his new command, he will have responsibility for the readiness and deployability of multiple USACAPOC PSYOP units in the midwest and upper midwest states.

MG Guthrie's is succeeded as CG USACAPOC is BG Jeffrey Coggin. BG Coggin was born in Pulaski, Tennessee on 27 December 1960. Upon completion of his studies at the University of Tennessee, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture, and Direct Commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserve as a Second Lieutenant, Medical Service Corp Branch. BG Coggin later transferred to the Civil Affairs Branch. His military education includes the Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course, Army Medical Department Officer Advanced Course, Civil Affairs Officer Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College Joint and Combined Warfighting School - Hybrid Course and the Army War College, where he was awarded a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.

BG Coggin earned several awards and decorations, including: the Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 1 Bronze Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (with 3 Campaign Stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (Afghanistan), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal\ Mobilization (Silver Hourglass with M device and numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with “4” Device, NATO Medal, Joint Unit Meritorious Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Superior Unit Award and the Combat Action Badge.

PSYOP Association (POA) Offers Great Book Deals for all Psywarriors

POA has an excellent list of books for sale to both members and non-members. For $30, you can gain POA membership and select a book. For non-members, the price per book is $25, including shipping.

Here is the list and a brief capsule explanation. Order information is included after the listings.

(1)    PERSPECTIVES , Bound book of over one hundred pages of outstanding PSYOP Materials for 2017, from the PSYOP Association..

(2)  PERSPECTIVES , Bound book of over two hundred pages of outstanding PSYOP Materials for 2018, from the PSYOP Association.

(3)   PERSPECTIVES , Bound book of over one hundred pages of outstanding PSYOP Materials for 2019, from the PSYOP Association.

(4)  SPECIAL WARFARE, ITS ORIGINS by COL Al Paddock. This is an outstanding account of the historical development of Special Warfare including PSYOP. This is a "must" book for the library of any PSYOP/IO/MISO soldier.

(5)  THE GREEN BERETS AND THEIR VICTORIES by LTC Joseph Meissner. This provides direct personal

accounts from some fourteen hundred Green Berets who participated in Special Forces operations including their PSYOP and Civil Affairs activities during the crucial Vietnam war years of 1968 and 1969.

Great photographs and maps are included.

(6)   PLATOON: BRAVO COMPANY by Robert Hemphill (Deceased-Pray for him) 

Want the truth about the unit much maligned by Oliver Stone in his "fictitious" movie? Here is the truth told by the commander of that unit. COL Hemphill had the opportunity once to confront Stone about the tales in his movie: "You know none of that happened," Hemphill challenged. "Oh," apologized millionaire Stone, "I just gathered all of that from many units."

(7)   PERSUASION AND POWER: THE ART OF STRATEGIC COMUNICATION by James P. Farwell: This book combines outstanding scholarship, discussions on doctrine, and lots of historical materials. If we could have only one book in our library on strategic communication, this would be my choice. Propaganda; public diplomacy; uses of words, images, and deeds in PSYOP; various campaigns; TV and radio as weapons--Farwell covers so many topics relevant to our military art-science. Just one example: In ten pages of his book on the Hutu-Tutsi I finally understood this genocide and how modern radio propaganda was used to kill so many.

(8)  THOSE DEVILS IN BAGGY PANTS by Ross S. Carter. This is a true story of the heroes of the 82nd

Airborne during World War II. 

(9)   DRAGON BYTES: CHINESE INFORMATION WAR THEORY AND PRACTICE by Timothy Thomas. Want an inside view of how the Chinese currently practice information operations? Thomas has done an outstanding job of presenting this in his book. This is a "must" for everyone interested in IO, MISO, and PSYOP as well as how the Chinese are developing their own versions of these in the cyberspace battlefront.

(10)   CYBER SILHOUETTES: SHADOWS OVER INFORMATION. OPERATIONS by Timothy Thomas. This book discusses how the Russians, the Chinese, and even Al Qaeda are using the internet and cyberwarfare to further their interests. The book is filled with insights and analysis helpful to all practioners of PSYOP/MISO/IO.

(11)  READINGS ON PSYOP , edited by Col Frank Goldstein. This is an historic collection of PSYOP

writings on different aspects of PSYOP. This is a collection which belongs on every PSYopper's book

shelf.

 

(12)  THE IMMIGRANTS WAY: FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS BY AN IMMIGRANT by Attorney Margaret Wong.  She is the attorney President Obama's family chose for representation on immigrant matters.  This is a book written by a great attorney in our home city of Cleveland. "The Immigrant’s Way" will be of interest to American readers seeking to become better informed about U.S. immigration law and history. 

 

(13)  IMMIGRANT, INC. , by Attorney Richard Herman and Reporter Robert Smith. This is another immigration book.   It is about one category of people who come to America and settle here. They are world-class strivers who drop into capitalist America like seeds into the good earth. Their groundbreaking work explains how immigrants have become America’s competitive advantage in a global economy and the perils of losing that advantage, especially as the nation seeks to pull out of a great recession. With personal stories of immigrant journeys, the authors reveal the passions motivating America’s immigrant achievers, their success strategies, and their power to revive communities and create new industries.

 

(14)  DOG FACE CHARLIE 

This book began as an idea of Tom Mercer, a fire-team leader in Company C, one of four rifle companies in the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, in South Vietnam. It was through his actions many years later that this book began taking shape. These stories are by and about some of the men who served in "Charlie Company." It is not a history of the policies that led to the American intervention in Vietnam nor is it a history of the strategies and military campaigns undertaken. Instead it describes these soldiers' experiences as remembered some 40 years ago afterward. SOME OF THE FINEST MATERIAL IN THIS BOOK IS SUBMITTED BY PATRICK McLAUGHLIN, WHO WAS AWARDED A SILVER STAR FOR HIS BRAVE EFFORTS IN VIET NAM. Patrick was an extremely smart soldier who figured out enemy psychology much like what we do in PSYOP/IO/MISO.

 

 (15) THE PLACE OF NATURE By Reverend Michael Frank. This is quite different from our other offerings. Rev. Frank led a forty year battle and public relations campaign to clean up the air pollution in our Greater Cleveland area. This book provides his spiritual insights on the created environment, earthly struggles, and our relationships to our Creator.

Order information:

PSYOP ASSOCIATION (Library Book Location)

c/o Treasurer Joseph Meissner

2234 West Boulevard

Cleveland, Ohio 44102 USA

Errors, etc

Please contact Chad Spawr with information on any errors that may be included above.