Psychological operations (United States)

The purpose of United States psychological operations (PSYOP) is to induce or reinforce attitudes and behaviors favorable to U.S. objectives. In the United States Department of Defense, Psychological Operations units exist in the Army and Air Force. The United States Navy also plans and executes limited PSYOP missions.

Unlike some countries, United States PSYOP units and soldiers of all branches of the military are prohibited by law from conducting PSYOP missions on domestic audiences. While PSYOP soldiers may offer non-PSYOP related support to domestic military missions, PSYOP can only target foreign audiences. Though, it is worth noting that this does not rule out PSYOP targeting foreign audiences of allied nations. Additionally, in the Information Operations Roadmap made public January 2006 but originally approved by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in October 2003, it stated "information intended for foreign audiences, including public diplomacy and PSYOP, increasingly is consumed by our domestic audience and vice-versa."

Within the U.S. Psychological Operations community, PSYOPS is generally considered to be an incorrect abbreviation. The correct abbreviation is PSYOP.

Army
Until recently, the Army's Psychological Operations elements were administratively organized alongside Civil Affairs to form the US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC), forming a part of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). However, in May 2006 USCAPOC was reorganized to instead fall under the Army reserve command, and all active duty PSYOP elements were placed directly into USASOC. While reserve PSYOP forces no longer belong to USASOC, that command retains control of PSYOP doctrine. Operationally, PSYOP individuals and organizations support Army and Joint maneuver forces or interagency organizations.

Army Psychological Operations support operations ranging from strategic planning down to tactical employment.



PSYOP Support Elements generally support Corps sized elements. Tactical Psychological Operations Companies typically support Division sized elements, with Tactical Control through G-3. Brigades are typically supported by a Tactical PSYOP Detachment. The PSYOP Commander maintains Operational Control of PSYOP elements, advises the Commander and General Staff on the psychological battlespace.

The smallest organizational PSYOP element is the Tactical PSYOP Team (TPT). A TPT generally consists of a PSYOP team chief (Staff Sergeant or Sergeant), an assistant team chief (Sergeant or Specialist), and an additional soldier to serve as a gunner and to operate the speaker system (Specialist). A team is equipped with a Humvee fitted with a loud speaker, and often works with a local translator indigenous to the host or occupied country.

Generally, each maneuver battalion-sized element in a theater of war or operational area has at least one TPT attached to it. While in the Army women are allowed to hold the psychological operations occupational specialty, they are not allowed to serve on TPTs in a war zone due to a PSYOP team's high chance of contact with the enemy (with exceptions sometimes being made).

PSYOP soldiers are required to complete nine weeks of Basic Combat Training. After basic training (BCT), the active duty-component PSYOP Soldier is then required to attend Airborne training. All enlisted PSYOP Soldiers report to Fort Bragg to complete the 16-week Psychological Operation Advanced Individual Training (AIT) course. Sometime after initial training, PSYOP Soldiers will spend up to a year (or perhaps more for specific languages) in foreign language qualification training. Certain reserve soldiers serving in units designated as Airborne are also required to attend Airborne training, while language training and Airborne qualification for PSYOP Soldiers assigned to non-Airborne units is awarded on a merit and need basis.

Army Units
There are only three Psychological Operations Groups in the Army: the 2d, 4th, and 7th. 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) is the only active duty PSYOP element in the United States Army, constituting 26 percent of all U.S. Army Psychological Operations units. The remaining 74 percent is split between the 2nd and 7th Psychological Operations Groups in the Army Reserve.

4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)
The 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) (4th PSYOP Group (A) or 4th POG) is based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the United States Army Special Operations Command. 4th POG was constituted 7 November 1967 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Psychological Operations Group. Activated 1 December 1967 in Vietnam. Inactivated 2 October 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Activated 13 September 1972 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Campaign participation credits include:

Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I

Armed Forces Expeditions: Grenada

Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

4th POG currently consists of a Headquarters Company, four Strategic PSYOP Battalions (or POBs), one Tactical PSYOP Battalion, and one PSYOP Dissemination Battalion. The four Strategic PSYOP Battalions are regionally oriented and support the Regional Combatant Commands in the planning and production of PSYOP programs:
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! Battalion !! Distinguished Unit Insignia !! History 1st PSYOP Bn (A) - SOUTHCOM
 * 1st PSYOP Bn (A) - SOUTHCOM || ||
 * 1st PSYOP Bn (A) - SOUTHCOM || ||
 * + Organized 8 November 1950 in the Regular Army at Fort Riley, Kansas, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Group.
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 1 September 1951 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Group, 8239th Army Unit.
 * + Consolidated 21 February 1955 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Battalion (constituted 30 November 1954 in the Regular Army) and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Battalion; concurrently reorganized at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 24 June 1960 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Psychological Warfare Battalion. Reorganized and redesignated 20 December 1965 as the 1st Psychological Operations Battalion.
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 16 March 1990 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Psychological Operations Battalion.
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 16 November 1995 as Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Psychological Operations Battalion

5th PSYOP Bn (A) - PACOM
 * 5th PSYOP Bn (A) - PACOM || ||
 * 5th PSYOP Bn (A) - PACOM || ||
 * + Constituted 3 March 1951 in the Regular Army as the 5th Loudspeaker and Leaflet Company, Army
 * + Activated 19 March 1951 at Fort Riley, Kansas
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 8 June 1953 as the 5th Loudspeaker and Leaflet Company
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 24 June 1961 as the 5th Psychological Warfare Company
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 25 June 1965 as the 5th Psychological Operations Battalion
 * + Inactivated 20 June 1975 in Germany
 * + Redesignated 30 December 1975 as the 5th Psychological Operations Group; concurrently withdrawn from the Regular Army, allotted to the Army Reserve, and activated at Upper Marlboro, Maryland
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 18 September 1990 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Psychological Operations Group
 * + Inactivated 15 September 1994 at Upper Marlboro, Maryland
 * + Redesignated 18 November 2003 as Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company, 5th Psychological Operations Battalion, withdrawn from the Army Reserve, and allotted to the Regular Army (organic elements concurrently constituted)
 * + Battalion activated 16 October 2004 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina

6th PSYOP Bn (A) - EUCOM
 * 6th PSYOP Bn (A) - EUCOM || ||
 * 6th PSYOP Bn (A) - EUCOM || ||
 * + Constituted 20 October 1965 in the Regular Army as the 6th Psychological Operations Battalion
 * + Activated 1 November 1965 in Vietnam
 * + Inactivated 30 June 1971 in Vietnam
 * + Activated 13 September 1972 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 16 March 1990 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 6th Psychological Operations Battalion
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 16 November 1995 as Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company, 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated with personnel from provisional units)

8th PSYOP Bn (A) - CENTCOM
 * 8th PSYOP Bn (A) - CENTCOM || ||
 * 8th PSYOP Bn (A) - CENTCOM || ||
 * + Constituted 7 November 1967 in the Regular Army as the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion
 * + Activated 1 December 1967 in Vietnam
 * + Inactivated 27 June 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington
 * + Activated 13 September 1972 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 16 March 1990 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 8th Psychological Operations Battalion
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 16 November 1995 as Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company, 8th Psychological Operations Battalion (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated with personnel from provisional units)

9th PSYOP Bn (A) is the Tactical PSYOP element for 4th POG and supports ground commanders in the planning and production of PSYOP programs.
 * 9th PSYOP Bn (A) ||  ||
 * 9th PSYOP Bn (A) ||  ||
 * + Constituted 14 April 1952 in the Regular Army as the 9th Loudspeaker and Leaflet Company, Army
 * + Activated 26 April 1952 at Fort Riley, Kansas
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 27 May 1953 as the 9th Loudspeaker and Leaflet Company
 * + Inactivated 25 September 1953 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
 * + Redesignated 22 March 1963 as the 9th Psychological Warfare Company
 * + Activated 1 April 1963 in the Panama Canal Zone
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1967 as the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion
 * + Inactivated 31 December 1974 in the Panama Canal Zone
 * + Activated 15 April 1985 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 16 March 1990 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th Psychological Operations Battalion
 * + Reorganized and redesignated 16 November 1995 as Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company, 9th Psychological Operations Battalion (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated with personnel from provisional units)


 * 3rd PSYOP Bn (A)(D) ||  ||
 * 3rd PSYOP Bn (A)(D) is the PSYOP element responsible for producing and disseminating PSYOP products in support of the four Strategic PSYOP Battalions and the Tactical PSYOP Battalion.
 * + Constituted 20 April 1995 in the Regular Army as the 3d Psychological Operations Battalion.
 * + Activated 16 November 1995 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with personnel from the Psychological Operations Dissemination Battalion (Provisional) (organized 11 July 1990 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina).
 * + Activated 16 November 1995 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with personnel from the Psychological Operations Dissemination Battalion (Provisional) (organized 11 July 1990 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina).


 * }



2nd Psychological Operations Group
Constituted 29 October 1965 in the Regular Army as the 2d Psychological Operations Group. Activated 20 December 1965 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Inactivated 13 September 1972 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Redesignated 30 October 1975 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 2d Psychological Operations Group; concurrently withdrawn from the Regular Army, allotted to the Army Reserve, and activated at Parma, Ohio. Reorganized and redesignated 18 September 1990 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Psychological Operations Group.
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! Battalion !! Distinguished Unit Insignia !! History 11th Psychological Operations Bn (POB) - Upper Marlboro, Maryland
 * 11th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:11thpob.gif|75px|center]] ||
 * 11th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:11thpob.gif|75px|center]] ||
 * 303rd Tactical Psychological Operations Unit(TPU) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
 * Deployed to Iraq in 2006 during the fourth year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF06-08).
 * 305th Tactical Psychological Operations Unit (TPU) - Ft. Story, Virginia
 * ''Deployed to Iraq in 2003 during the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom
 * 312th Tactical Psychological Operations Unit (TPU) - Upper Marlboro, Maryland
 * ''Deployed to Iraq in 2003 during the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom

15th Psychological Operations Bn (POB) - Cincinnati, Ohio
 * 15th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:15thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 15th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:15thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * Deployed to Iraqi in 2004 during the third year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF3).
 * Currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF06-08).
 * 321st Tactical Psychological Operations Unit (TPU) - Grand Rapids, MI
 * 346th Tactical Psychological Operations Unit (TPU) (ABN) - Whitehall, Ohio
 * Deployed to Iraq in 2003 during the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF1).
 * 350th Tactical Psychological Operations Unit (TPU) - Cleveland, Ohio|-
 * Deployed to Iraqi in 2004 during the third year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF3).

16th Psychological Operations Bn (POB) - Fort Sheridan, Illinois + ''Constituted 30 December 1954 in the Army Reserve as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 305th Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Battalion and assigned to the Fifth United States Army. Activated 17 January 1955 at Chicago, Illinois. Relocated to Evanston, Illinois on 1 June 1957. Reorganized and redesignated 1 June 1960 as Headquarters and Head-quarters Company, 305th Psychological Operations Battalion. Relocated to Chicago on 1 March 1963. Reorganized and redesignated 31 December 1965 as the 305th Psychological Operations Battalion. Reorganized and redesignated 16 June 1996 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Psychological Operations Battalion.''
 * 16th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:16thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 16th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:16thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 310th Tactical Psychological Operations Unit (TPU) - Forest Park, Georgia
 * 345th Tactical Psychological Operations Unit (TPU) (ABN) - Dallas, Texas
 * Formerly 245th POC (A). Deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 during the first year of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF1).
 * 362nd Tactical Psychological Operations Unit (TPU) - Fayetteville, Arkansas

13th Psychological Operations Bn (Enemy Prisoner of War) (EPW) - Arden Hills, Minnesota
 * 13th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:13thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 13th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:13thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 339th Psychological Operations Company (POC) - Fort Snelling, Minnesota
 * 319th Psychological Operations Company (POC) - Arden Hills, Minnesota


 * }



7th Psychological Operations Group
Constituted 19 August 1965 in the Regular Army as the 7th Psychological Operations Group. Activated 20 October 1965 on Okinawa. Inactivated 30 June 1974 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Redesignated 30 October 1975 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 7th Psychological Operations Group; concurrently withdrawn from the Regular Army, allotted to the Army Reserve, and activated at the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Reorganized and redesignated 18 September 1990 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Psychological Operations Group. Location changed 15 September 1994 to Moffett Field, California.
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! Battalion !! Distinguished Unit Insignia !! History 10th Psychological Operations Bn (POB) - St. Louis, Missouri
 * 10th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:10thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 10th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:10thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 307th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - St. Louis, Missouri
 * 308th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - Belton, Missouri
 * 318th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - St. Louis, Missouri
 * 318th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - St. Louis, Missouri
 * 318th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - St. Louis, Missouri

12th Psychological Operations Bn (POB) - Moffett, California
 * 12th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:12thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 12th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:12thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * Deployed to Afghanistan in 2006.
 * 315th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - Upland, California, Currently deployed in support of OEF.
 * Deployed to Iraq in 2003, part of OIF 1. Supported 3d ID and 1st AD.
 * Deployed to Afghanistan in 2004.
 * 320th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - Portland, Oregon
 * Deployed to Afghanistan in 2004.
 * 361st Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - Bothell, Washington
 * Deployed TPD 1270 to Iraq in 2003, part of OIF 1. Supported 3d ID and 3d ACR. Awarded a Valorous Unit Award.
 * Deployed TPD 1280 to Iraq in 2003, part of OIF 1. Supported 2d ACR.
 * Deployed TPD 1290 to Afghanistan in 2004.

14th Psychological Operations Bn (POB) - Mountain View, California
 * 14th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:14thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 14th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:14thpob.gif|center|75px]] ||
 * 301st Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) (ABN) - San Diego, California
 * 304th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - Sacramento, California
 * 324th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (TPU) - Aurora, Colorado
 * Deployed to Iraq in 2004 during the third year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF3).
 * Deployed to Iraq in 2005 during the forth year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 05-07).
 * Deployed to Iraq in 2004 during the third year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF3).
 * Deployed to Iraq in 2005 during the forth year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 05-07).

17th Psychological Operations Bn (POB) (Dissemination) - Joliet, Illinois
 * 17th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:17thpob.jpg|center|75px]] ||
 * 17th Psychological Operations Bn || [[Image:17thpob.jpg|center|75px]] ||
 * 306th Psychological Operations Company (SDC) - Los Alamitos, California
 * Alpha Company (POC) - Elwood, Illinois
 * Bravo Company (POC) - Aurora, Illinois
 * Bravo Company (POC) - Aurora, Illinois
 * Bravo Company (POC) - Aurora, Illinois


 * }

Inactive Units

 * 245th Psychological Operations Company (POC) - Dallas, Texas
 * Became the 345th PSYOP Company. Deployed soldiers during Operation Desert Storm (The Gulf War).
 * 244th Psychological Operations Company (POC)
 * Deployed soldiers during Operation Desert Storm (The Gulf War).

Air Force, Navy, and Marine
The Air Force provides support for Psychological Operations by using a modified C-130 Hercules aircraft named EC-130 Commando Solo. The purpose of Commando Solo is to provide an aerial platform for broadcast media on both television and radio. The media broadcast is created by various agencies and organizations.

The Navy provides support to Joint PSYOP programs by providing assets (such as broadcast platforms using shortwave and very high frequency (VHF) frequencies) for the production and dissemination of PSYOP materials. With the ability of naval vessels (especially the larger task forces) to produce audio-visual materials the Navy can often produce PSYOP products for use in denied areas. Leaflets are dropped utilizing the PDU-5B dispenser unit (aka Leaflet Bomb). The Navy coordinates extensively with the Army as the majority of PSYOP assets reside within USASOC. PSYOP planning and execution is coordinated through the Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM) and the Naval Information Operations Command (NIOC), both located in Norfolk, VA.

The US Navy possesses the capability to produce audiovisual products in the Fleet Audiovisual Command, Pacific; the Fleet Imagery Command, Atlantic; the Fleet Combat Camera Groups; Naval Imaging Command; various film libraries; and limited capability from ships and aircraft of the fleet. A Naval Reserve PSYOP audiovisual unit supports the Atlantic Fleet. Navy personnel assets have the capability to produce documents, posters, articles, and other material suitable for PSYOP. Administrative capabilities exist ashore and afloat that prepare and produce various quantities of printed materials. Language capabilities exist in naval intelligence and among naval personnel for most European and Asian languages. The Fleet Tactical Readiness Group provides equipment and technical maintenance support to conduct civil radio broadcasts and broadcast jamming in the amplitude modulation frequency band. This unit is not trained to produce PSYOP products and must be augmented with PSYOP personnel or linguists when  necessary. The unit is capable of being fully operational within 48 hours of receipt of tasking. The unit's equipment consists of a 10.6kW AM band broadcast radio transmitter; a broadcast studio van; antenna tuner; two antennas (a pneumatically raised 100 foot top-loaded antenna mast and a 500 foot wire helium balloon antenna); and a 30 kW generator that provides power to the system.

Vietnam
During the Vietnam era, the organization of the 4th Psychological Operations Group was very different. The four battalions of the group were divided by geographic region rather than area of expertise as they are now.
 * The 6th PSYOP Battalion was stationed at Bien Hoa and provided services to the tactical units, both American and Vietnamese, and to the various political entities such as provinces and cities in the area of III Corps.
 * The 7th PSYOP Battalion was stationed in Da Nang and provided service to I Corps.
 * The 8th PSYOP Battalion was based at Nha Trang, but it its B Company, which was its field teams, was based out of Pleiku nearly 100 kilometers away. The 8th Battalion served the II Corps area of Vietnam.
 * The 10th PSYOP Battalion was stationed in Can Tho and served IV Corps.

The A company of each battalion consisted of a command section, S-1, S-2, S-3, and a Psyop Development Center (PDC). Additionally, they generally had extensive printing facilities. The B companies consisted of the field teams that were stationed throughout their respective corps billeted with MACV teams and combat units.

Grenada and Panama
United States PSYOP became a part of popular culture during the U.S. invasion of Panama, the America public watched on TV as PSYOP soldiers blasted rock music into the Vatican Embassy to drive out ousted leader Manuel Noriega. However, it is widely believed inside the PSYOP community that the reasoning for the music was not actually to drive Noriega out, but to keep American news reporters from listening in on the negotiations for Noriega's surrender.

The Gulf War
Psychological Operations was extremely valuable during the Gulf War due to Saddams military's desire to avoid battle. Through leaflets and loudspeaker broadcasts, PSYOP forces walked many enemy soldiers through successful surrender.



Bosnia and Kosovo
United States PSYOP was widely employed in both Bosnia and Kosovo, most famously for their "mine awareness" campaign and its Superman comic.

The CNN and NPR Interns Incident
In the 1990s it came to light that PSYOP soldiers had been interning at the American news networks Cable News Network (CNN) and National Public Radio (NPR). The program was claimed by the Army to be an attempt to provide its PSYOPers with the expertise developed by the private sector under its "Training with Industry" program, the program caused concern about the influence these soldiers might have on American news and the programs were terminated.

Here is what National Public Radio reported on April 10, 2000:

The U.S. Army's Psychological Operations unit placed interns at CNN and NPR in 1998 and 1999. The placements at CNN were reported in the European press in February of this year and the program was terminated. The NPR placements will be reported this week in TV Guide.

Global War on Terrorism
U.S. Psychological Operations have been widespread during the Global War on Terrorism.

Afghanistan Burning Bodies Incident
An incident involving U.S. PSYOP soldiers occurred when enemy bodies were burned in Afghanistan and filmed by freelance journalist Stephen Dupont. Dupont reported that the PSYOP soldiers claimed the bodies were to be burned due to hygiene concerns. The decision by a Tactical PSYOP Team with the 173rd Airborne to burn the bodies in public to try and lure enemy fighters to attack led to the soldiers and their commander being reprimanded and reassigned.

During the War on Terror U.S. PSYOP teams often broadcast abrasive messages over loudspeakers to try tempting enemy fighters into a direct confrontation where the Americans have the upper hand. Other times, they use their loudspeaker to convince enemy soldiers to surrender. In the Afghanistan incident, a PSYOP sergeant broadcast the following message to the Taliban:

"Attention, Taliban, you are all cowardly dogs. You allowed your fighters to be laid down facing west and burned. You are too scared to retrieve their bodies. This just proves you are the lady boys we always believed you to be."

Another soldier stated: "You attack and run away like women. You call yourself Talibs but you are a disgrace to the Muslim religion and you bring shame upon your family. Come and fight like men instead of the cowardly dogs you are."

However, according to the Army Times, the SBS broadcast did not include audio of the soldiers broadcasting the message. 

U. S. authorities were to investigate the incident which may have contravened the Geneva convention. 

The PSYOP soldiers that were responsible for these acts were trying harass the enemy, a common practice used by PSYOP teams in the past and widely-publicized during its employment in the 2004 battle for Fallujah.



Trivia

 * The general's daughter from both the novel and blockbuster movie The General's Daughter was a PSYOP officer, although the film's portrayal of PSYOP is wildly inaccurate.
 * PSYOP teams and companies adopt call signs of all different sorts, but by far "Voodoo" is the most commonly used in the PSYOP community. (see also ITU prefix and North American call sign)
 * A USACAPOC combat patch (FWS-SSI) can be seen being worn by a soldier in the film X-Men 3 in the president's command center.
 * Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses was the first song played when soldiers blasted rock music into the Vatican Apostolic Nunciature (Embassy) to drive out ousted leader Manuel Noriega.
 * Interesting side note - the rock music was actually played for bored soldiers in the 82nd Airborne waiting outside the Apostolic Nunciature, when a journalist asked if they were playing to annoy Noriega, the team leader answered 'yes' and the story took on a life of its own.
 * The phrase "speaker-monkey" is often used as an insult for Army PSYOP soldiers, implying that their job consists solely in the employment of a loudspeaker. This phrase is mostly used inside the PSYOP community as a way of expressing fear of becoming speaker-monkeys, as in "My team won't go out on missions with that commander anymore, he just thinks of us as speaker-monkeys" or "This mission has us playing speaker-monkey, nothing more."