You Don’t Have to Like It

 

The 4^th PSYOP Group (Fort Bragg, NC) created quite a hullaballoo with their May 2, 2022 recruiting video “Ghosts in the Machine” (which you can find at: https://bit.ly/3GeYEuX and is a photo source).

The video employs Koko the Clown, which first appeared in Out of the Ink Well from 1918 – 1929. You can learn more about him at: https://fleischer-studios.fandom.com/wiki/Koko_the_Clown

The Army Times shouted “ Foreboding Army PSYOPS recruitment video shows ‘who’s pulling the strings’” (https://bit.ly/3NrVtT6) According to the venerable ‘paper’, the film ‘gives off a slightly creepy surreal vibe’.  The Times picks up on the notion of ‘becoming the ghost puppeteer pulling the world’s strings, especially those of hot-button national security threats like the Chinese and Russian governments. The Times even goes so far as to say that the video’s real purpose “PSYOP aimed at an overseas audience.”

Another review – this one from boingboing.net said “Enjoy this creepy occult-ish U.S. Army Psychological Operations Recruitment video” (see: https://boingboing.net/2022/05/17/enjoy-this-creepy-occult-ish-u-s-army-psychological-operations-recruitment-video.html)

Even the ‘local’ Fort Bragg newspaper, the News & Observer chimed in saying “’Unsettling/ Fort Bragg recruitment video ignites debate over its mysterious intent’. (see: https://bit.ly/39NKHb9 which is a photo source as well).

As I reviewed the content, here’s what hit me:

·      The use of Sun Tzu – everyone’s favorite elegant strategist.

·      Implied that Psywarriors lead a life of adventure and intrigue.

·      Adopting the ‘Ghost’ as a branding tool – including the famed Ghost Army of WWII.

·      Arouse patriotism by showcasing potential peer enemies.

·      Concluding that information is everywhere and needs to be controlled as a weapon of war by a special breed of revitalized PSYWAR practitioners.

I did not see any nefarious plots nor occult visions. Rather it seemed to me that soldiers of the 4^th POG thought pretty hard about the kind of colleague they want to attract and focused this latest work product as a way to appeal to those individuals and to influence them to apply for PSYOP selection.

If you’re sufficiently motivated to join PSYOP (we don’t use the s) you can check out the Army’s Official recruiting page at: https://bit.ly/3wGd6rH. According to our good friends at the Army Times if you make it, you may be eligible for reenlistment bonus packages of up to $21,000 for enlisted personnel, not to mention potential airborne and language pay and educational allowances.

The bottom line is not whether your like it or find it spooky – the measure of effectiveness is how many people are motivated to sign-up to become PSYOP soldiers.