tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841819670822716434.post6373835565674497412..comments2023-11-29T16:57:15.811-08:00Comments on PSYOP Regimental Blog: State of the RegimentLawrence Dietzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04048092221343162724noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841819670822716434.post-84907068243874790442010-03-21T22:41:14.423-07:002010-03-21T22:41:14.423-07:00Thanks for the comments. There are some 'split...Thanks for the comments. There are some 'split personality' issues to deal with. PSYOP needs to be under one chain of command and there needs to be ONE set of standards for PSYOP personnel. <br /><br />AC SOF has always emphasized the physical and pure combat skills. Frankly in today's world every soldier needs to be on the top of that game - but they must also be able to flawlessly execute the PSYOP mission which (after their own survival) is what they get paid for.Lawrence Dietzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04048092221343162724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841819670822716434.post-43029993376358198572010-03-21T22:35:54.127-07:002010-03-21T22:35:54.127-07:00A large problem with the betterment of PSYOP is de...A large problem with the betterment of PSYOP is deploying troops into combat without an understanding of there mission or organizational hierachy. The idea of "We need to deploy these brand new PSYOP Officers and NCOs to support the GWOT efforts and let them pay their dues before they work more strategic/MISTlike assignments" is tarnishing our image with supported unit commanders; especially SOF Units. <br /><br />Due to the small nature of PSYOP elements, the composition of troops deploying on PSYOP missions should be more heavily scrutinized by senior officers and CSMs before sending them out the door. Typically when a PSYOP element arrives in country they are further segmented by the supported commands (as they should be) to meet the needs in a high demand mission. <br /><br />On two rotations in the same theater, I have seen a unit composed of approx 25 troops deploy ISO GWOT with only 5 or less Soldiers with prior PSYOP experience; two of which were E4's. Only one had prior experience in the country. Needless to say when they were they were ineffective once they were splintered into 8 different elements. <br /><br />Often times the above mentioned problems destroy the capability for PSYOPers to become the proverbial "Force Multiplier", because the more seasoned PSYOPers at POTFs commands away from the battlespace (who have paid their dues) are asking for things to put on slides such as: MOEI and dissemination matrices; while the units in the field are operating with invalid (or in many cases without) TAAWs, PSYOP Estimates, Area Assessments. New PSYOP leaders do not know where to start when it comes to build PSYOP plans or the PSYOP MDMP products that support the plans of tactical commanders; yet they are left to police themselves up.<br /><br />The introduction of MIST operations through the country teams was an outstanding concept. It gives our guys the ability to do good things within the host nations and stay in compliance with the standing Status of Forces Agreements/ Visiting Forces Agreements. But it only further confuses the inexperienced, when a PSYOP Element is given a two prong mission that also addresses Tactical PSYOP with MIST operations. Tactical PSYOP gets ignored due to the ease and lack of planning needed to support MIST missions. This normally frustrates tactical commanders to see Soldiers that they work hard to support "shaking hands and kissing babies" without delivering tangible support to the mission of the battlespace owner. Supported unit commanders do not understand how to apply the doctrine and tactics required to use PSYOP. Even worse they don't get a vote in explaining how effective or ineffective the PSYOP element is or isn't without firing them. <br /><br />POG needs to deploy seasoned LNOs to manage PSYOP elements for supported units (especially SOF). Supported units at some level should be intermediate raters for PSYOP LNOs to hold PSYOP LNOs more accountable for their action or lack of action in theater. <br /><br />Lets make the units we support say we are great operators; rather than telling the units we support that we are great operators.<br /><br /><br /><br />V/R<br />PSYOPer returning to the regimentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841819670822716434.post-4123724749689006342009-06-17T10:18:51.665-07:002009-06-17T10:18:51.665-07:00There has always been a resurgence of the need for...There has always been a resurgence of the need for tactical training during times of war. Concur that every soldier must have a basic level tactical skills. Scoring 300 on the PT test is not as important as the physical agility and stamina needed in combat. Weapons skills training needs time and high priority because its not something you can do on line.<br /><br />PSYOP soldiers are no different from other soldiers and all soldiers regardless of component need to be held to the same standard. This training and standard should not be part of MOS training. <br /><br />PSYOP training with tactical skills integrated is the right approach in my view.<br /><br />LDDLawrence Dietzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04048092221343162724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841819670822716434.post-53145009006851300122009-06-17T09:24:01.493-07:002009-06-17T09:24:01.493-07:00All of your points are good. Most psyopers can'...All of your points are good. Most psyopers can't wait to get back under USASOC, so long as they fix the budgeting issues that lead to the split in the first place. USARC doesn't know how to deal with tactical SOF units, and USASOC is bad with reserve units. <br /><br />The other issue that no one is addressing is the psyop school. It has become something like a mini Ranger school with a little psyop thrown in. Commanders were preoccupied with the survivability of psyopers when things were bad in Iraq, which is good, but the psyop part suffered. We have soldiers coming out of school that barely know the basics of psyop, and sometimes know less than that. They can shoot really well and score a 300 on the PT test though. <br /><br />So they need to make psyop school longer to incorporate the new emphasis on infantry skills, so they don't lessen the psyop. <br /><br />I think they also need to ensure that reserve soldiers adhere to the basic training of the active comp. Language school is something that reservists need just as badly, and everyone should jump. <br /><br />RickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com