Review of Psychological Operations Lessons Learned from Recent Operational Experience

摘要

Extant lessons learned and guidance are correct but inadequate. Currently, psychological operations (PSYOP) are able to produce modest effects, particularly at the tactical level, with minimum resources. The Joint Staff, Joint Forces Command, and the 4th Psychological Operations Group (POG) produced joint lessons learned about PSYOP from recent operations that identify factors constraining its ability to produce greater effects. These lessons learned are accurate and consistent with the four lessons repeatedly revealed in postoperational assessments of PSYOP namely, that PSYOP performance suffers from: a lack of national-level themes to guide message formulation, slow product approval process that renders some products irrelevant, questionable product quality with uncertain effects and an overall lack of resources, including insufficient force structure.