Psychological Operations or PSYOP or PSYOPS are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to specific audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals. The purpose of psychological operations is to induce or reinforce attitudes and behavior favorable to the originator's objectives.
Psyops use a wide array of communications media–including radio and TV broadcasts, loudspeakers, newspapers, magazines, leaflets and even comic books–to help win or prevent wars.
Psyops’ main means of disseminating radio and TV broadcasts are eight EC-130E Commando Solo aircraft, flown by 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Air National Guard (ANG).
Psyops also is having trouble recruiting talented broadcasters and writers, explained Capt. John Donaldson, commander of the psyops broadcast element.
While integration of PSYOPS into operational planning was not conducted according to doctrine, it was nevertheless effective in all mediums, significantly contributing to mass capitulation of Iraqi forces and an overwhelming victory for the Coalition.
PSYOPS exploited the full potential of these factors and acted as a force multiplier in regard to establishing Coalition advantages which undoubtedly affected the decision of many Iraqis to surrender.
Explicit PSYOP verbal and visual direction was given to units of all types with specific direction as to method of surrender for dismounted or mechanized personnel when approaching Coalition forces.
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