the 361st psyop company in iraq
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The 361st Psychological OperationsCompany in Iraq
SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret.)
The 361st Patch is the same as the US Army's Civil Affairsand Psychological Operations Command (CAPOC) Patch.
The translation for the 12th POB Crest is "Change the Heart.
The 1290th Tactical PSYOP Detachment (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), made up ofmembers of the 361st PSYOP Company in Bothell, Washington, is currently serving in
Iraq. The Detachment consists of 15 members (one since wounded and evacuated), and
during April 2005 had three two-man and one three-man teams in support of five
Maneuver Battalions. The Detachment teams are numbered TPT 1291 through 1294 and
operate in Mosul. There is also a production cell, TPDD, operating in Mosul.
The members trained with the 1st Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division Strykers from
September 2003 to June 2004. This included joint readiness training, battle command
training, weapons familiarization with the M16 and other armaments, hand grenade
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qualification, and convoy protection with live fire. For the National Training Center and
the Joint Readiness Training Center they rail-loaded their equipment, deployed with, and
trained with the brigade. The Stryker, the combat vehicle of choice for the Armys Interim
Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs), is a highly deployable wheeled armored vehicle that
combines firepower, battlefield mobility, survivability and versatility, with reduced
logistics requirements. The Pentagon hopes to replace some of the heavier, less
deployable armored tracked vehicles with the light and faster wheeled Stryker.
I should take a moment to discuss the U.S. Army PSYOP Organization. The reader should
understand that the organization changes over time as new doctrine and equipment is
authorized and fielded. At the time this article was written the system was the following:
The 4th PSYOP Group consists of six active Duty PSYOP battalions:
1st PSYOP Battalion Southern Command
3rd PSYOP Battalion Dissemination
5th PSYOP Battalion Pacific Command
6th PSYOP Battalion European Command
8th PSYOP Battalion Central Command
9th PSYOP Battalion Tactical
There are two Army Reserve PSYOP Groups. The 2nd PSYOP Group consists of four
PSYOP battalions and 15 PSYOP companies. The 7th PSYOP Group consists of four
PSYOP battalions and 13 PSYOP companies.
Each PSYOP Battalion can support a corps. Within the PSYOP battalions are Tactical
PSYOP Companies (TPC), each of which can support a division. The Companies are made
up of Tactical PSYOP Detachments (TPD), each of which can support a brigade. The teamis idyllically made up of a Detachment Commander (CPT), Detachment NCOIC (SSG) and
two PSYOP specialists (SPC) equipped with two M1025 High Mobility Multipurpose
Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and both an AEM450/900 (1000-1800 meters range)
vehicle loudspeaker and LSB-40B (700-1000 meters range) dismounted loudspeaker. The
detachments can be broken up into Tactical PSYOP Teams (TPT), each of which can
support a battalion. The team is idyllically made up of a team leader (SSG), Assistant
team leader (SGT) and a PSYOP specialist (SPC) equipped with two HMMWVs and both
a vehicle and dismounted loudspeaker.
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Risograph
The Detachment has two Risographs and two paper cutters. The Risograph is a high
speed, multifunctional digital printing system. It combines three basic technologies:
scanning, precision imaging, and high speed printing. There is no clerical headquarters soall of the work is done by the unit members. The detachment Commander, Captain
England, reports directly to the Corps PSYOP Support Element. The Detachment
developed and produced much of the material that they disseminated. Most of the
psychological warfare leaflets and posters developed by the Joint Psychological
Operations Task Force are targeted at Baghdad and some of the message is lost when
distributed in Mosul. Therefore, the Detachment has printed leaflets, handbills, stickers,
posters, billboards, newspapers, T-shirts, TV and radio spots.
2 ton hydraulic paper cutter
The supported 1st brigade has helped the PSYOP troops by purchasing both a Risograph
and a 2 ton hydraulic paper cutter to speed the production and dissemination of the printed
products. The Detachment is a firm believer in the use of the propaganda leaflet and
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airdrops them as often as possible. SFC Shawn W. McElravy, the non-commissioned
officer in charge told me, If you need to get a lot of product out quickly, then do a leaflet
drop.
Map of Mosul leaflet drop targets
SFC McElravy sent me a report on a leaflet drop scheduled for 5 April 2005. The major
themes of the leaflet mix were reward offers for information on insurgents who make and
use improvised explosive devices (IEDs), to counter enemy recruitment themes in MosulUniversity, and to support the Legitimacy of the new Iraqi government. The 480,000
leaflets were dropped over nine designated locations in Mosul. As stated earlier, all of the
leaflets were designed and produced by the 1290th TPD.
The aircraft crews do not care for the standard leaflet boxes so the Detachment uses
standard Meals, Ready to Eat (MRE) boxes modified for leafleting. They cut four holes in
the bottom of the MRE Box, feed through standard 550 parachute cord, tie and tap it off
with 100 MPH duct tape to make a handle. The tape is GI Issue, waterproof, all
temperature, with a woven cloth backing. It comes in military colors between olive drab
and dark green. The MRE boxes are also reinforced with 100 MPH tape along the bottom
outside of the box. In the aircraft they hold the box by the handle at the edge of the door
and dump it with a jerking motion on command. Each box holds 20,000 2 x 4-inch leaflets.
They call their prototype leaflet box the gutter clogger 3000.
The leaflet team then does a complete rehearsal of the operation. They plan the
placement of boxes for loading on the aircraft, marking the pickup zone, loading the
aircraft, what to do in the event of contact, and what to do in the event of catastrophic
aircraft failure.
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They then rehearse actions in the aircraft to include how will the boxes in the aircraft be
configured, the order of targets to assure that the proper leaflets are dropped on the
correct target, who will be where in the aircraft, which side will drop first, what do in the
event of contact, and what to do in the event of catastrophic aircraft failure. The
Detachment believes that rehearsing and having its tactics, techniques, and procedures
(TTPs) rehearsed to perfection are the keys to success. This efficiency will also
demonstrate to the flight crew that they are competent, professional, and not a danger to
the aircraft or the crew.
Once the helicopters arrive and upon boarding, the Drop Controller dons a headset to
remain in contact with the aircraft crew throughout the mission. Although the drop
controller gives the commands to the droppers, the controller is guided by the aircraft
commander. The total time to load the 24 leaflet boxes and board the crew is less than five
minutes. The drop crew is then secured to the aircraft with a harness. Each dropper must
see the Drop Controller snap their link onto the floor of the helicopter. All Drop Crew
personnel must have a Riggers Belt. The product boxes are lined up in the middle of the
aircraft for easy access from either side.
The military has always believed that the after-action report is one of the most important
elements of any operation. Upon successful completion they discuss the mission. They ask
such questions as, What went right? They then critique the mission. Were any boxes
lost during the drop? What could have gone better? Finally, they refine the TTPs if
necessary.
SGT Joel Springer stacks the leaflets prior to a mission.
Tactical PSYOP Detachment 1290 had conducted 7 leaflet missions as of April 2005. They
have dropped 2,116,000 leaflets over Mosul and TallAfar. The biggest operation was
over the Iraqi polling sites on 28 January. On that Friday evening they dropped over
649,000 leaflets in less than one hour on 9 market locations throughout Mosul. Friday
night was selected for the drop since Saturday is Market Day in Mosul.
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Perhaps the most interesting comment was the final line in the report, Always be sure
to bring extra leaflets for the flight crews.
We ask that you always put aside a few extra leaflets for the Psywarrior site too, so we
can depict them in these PSYOP studies we do in support of U. S. Army psychological
operations.
SSG Jack Lewis posts an al Zarqawi wanted poster on a wall in Sinjar,
western Nineweh Province, Iraq. He is watched by a Kurdish boy.
SGT Kevin C. Alberg, Team Leader of TPT 1294 told me what he had learned during his
deployment:
Leaflets and handbills are still effective. However, dissemination requires
constant vigilance and repetition of effort. I'm told by several local nationals
that Saddam's propaganda machine was most robust. Unlike U.S. PSYOP
efforts, which are based on truthful information, Saddam's was propaganda
of the ugliest form. Because people have been exposed to that for so long, an
occasional indifference to print products is sometimes encountered. So, we
have to find a way to drive our point home.
Face-to-face PSYOP still works best and tactical loudspeaker employment iseffective too. I've seen marked improvements with Multi-National Forces and
everyday Iraqis due to two main things: the newer lighter military units are
exceedingly Information Operations (IO) focused due to astute command
elements. Line infantry soldiers now freely disseminate print products and
ask the right questions.
In addition, PSYOP troops are seeing that being courteous to the local
nationals is essential. We always knew that, but what we see daily is that
taking it a step further and being kind to the Iraqi children tends to get them
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to warm to you. It takes a while and tons of candy and small tokens.
However, besides it being the right thing to do, we also have a practical
reason. On my team we say, A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go
down. When we are out handing out candy and getting mobbed by the
youth, we can distribute hundreds of products that invariably are taken
straight back to the parents by sugar-fueled, smiling children.
Stencil Propaganda
The use of a stencil to place crude propaganda on a wall quickly has a long history among
Third World nations and Guerilla movements. They often do not have the time or
expertise to produce professional-quality illustrated leaflets or posters, or the money to
buy paper or pay for a means of dissemination. The stencil is an easy answer to the
problem of mass communication at almost no expense. The stencil can be cut anywhere in
the form of a text or illustration. It takes just seconds for a single person to hold it againstthe wall, spray it quickly with a small easily hidden can of spray paint, and move on. This
has not been an American tradition in the past, but according tothe Year in Special
Operations 2006 Edition, Faircount LLC, Tampa FL, 2006, American PSYOP teams are
using the method in Iraq. The photograph above depicts Sergeant Bill Whitaker of the
361st PSYOP Company stenciling anti-terrorist propaganda on the wall of a building in
Mosul with a stencil and spray paint. Stenciled propaganda, like graffiti, cannot be easily
removed from a wall and it would require someone to actually paint over the stencil.
PSYOP Leaflets
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Leaflet IZB1eP3-3006
Leaflet 3006 is interesting because it was observed that the Special Forces and Iraqi
National Guard used bright red-orange packing slips to mark the doors on houses,
businesses and hotel rooms they had searched. The PSYOP Detachment thought that the
gummed 9 5/8 x 3 3/8 inches slip could be modified to carry a message and the tip line
address. They printed a larger slip for facilities that are known to be used by the
insurgents that says the property is subject to destruction if the activity does not cease.Text on the modified packing slip is:
Terrorists have been operating from this neighborhood. Searches in this area
will continue until terrorist activity ceases.
If you have information about terrorist activities and want to inform the
authorities, please call,or email today.
You do not have to identify yourself and you can still collect a reward. Help
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the ISF build a better, safer Iraq.
Leaflet IZB3jG3-3008
The image of the AC130 Spectre Gunship was used on a number of leaflets. Leaflet 3008
is the version designed by the 2019th Detachment. At the upper left and lower right
Spectre patches are depicted. At the Upper right the crew mans a gunship weapon, and at
the lower left the ship is pictured firing at night. The center of the leaflet depicts a Spectre
firing a daylight mission. The text is:
ATTENTION!
Enemies of the Iraqi People.
This is the AC-130H Spectre Gunship. This airplane is a heavily armed C130
cargo aircraft and it has the green eyes.
This aircraft can find you, see what you are doing, and destroy you anytime,
anywhere, in any weather. This equipment has been brought to the people of
Mosul by the Provincial Governor to provide security for the elections onJanuary 30th, 2005.
The green eyes in the text refer to night vision devices.
One leaflet that depicts the new Iraqi Army members as super heroes is coded 3010. The
insignia of the new army is at the upper left and on the chest of the soldier. He is pictured
fighting terrorists with the text as bottom:
Real Iraqi Heroes
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Leaflet 3017 The Calling Card
Leaflet 3017 is almost humorous. It depicts 13 photographs of American troops interacting
with Iraqis, on patrol, doing searches and traffic stops. The text is:
Sorry you were out when we popped by for a visit. But dont worry. Well
catch up with you and your friends real soon!
Leaflet IZA2eG3-3020 Traffic Stop
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Leaflet 3026 was printed in November 2004 to warn the insurgents that the Americans
now had direct counter-battery fire ability. The oversized 8 1/2 x 5 1/2-inch leaflet depicts
Americans firing artillery. The illustration is identical on both sides except that one side is
in a dark ultramarine blue and the other side is printed in red. The text is:
Attention AIF
Where ever you fire your mortars from you are in range of our guns. Now youare subject to counter fire at our discretion.
M198 Howitzer up to 30 kilometer range 46.8 kilogram shell.
Your days of firing without retaliation are over.
If you have information about terrorist activities in your area call the number
on the back. You do not have to give your name to receive a reward. Please,
for your family's sake, call today.
IZB1eD33031 - Cash
This 6 1/8 x 2 1/2-inch leaflet depicts a U.S. $100 bill on one side with the text:
Rewards are being offered for useful information on terrorist activities. You
dont have to give your name to receive a reward. Call today or notify Iraqi
security forces in your area.
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The back of the leaflet depicts an Iraqi 25,000-dinar note and the text:
Help make Mosul safe and get the money your loving family so desperately
needs. You dont have to give your name to receive a reward. Call today or
notify Iraqi security forces in your area.
The quality of this leaflet is very good because the Detachment had it privately printed in
Dahuk. As a result, it is sharper and clearer than one printed by the Risograph.
Leaflet 3045
Radio leaflet 3045 pictures a portable radio and the text:
YOUR VOICE
The new radio show that gives you the chance to give your opinion!
Monday Wednesday Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
A radio show where you can call and debate the major issues of the day.
Call in and have your voice heard.
Tune in to FM 88.7 for call in numbers. Show starts Thursday,
November 29th!
Al Iraqia Radio FM 88.7
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Leaflet IZA3eG3-3062
Leaflet 3062 depicts destroyed buildings in the city of Mosul. The text is:
The terrorists did this to the citizens of Mosul.
They will continue to destroy unless you say Enough is enough.
Stand up to the terror to insure the survival of Iraq January 20, 2005.
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Leaflet 3088 Iraqi Security Forces
Leaflet 3088 depicts and American and an Iraqi Soldier on the front. The text is:
On January 30th the people of Iraq raised their voices against terror. Today,
tomorrow, and always, the men and women of the Iraqi Security Forces raise
their fists as well.
The back of the leaflet depicts four photographs of U.S. and Iraqi forces dealing with the
public and terrorists. The text is:
Breaking up black-market fuel operations to keep your fuel prices down.
Seeking out and ridding your neighborhoods of deadly terrorist devices.
Using you called in tips to locate and capture terrorist leaders and minions.
Iraqi men and women placing their lives at risk to insure your familys safety.
The leaflet ends with phone numbers and E-mail addresses in Mosul and TallAfar, whichare blocked out here to protect against spam.
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Leaflet IZA5eG3-3097
Leaflet 3097 is a large poster-leaflet that depicts Iraq police and Army at the top and
happy Iraqi children at the bottom. The text is:
The Iraqi Security Forces and the people of Ninewah.Partners in a new and better Iraq.
You stood against terror by voting, but it does not end there.
Help your Security Forces stand against criminals by continuing to provide
tips and information.
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Dont let a group of murderous terrorists destroy their bright future.
Leaflet 3121 Tip Line
Leaflet 3121 depicts a road block through night vision glasses. The text is:
Thanks to you Mosul, six terrorists were captured in this raid.
The tip line works.
Two of the captured are Abu Shealan and Hussien Ali Ahmid.
With a call to the tip l ine and verified by a jailed Muslim extremist, two active
terrorists were captured on this street in the Eslah Zarai neighborhood of
Mosul.
Abu Shealan was a Jeish Ansar al-Sunna weapons dealer.
Hussien Ali Ahmid confessed to beheading Iraqis who worked for the
Coalition.
Enough is enough. You dont have to live in fear any longer
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A very imaginative scene is depicted on leaflet 3146. A horde of locusts is seen eating
holes in a map of Iraq. The text is:
Foreign fighters are like locusts, eating away the prosperity of Iraq. Good
Iraqis will not allow foreign terrorism to destroy Iraqs bright future.
Do not let foreign killers threaten your communitys safety! Provide
information about these criminals to your heroic Iraqi Security Forces.
Leaflet 4000 - Convicted
Leaflet 4000 depicts a convicted criminal. Curiously, this leaflet was not as popular as
might be expected because many Iraqis felt that the sentence was too light. Most law-
abiding Iraqis want terrorists punished harshly, and although 10 years in an Iraqi prison
seems strong from an American viewpoint, some Iraqis demand the immediate execution
of captured terrorists. Old customs die hard. The text is:
Meet Abdullah
Guilty
I would like to introduce to you, Abdullah Adiya Abdullah al Jabouri, and he
is from Hamman al Alil .On the 6th of April 2005 he was sentenced to 10
years in prison by an Iraqi court for Terrorism activities.
PSYOP Loudspeaker Operations
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SGT Joe Diraddo uses the unmounted manpack loudspeaker in the
al Sarai neighborhood in Tall'Afar, Nineveh Province, Iraq.
The message is in regard to cooperation with the new national
govenment and a warning to stay off the streets during a
large-area cordon and search by Iraqi Intervention Forces,
The 2090th does limited loudspeaker operations. The Battalion prefers that they do
mostly face-to-face contact, the method that every study has shown to be the most
effective way to communicate. They do occasionally broadcast messages, but generally
use the "manpack." The detachment has done several very successful loudspeakeroperations with members of the 82nd Airborne Division at traffic control points and during
cordon searches and raids.
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SSG Jack Lewis broadcasts using the Long Range Acoustical
Device from Tall'Afar Castle out over the al Sarai neighborhood.
One of the unit members was shot in the hand at this site.
The Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) was originally built for the U.S. Navy,
intended to warn boaters out of the 500-meter exclusion zone around their warships. There
was a rumor that it could kill a person standing directly in front of it. Not true. It might
make you sick, and you will definitely wish you hadnt, but according to the manufacturer,
this is a non-lethal acoustical effects system. Its a big, black disc, maybe three feet
across and about six inches thick, and it will reach out and touch someone at over 1,000meters. It is ideal for PSYOP applications. The LRAD becomes increasingly directional as
distances to targets increase. It forms a tight beam of sound that is exceptionally clear
if somewhat unpleasant to an individual or group that is acquired, literally, in its
sights.The LRAD has a sighting system.Its an iron sight, and people sit up and take
notice a full kilometer away.
Tests proved that a broadcast could be heard clearly by a dismounted unit in a cemetery
over 1,400 meters distant from the LRADs position. The LRAD runs on A.C. power but
is adaptable. During distance tests at 100 meters, the sound was painful to listeners, even
with hands held over the ears and ear plugs in. At 300 meters, they could understand
every word, still with his hands over plugged ears. At 800 meters, they could hear every
syllable through ear plugs. The LRAD was deployed atop TallAfar Castle, overlooking
the al Sarai neighborhood. The first time it was used Iraqis walking the streets stopped
and stared. Impact indicators went through the roof and Iraqis were seen writing down the
counter-terrorism tip-line number at over 600 meters range. The LRAD has proven useful
for clearing streets and rooftops during cordon and search, for disseminating command
information, and for drawing out enemy snipers who are subsequently destroyed by our
own snipers.
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On 5 November 2005 the LRAD made headlines when a group of armed pirates
attempted to board the 10,000-ton cruise ship Seabourn Spirit100 miles off the coast of
Somalia. The ship retaliated with the earsplitting noise of a directed sound beam and
escaped. The devices have been deployed on commercial and naval vessels worldwide
since summer 2003.
Vehicle-mounted sonic weapons have been used by the Israeli military in the Gaza and
Lebanon. The sound is described as being hit by a wall of air that is painful on the ears,
sometimes causing nosebleeds and 'leaving you shaking inside.
The U.S. Navy has about 60 of the devices in Iraq and other regions. Several U.S. law
enforcement agencies also use the device.
The belief among some of the Detachment members is that the LRAD isnt perfect for all
tactical environments, but is a valuable PSYOP tool. One should be issued to each
deploying tactical PSYOP detachment, to be utilized by the team that can make the best
case for requiring it. Reproduction quality on the LRAD amplifies hisses and pops to an
uncomfortable degree.The key to minimizing this phenomenon is careful attention to
making good connections, not moving cables during broadcast, and keeping connectors
clean and dry. One man can carry the LRAD, but not much else.It weighs about 45 lbs.,
and you need an extension cord, your input device, and other equipment. The LRAD is a
bullet magnet. It is not easily concealed. Area security considerations are therefore very
important. The drawbacks are weight and the fact that it does not authentically reproduce
sound. Instead, it reproduces sound in a manner intended to carry great distances to point
targets and convey messages with authority. The LRAD is most suitable for fixed site
broadcast but leaves the user open to enemy fire. It is also fragile. Its large, open-faced
speaker membrane is subject to damage from elbows, rifle muzzles or enemy fire.
Notice the statement that the LRAD will draw fire. This can be attested to by SP4 Joshua
Yuse who came under sniper fire while broadcasting on the roof of TallAfar Castle just
prior to the Iraqi elections. He immediately picked up his rifle and took up a security
position along the battlements. The sniper hit him in his forward hand; the slug bounced
off his rifle and dug into his armored vest. A fragment of the bullet jacket flew up and cut
his chin to the bone. His sergeant told me proudly:
While waiting to be evacuated Yuse trained up a communications sergeant on
how to run the LRAD and kept the mission on track. He secured, or caused to
be secured, all of his sensitive items and PSYOP equipment. He toldeverybody not to worry about him, and reminded them to keep their heads
down. He was treated by fellow soldiers on the spot and then evacuated to the
67th Combat Support Hospital by a UH60 Blackhawk helicopter.He had
surgery at the 67th, and then was loaded unto a C130 for transport to
Landstuhl. As they loaded him onto the C130, he was fretting about letting
down the detachment by flying out to Germany. Corporal Yuse is currently
undergoing occupational therapy in the United States.
Guest columnist Sergeant Jack Lewis wrote about Specialist Yuse in an article in the
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Seattle Post-Intelligencerof March 6, 2005. At the same time Yuse was broadcasting,
Lewis was scheduled to be in one of the militarys Stryker armored vehicles, broadcasting
pro-election messages, pre-recorded in Arabic, from a man-pack loudspeaker system.
Yuse was shot before Lewis began his portion of the mission. He tells about hearing of the
fire-fight:
But I never went out on my mission today. After I put together a briefing
memo for the squadron commander, I ran straight into the battle captain.
He said, "It's good you're here. Yuse's your guy, right? We got a report he was
shot in the neck..."
"WHAT?"
"but apparently he was wounded in the hand. A fragment hit him in the
chin, and it bled all over, and they thought he had a neck wound."
As the medics worked on him, Yuse said:
I'll tell you one thing. These elections better work. They better get democracy,
and freedom, and their rights, and hot chicks in tight jeans. I hope I didn't
take this bullet for nothing.
SGT Lewis made sure that Yuse kept his interceptor body armor with the souvenir slug in
one pocket. His weapon, which caught the bullet as it exited through the meat of Yuse's
left thumb was "non-mission capable" and irreparable.
SGT Yuse has since been was awarded the Army Commendation medal with V for valor
device for his actions on the day he was wounded. By September of 2005 his hand hadhealed enough for him to attend and graduate the United States Army Air Assault Course.
Since returning home, Jack Lewis, a University of Southern California writing major
participated in the 2008 Oscar-nominated documentary Operation Homecoming: Writing
the Wartime Experience. One of the chapters in the documentary was Lewis storyRoad
Work,about an elderly Iraqi who loses his will to live after his son is killed. Lewis appears
and is interviewed in the film and is currently working on a memoir of his nine-year
experience with the military entitled The Soldier Next Door.
Defense Update, the International Online Defense Magazine added that the LRAD canissue a verbal challenge with instructions in excess of 500 meters and has the capability of
following up with a warning tone to influence behavior or determine intent.
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Medium Range Acoustic Device (MRAD)
I had a discussion with Robert "Ryk" Williams, the Land-Based LRAD Project Managerfrom American Technology Corporation about the perceived problems with the weight and
the delicacy of the system. He pointed out that they were currently in service with the 3rd
Infantry Division, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the 44th Engineer Battalion, and
others in Iraq. He said that the PSYOP community had been slow to embrace this latest
acoustic spiral development technology although he believed that the LRAD was a
quantum leap forward in sound technology. He was aware that there had been comments
about the weight of the system. He added:
As a side note, we recently fielded a Medium Range Acoustic Device (MRAD)
that is lighter and more portable than the LRAD while delivering the same
level of clarity and intelligibility at extended ranges. In other words, we heard
the requirement for smaller and lighter and we have delivered.
The Detachment Radio Station at dusk
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PSYOP Radio
Tactical PSYOP Team (TPT) 1291 was tasked with constructing and commissioning a fully
functioning FM radio station at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sykes, in the vicinity of
TallAfar, Nineveh Province, Iraq. None of the team members had operated a radio
station before or attempted building one, but the mission was accepted and accomplished.
The team consisted of Team Leader Staff Sergeant Jack Lewis, Assistant Team Leader
Sergeant Christopher Shone, Corporal Yuse, (a PSYOP specialist who was wounded andevacuated before the radio station operation began), and Sergeant Joe DiRaddo (not
actually part of the team but an NCO who was always ready to help out when and where
he was needed).
Working with Iraqi nationals employed by Iraqi Media Network, and with capable
assistance from Brigade Information Operations officer Major Mark Smith and several
key employees of Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) at Forward Operating Base Sykes
near TallAfar, the radio station was commissioned in April, 2005.It broadcasts at 1,000
watts through an antenna atop a 90-foot tower; sufficient power to reach every resident of
TallAfar to the north and several surrounding villages and farmsteads.The tower and twosemi-trailers are grounded via 12-foot copper rods, courtesy of KBR who also fabricated a
light for the top of the tower to avert clearance issues with the frequent helicopter traffic
at FOB Sykes. Its satellite dish accepts a coded Iraqi Media Network (IMN) feed from
the Arab Satellite Communications Network (ARABSAT) 24 hours a day. ARABSAT was
established 14 April 1976 by the member states of the Arab League with the goal of
serving the needs of Telecommunication, Information, Culture and Education sectors in
accordance with International Standards.
The Detachment Radio Production office with mixing board, CD and audio tape inputs
The station itself is contained within one semi-articulated trailer, and includes a 1 kilowatt
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transmitter, FM exciter, power entry, production office with mixer and various inputs, and
sound-insulated studio with dual microphones.It has the capability of accepting live
telephone calls for live talk radio programming. A second trailer contains a 400-kilowatt
Cummins generator and sufficient diesel storage capacity to power the station for several
days between re-fueling.
The station is a powerful PSYOP tool, functioning as a platform for a variety of
information operations content including re-broadcasting the state-run al Iraqia (IMN)
programming.This provides an opportunity for area citizens to receive political reporting,
social commentary and news stories from all over the nation of Iraq. IMN programming
is periodically interrupted to provide locally produced talk shows with Iraqi Army
generals, PSYOP team-produced public service announcements, counter-terror messages,
and command information from the U.S. forces commander.
TPT 1291 also devised a useful tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) of re-
broadcasting the radio station over loudspeakers in town by performing battlefield
circulation while playing the output of its MP3/DVR/FM receiver through its vehicle-
mounted loudspeakers system.
PSYOP Sergeant Christopher Shone on duty at the mixing board
Who listens to al Iraqia, the name that the staff calls their radio station? SSG Jack
Lewis told me:
To be sure that local people of influence could hear the message the local
Corps PSYOP Support Element sent the Detachment 600 radios for
distribution to Iraqi nationals. These radios, manufactured in China by
Grundig, are AM/FM and will run on either batteries or by a hand-cranked
dynamo. They can be dropped by air.
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We passed them out to target audiences of influential muktars, school
teachers, etc. Each radio was marked with the frequency and network name
of our broadcast (FM 89.5 al Iraqia!), and prepacked in its li ttle case with
several PSYOP products including counter-terror tip line telephone numbers
and "reward for info" offers printed on cash-like backgrounds.
Every show opened with an Islamic invocation in Arabic. As far as original
programming, we did an extensive interview with the local Iraqi Army
commanding general. The general came prepared with a speech that was
approved by the 2nd Squadron of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Commander. We wrote some scripts and question and answer sheets with
local squadron commander approval. All the messages were read by Iraqi
interpreters.
Another regular feature we put on was a morning show that gave the
weather, major local and regional happenings, and a quick interpretation of
national events in regional terms. For instance, we might tell the listeners,
The successes of the Kurdish National Party in January's elections mayaffect Sinjar by... or Regrettably, terrorists have destroyed another... The
messages were read by a female interpreter. We also broadcast appeals to turn
over terrorists (with t ip line given), plus command information on the way
operations may affect commerce, proper pricing for gasoline, how to respond
to traffic control points, cordon & search operations, etc. When we weren't
producing local content, the station played the IMN feed day and night.
No one was ever assigned to the radio station. It was just assumed that we
were the closest thing they had to experts, so we did our best. Tactical PSYOP
Team 1291 -- all both of us -- served as general contractors, producers,directors, technicians, constructors, electricians, refuelers and janitors.
Authors note: I mention the Grundig radio in my article Strange Gifts from Above. In
regard to Afghanistan, there was a recommendation to use the Grundig FR220 radio. It
worked well in the mountainous terrain and was battery and dynamo powered. The 10th
Mountain Division psychological operations officer headed the purchase of 100,000
FR200 Grundig Emergency Radios for Coalition Joint Task Force (CJTF) 180 to be
delivered to Bagram, Afghanistan. Over 30,000 Grundig radios had been distributed by
the time he left Afghanistan in April 2004.
The FOB Sykes radio station was Formerly known as Rattlesnake Radio in honor of
the 2-14 Cavalry Rattlesnake Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition
Squadron, it is now informally referred to as Sabre Radio. Although presently run by
PSYOP personnel, the station is a wholly-owned asset of the Iraq elected government.
The operation of the radio station at FOB Sykes has now passed into the hands of Tactical
PSYOP Detachment (TPD) 1680, and will soon pass on to TPD 1720, who will operate it
under the auspices of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Due to the substantial size of
the area of responsibility (nearly 17,000 square kilometers stretching from the city of
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Mosul to the Syrian border), TPT 1291 a two-man team at the end of its tour was
replaced by a full detachment consisting of three teams and a production cell.
Captain Corbin England, the Commander of Tactical PSYOP Detachment 2090 summed it
up for me:
I have been blessed to have the caliber of soldiers in my command. The
successes of the detachment, and there are many, rest squarely upon their
shoulders. Their professionalism made my job all that much easier.
Second I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the successes were due
inlarge part to the 1st BDE (SBCT) of the 25th Infantry Division Brigade
Commander Colonel Robert Brown. From day one he made utilizing non-
lethal assets such as PSYOP a priority. This priority in turn was instilled
into his Battalion Commanders. That made doing our job that much easier.
TPD 1290 was very fortunate to integrate with the Brigade so early. We had
opportunities to demonstrate what PSYOP can contribute to the mission
during training exercises at the National Training Center and Joint
Readiness Training Center. This was crucial in introducing those staff
officers that have never before worked with PSYOP to its implementation in
an operational environment. This long training period was absolutely key to
our success. Addit ionally the Brigade has seen the potential positive impacts
so much that they were willing to spend operational money to secure a
Risograph and an industrial paper cutter in order to assist us in our mission.
The third basis for our success was our resourcing. Tactical PSYOP
Detachment 1290 is in a unique position in the fact that we have printing
capabilities that are not normally given at the detachment level. Because ofgreater than normal capability we have been much more responsive to the
maneuver commanders expectations than most TPDs in the past. Clearly
TPD 1290 exemplifies that if soldiers are properly resourced; we will rise up
and meet any and all challenges.
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All For Iraq PSYOP T-shirt
10,000 of the T-shirts shown above which bear the text on the Iraqi Flag, All for Iraq,
were printed as a PSYOP product in Dohuk and transported by truck to frontline military
units in Iraq.
This must have been a very popular vignette because later in the war other PSYOP units
used the same image on various-sized gummed stickers that could be placed on walls or
windows. They appear both with the rose and without the rose inside the heart.
Television Spots
The PSYOP Detachment also prepared a number of television spots. One of the first is
coded 3060 and called An Iraqi child. It starts with images of Iraqi children. The
segment is serious in tone and avoids images of smiling children. The narration is:
We are the beloved children of Iraq. We are Iraqs future. In the fullness of
time responsibil ity will pass from your shoulders to ours. Where once we werecared for, in turn we shall care for you. We are the hope for this great land.
Our voices are not yet ready to sing. So we rely, as good children should, on
our parents to speak on our behalf. You must be our voice on January 30,
2005 for we are not ready to be heard.
The next images are of destruction caused by terrorists in Mosul and Nineweh province
with the narration:
The terrorists in this country claim to be fighting for us. But where is it seen
as so? Wherever they go, they only spread destruction and death. They killour families. They kill our parents. They kill our brothers and sisters. Why do
they kill such innocence? When they offer no hope of a brighter tomorrow.
No promises of a better life. They offer no real alternative for our society.
They will quickly claim righteousness with one breath and pollute their false
righteousness with unjustified assassinations of people who bravely risked all
to try to bring a better promise to Iraq. The terrorists are not building a
brighter future. They only know how to try to destroy our present. Together
we must tell the terrorists enough is enough. Enough to the killing. Enough
to the destruction. Enough to terrorists attempt to stop any and all efforts to
bring Iraq to a brighter glory than Iraq has ever known.
The third segment features images of Iraqi children. Unlike the first segment, the children
are smiling and waving. The Narration is:
In January 30, 2005 we implore you to let your voices be heard. For your sake
and for ours let your voices be heard. Choose a brighter path for your
children. Choose a brighter path for Iraq. Do not let our voices be silent on
such an important day. Speak for us. Choose for us. Help bring a brighter
future into our lives. Let your voices be heard on January 30, 2005.
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Another TV spot was run after the successful Iraqi election. It is coded 3139 and the
narration is:
You came out in mass numbers. Your courage and will to vote was a
detrimental blow to the criminals' plans in Iraq. You took the world by storm
and became a model for overcoming adversity. This was an act that all future
generations can look to with pride. It is proof that nothing is impossible.
Hopes and dreams can and will knock down any barrier to a better life. Your
children thank you. They will have the opportunity to enjoy their lives
without political tyranny. They will now have no limitations on how great
they can become. Their lives will be a victory over oppression, and you the
voter have taken a great step in securing that victory. Take pride in the events
of January 30, 2005. Your children will forever be proud. Tomorrow just
became much brighter
Enemy Propaganda
An Anti-American Poster found by the 10th Mountain Division
The insurgents and terrorists also use posters and leaflets in their fight against the new
Iraqi government and its American allies. When seen, these posters are torn off the walls
or light posts and destroyed. The following two posters were found by members of the U.
S. 10th Mountain Division while on patrol. I add them here so that the reader can see the
quality of the enemys work.
The first poster is quite colorful and emotional and depicts an American soldier with a
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menacing scow holding his weapon against the neck of a kneeling Iraqi. Below them are
barbed wire, a screaming Skelton, and skulls on the ground not unlike the scene from The
Terminator. The English-language text is:
Today is the same as yesterday.
The second insurgent propaganda piece is in the form of a large leaflet-handout and
depicts a rather solemn and angry looking Muqtada al-Sadr and a great deal of text. The
30-year old Shia Mullah is the son of a grand ayatollah but his support is relatively small.His young followers and "Mehdi Army" have battled coalition troops in Baghdad and at
one point took control of the city of Najaf. He has called for a national rebellion against
foreign troops and sent out his militiamen to confront the "invaders" and Iraqi police. His
detractors see him as an inexperienced and impatient radical who wants to dominate
Iraq's most revered Shia institutions by force.
The back of the leaflet depicts five photographs; An American soldier with Muslim
prisoners, a tank behind praying Muslims, a soldier near an Arab woman and her children,
Arab youths throwing rocks at a tank, and a burning military vehicle. It seems clear that
the handout calls for continued resistance.
The Tactical PSYOP Teams in the field are less likely to produce leaflets in the future.
When I asked a member of another TPT about producing leaflets in 2005 he told me:
We don't do leaflets much anymore. It is too time consuming for one TPT.
Much of what we do is face-to-face with the local nationals. Although the
maneuver units get hit all the time, our TPT has been able to avoid the
improvised explosive devices. We actually get out and talk with the people
and that makes all the difference in the world.
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It appears that in the future leaflets are more likely to be designed at Ft. Bragg and
forwarded electronically to the local Psychological Operations Task Force from where
they will be available to tactical units in the field.
An expert on current PSYOP added:
Although this is a big issue currently, it is possible that in the future most
leaflets will be developed and approved in the Continental United States. The
Media Production Center at FT Bragg could produce approved PSYOP
products and electronically transfer them to forward areas for print or AV
production. Increasingly, the Psychological Operations Task Force was
using in-country nationals and trying to preserve aging PSYOP equipment if
possible. As the current PSYOP equipment wears out, I foresee increased
digitization of print capability. But, depending on the size of the in-country
Psychological Operations Task Force, leaflets could sti ll be developed in an
overseas location.
The PSYOP Dissemination Battalion will be the primary source of the
designs and layout and electronic dissemination to subordinate PSYOP units
could be the norm. Electronic transmission does have its drawbacks, mostly
the size of the transmission pipelines (satell ite bandwidth which costs money
and has lots of claimants), T1 availability for internet connectivity and hence
quality, and lets not forget electronic jamming.
In most PSYOP Operation Orders there are usually pre-approved symbols and
themes, I really think tactical units should have a digital library of pre-
approved products that can be produced locally without all the time
consuming coordination. One problem is the approval authority. Forinstance, in Afghanistan rumor has it that the Deputy Undersecretary for
Defense Policy retained tactical leaflet approval authority.
Sometimes we wonder if American incursions into foreign lands serve any real purpose in
regard to the welfare of the people. This article is about the 361st PSYOP Company
stationed in and around TallAfar. The unit met with the people on a regular basis and
attempted to reach them through various means. It appears that they were successful.
Some of the following comments were made by the Mayor of the city, Najim Abdullah
Abid Al-Jubouri, in February of 2006 in regard to the American action. He says in part:
In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful
To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment,
who have changed the city of TallAfar from a ghost town, in which terrorists
spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing with life.
To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists who were
beheading men, women and children in the streets for many months.
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To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us restored
hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new life
to the city after hopelessness darkened our days, and stole our confidence in
our ability to reestablish our city.
Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. The
city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our schools,
governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our streets were
silent , and no one dared to walk them. Our people were barricaded in their
homes out of fear; death awaited them around every corner. Terrorists
occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city. Their savagery reached
such a level that they stuffed the corpses of children with explosives and
tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents attempting to
retrieve the bodies of their young. This was the situation of our city until God
prepared and delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of the 3d Armored
Cavalry Regiment, who liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawis followers
after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists, and forcing the remaining
butchers to flee the city like rats to the surrounding areas, where the braveryof other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and Avgani finally
destroyed them.
I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not
only courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God
Himself to fight the evil of terrorism.
God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated these
brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families.
They have given us something we will never forget. To the families of thosewho have given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you in reverence
and to the souls of your loved ones. Their sacrifice was not in vain. They are
not dead, but alive, and their souls hovering around us every second of every
minute. They will never be forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have
sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every
child, and in every flower growing in this land. Let America, their families,
and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity and life.
Training and BackgroundIn this article I have discussed the current capability and accomplishments of the 361st
PSYOP Company. How did the company become so ready to go to war? Some of the
training techniques are mentioned by Specialist Carlo Narduzzi who was assigned to the
company at Ft. Lawton, located just outside of Seattle, Washington, from 1985 to 1987. He
had just graduated the Department of Defense Information School as a Journalist
(Military Occupational Specialty 71Q). He says:
I was assigned to the print team, where I wrote in styles I hadn't used since
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high school. I considered writing for my country a privilege. Although we
were never deployed, we trained regularly; keeping the presses maintained in
the container express (CONEX), practicing write-ups and layouts all by hand,
setting up print runs, etc. Meanwhile, we had a squad of officers that made
first formation and then spent the rest of the weekend with senior
Noncommissioned officers upstairs in a restricted area.
I came to realize how an outsider to the PSYOP community might perceive us
to
be inactive at times. However, the collective mind of the PSYOP community is
always at work having an effect somewhere in the world. I had no idea what
those officers were doing upstairs, but rumor had it that our unit was directly
supporting active
operations of the 1st Group Special Forces.
We were constantly getting ready to deploy, fine-tuning and practicing on our
equipment, qualifying, and keeping up to date. Although there was no
declared conflict while I was with the 361st, we all knew there were manyoperations in process all around the world. We appeared to be a harmless
group of technicians, press operators, linguists, and journalists just going
about our business, but we all knew that we were playing our role in a much
larger clandestine mission.
Conclusion
As a writer on the subject of military psychological operations I get many letters from
Foreign, Naval, Marine, and Army units, both active and reserve, asking why their
organization has never appeared on the Psywarrior website. I give them all the standard
answer. We dont know where you are or what you are doing. Send us data and we will be
happy to talk about your accomplishments. Our mission is to honestly tell the world what
American psychological operations is all about. We will discuss what went well, and what
did not. We want this site to be a lessons learned for psywarriors. The 361st PSYOP
Company is a unit that understands. I did not expect to hear from them again, but they
surprised me by sending a great deal of information on where they were and what they are
doing. That resulted in this article. I give SFC Shawn McElravy full credit for this story.
Shawn is an AGR soldier proud of the Reserve unit that he supports. He wanted the best
for them and has gone to great lengths to see that their story is told. There are plenty ofother units out there worth mentioning. Lets hear from you.
As always, I encourage readers with comments to write to the author at
sgmbert@hotmail.com.
18 May 2005
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