Winning the Soft War: The Employment of Tactical PSYOP Teams in Combat Operations

The employment of tactical PSYOP teams (TPT) directly affects the outcome of operations. In the past 10 years, the U.S. Army failed to fully employ TPTs in operations a significant percentage of the time. The operational cost of not employing low-density military specialties is significant. The quality of the command relationship was the determining factor in how effectively commanders employed TPTs. Education and training played a secondary role in the effective employment of TPTs; but the value of relevant training and education is undeniable. This paper examines the employment of TPTs in operations over the last ten years. It applies information from subject matter experts analyzing the impact of doctrine, training and education, and command relationships on the employment of TPTs. The paper concludes with key concepts that promote proper employment of TPTs and recommendations for future research.