“Information” continues to demonstrate the vital and preeminent role it plays in enabling all of ... more “Information” continues to demonstrate the vital and preeminent role it plays in enabling all of our sources of national power. From a military perspective, it must be adequately utilized and capitalized on to succeed in shaping the cognitive/human domain (the ultimate goal of all military activities). Effective communications, which is an essential aspect of understanding and engaging the cognitive domain, is often made up of narratives in foreign languages that are written and spoken by individuals and groups from other cultures. If we are going to understand these narratives and the history, values, beliefs, behavior patterns and context they provide, we must examine communications from the perspective of ‘the other’.
Narrative is an overused term that is losing power due to a lack of understanding. The concept it... more Narrative is an overused term that is losing power due to a lack of understanding. The concept itself has the power to fill vital capability gaps in modern warfare, but only if we all get on the same page in our definitions, if we understand how narrative functions rather than trying to force it to function according to our misunderstanding, and if we incorporate narrative into the broader policies, strategies, and operations of current warfare. Like any other tool of value, narrative success doesn’t happen by accident, but by careful planning, education, funding, integration, and execution. Narrative has the power to transport people into a reality other than their own, it animates and instigates action, and it influences personal agency, but it cannot be divorced from context and culture. Narrative must be created in accordance with three rules, but it is also dynamic, changing as it moves across populations and mediums. It is grounded in power and politics, impacted by chaos, and varies in its degrees of permanence. Narrative cannot be created by one entity on the outside seeking to hurl a strong enough message at the enemy in order to change the outcome of a battle. Instead, narrative is created through human interaction and is built by more than one person or group as they buy into some ideas and push back against others. It follows, then, that narratives cannot be countered but must be constructed at the intersection of needs, wants, and values. Most importantly, narrative analysis cannot be effectively done by someone looking for a target; it must be done by someone willing to set aside assumptions and mission-driven lenses and genuinely attempt to see the world through the eyes of their audience. Then, and only then, can narrative be constructed that brings the full power of its potential to the fight, able to be executed simultaneously with the kinetic lines of effort.
At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the Joint Staff, Deputy Director for... more At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the Joint Staff, Deputy Director for Global Operations (DDGO), jointly with other elements in the JS, Services, and U.S. Government (USG) Agencies, has established a SMA virtual reach-back cell. This initiative, based on the SMA global network of scholars and area experts, is providing USCENTCOM with population based and regional expertise in support of ongoing operations in the Iraq/Syria region.
This is Part 1 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme.
At the request of Joint Staff/J-39, the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program,1 in coordi... more At the request of Joint Staff/J-39, the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program,1 in coordination with United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), participated in a second2 Counter-Da’esh Messaging Simulation that brought together nearly 100 Psychological Operation (PSYOP) operators, USG and international observers, interagency representatives, population experts from Iraq and North Africa, Da’esh experts, universities, and think tanks. This exercise served as both a test bed for messaging techniques and a training opportunity for PSYOP operators.
The simulation was run on a synchronous, virtual, and distributed platform called ICONSnet, designed and managed by the University of Maryland (see Chapter 6: Designing a PSYOP Wargame). ICONSnet was designed to advance participants' understanding of complex problems and strengthen their ability to make decisions, navigate crises, think strategically, and negotiate collaboratively.
Several insights from the simulation suggest means of enhancing PSYOP training and message formation (visualized in the top part of Figure 4).
The hyper connected nature of the global environment brings with it new challenges to U.S. intere... more The hyper connected nature of the global environment brings with it new challenges to U.S. interests around the world. The future will see an increase in global connectivity and associated challenges as populations of developing nations gain access to modern communications technology. Greater connectivity will enable hostile entities to influence a wider audience and to co-opt members of disaffected populations for malign purposes. These and other aspects of the future operating environment will accelerate the speed with which threats can develop. As a result, we need to understand how to effectively influence adversaries in an effort to counter their actions before a substantial commitment of U.S. resources is required. The following volume contains the work of military and academic practitioners committed to understanding and influencing our nation’s adversaries. The ideas put forth by these authors represent efforts to develop scientifically informed approaches that address the operational challenges we face now and into the future. Contributing authors examine tactics that shape conditions and influence behavior through cognitive engagement; a concept that acknowledges the importance of psychological factors in modern conflict. The approaches to cognitive engagement discussed in this volume are ideally suited for Military Information Support Operations. They are also applicable to a wide range of military and interagency activities. The work contained in the following pages focuses on how to operationalize scientifically informed approaches to understanding and influencing our adversaries. It applies science to the challenge of shaping human behavior and represents an important step forward in the study of biological, psychological, and social approaches as they relate to cognitive engagement. By leveraging science, we may act more effectively to counter the intentions of adversaries and facilitate security and stability in regions worldwide.
“Information” continues to demonstrate the vital and preeminent role it plays in enabling all of ... more “Information” continues to demonstrate the vital and preeminent role it plays in enabling all of our sources of national power. From a military perspective, it must be adequately utilized and capitalized on to succeed in shaping the cognitive/human domain (the ultimate goal of all military activities). Effective communications, which is an essential aspect of understanding and engaging the cognitive domain, is often made up of narratives in foreign languages that are written and spoken by individuals and groups from other cultures. If we are going to understand these narratives and the history, values, beliefs, behavior patterns and context they provide, we must examine communications from the perspective of ‘the other’.
Narrative is an overused term that is losing power due to a lack of understanding. The concept it... more Narrative is an overused term that is losing power due to a lack of understanding. The concept itself has the power to fill vital capability gaps in modern warfare, but only if we all get on the same page in our definitions, if we understand how narrative functions rather than trying to force it to function according to our misunderstanding, and if we incorporate narrative into the broader policies, strategies, and operations of current warfare. Like any other tool of value, narrative success doesn’t happen by accident, but by careful planning, education, funding, integration, and execution. Narrative has the power to transport people into a reality other than their own, it animates and instigates action, and it influences personal agency, but it cannot be divorced from context and culture. Narrative must be created in accordance with three rules, but it is also dynamic, changing as it moves across populations and mediums. It is grounded in power and politics, impacted by chaos, and varies in its degrees of permanence. Narrative cannot be created by one entity on the outside seeking to hurl a strong enough message at the enemy in order to change the outcome of a battle. Instead, narrative is created through human interaction and is built by more than one person or group as they buy into some ideas and push back against others. It follows, then, that narratives cannot be countered but must be constructed at the intersection of needs, wants, and values. Most importantly, narrative analysis cannot be effectively done by someone looking for a target; it must be done by someone willing to set aside assumptions and mission-driven lenses and genuinely attempt to see the world through the eyes of their audience. Then, and only then, can narrative be constructed that brings the full power of its potential to the fight, able to be executed simultaneously with the kinetic lines of effort.
At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the Joint Staff, Deputy Director for... more At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the Joint Staff, Deputy Director for Global Operations (DDGO), jointly with other elements in the JS, Services, and U.S. Government (USG) Agencies, has established a SMA virtual reach-back cell. This initiative, based on the SMA global network of scholars and area experts, is providing USCENTCOM with population based and regional expertise in support of ongoing operations in the Iraq/Syria region.
This is Part 1 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme.
At the request of Joint Staff/J-39, the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program,1 in coordi... more At the request of Joint Staff/J-39, the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program,1 in coordination with United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), participated in a second2 Counter-Da’esh Messaging Simulation that brought together nearly 100 Psychological Operation (PSYOP) operators, USG and international observers, interagency representatives, population experts from Iraq and North Africa, Da’esh experts, universities, and think tanks. This exercise served as both a test bed for messaging techniques and a training opportunity for PSYOP operators.
The simulation was run on a synchronous, virtual, and distributed platform called ICONSnet, designed and managed by the University of Maryland (see Chapter 6: Designing a PSYOP Wargame). ICONSnet was designed to advance participants' understanding of complex problems and strengthen their ability to make decisions, navigate crises, think strategically, and negotiate collaboratively.
Several insights from the simulation suggest means of enhancing PSYOP training and message formation (visualized in the top part of Figure 4).
The hyper connected nature of the global environment brings with it new challenges to U.S. intere... more The hyper connected nature of the global environment brings with it new challenges to U.S. interests around the world. The future will see an increase in global connectivity and associated challenges as populations of developing nations gain access to modern communications technology. Greater connectivity will enable hostile entities to influence a wider audience and to co-opt members of disaffected populations for malign purposes. These and other aspects of the future operating environment will accelerate the speed with which threats can develop. As a result, we need to understand how to effectively influence adversaries in an effort to counter their actions before a substantial commitment of U.S. resources is required. The following volume contains the work of military and academic practitioners committed to understanding and influencing our nation’s adversaries. The ideas put forth by these authors represent efforts to develop scientifically informed approaches that address the operational challenges we face now and into the future. Contributing authors examine tactics that shape conditions and influence behavior through cognitive engagement; a concept that acknowledges the importance of psychological factors in modern conflict. The approaches to cognitive engagement discussed in this volume are ideally suited for Military Information Support Operations. They are also applicable to a wide range of military and interagency activities. The work contained in the following pages focuses on how to operationalize scientifically informed approaches to understanding and influencing our adversaries. It applies science to the challenge of shaping human behavior and represents an important step forward in the study of biological, psychological, and social approaches as they relate to cognitive engagement. By leveraging science, we may act more effectively to counter the intentions of adversaries and facilitate security and stability in regions worldwide.
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Papers by A.R. Mallory
This is Part 1 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme.
The complete reports can be accessed at: http://nsiteam.com/sma-reachback-cell/
with United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), participated in a second2 Counter-Da’esh Messaging Simulation that brought together
nearly 100 Psychological Operation (PSYOP) operators, USG and international observers, interagency representatives, population experts from Iraq and North Africa, Da’esh experts, universities, and think tanks. This exercise served as both a test bed for messaging techniques and a training opportunity for PSYOP operators.
The simulation was run on a synchronous, virtual, and distributed platform called ICONSnet, designed and managed by the University of Maryland (see Chapter 6: Designing a PSYOP Wargame). ICONSnet was designed to advance participants' understanding of complex
problems and strengthen their ability to make decisions, navigate crises, think strategically, and negotiate collaboratively.
Several insights from the simulation suggest means of enhancing
PSYOP training and message formation (visualized in the top
part of Figure 4).
The following volume contains the work of military and academic practitioners committed to understanding and influencing our nation’s adversaries. The ideas put forth by these authors represent efforts to develop scientifically informed approaches that address the operational challenges we face now and into the future. Contributing authors examine tactics that shape conditions and influence behavior through cognitive engagement; a concept that acknowledges the importance of psychological factors in modern conflict. The approaches to cognitive engagement discussed in this volume are ideally suited for Military Information Support Operations. They are also applicable to a wide range of military and interagency activities.
The work contained in the following pages focuses on how to operationalize scientifically informed approaches to understanding and influencing our adversaries. It applies science to the challenge of shaping human behavior and represents an important step forward in the study of biological, psychological, and social approaches as they relate to cognitive engagement. By leveraging science, we may act more effectively to counter the intentions of adversaries and facilitate security and stability in regions worldwide.
This is Part 1 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme.
The complete reports can be accessed at: http://nsiteam.com/sma-reachback-cell/
with United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), participated in a second2 Counter-Da’esh Messaging Simulation that brought together
nearly 100 Psychological Operation (PSYOP) operators, USG and international observers, interagency representatives, population experts from Iraq and North Africa, Da’esh experts, universities, and think tanks. This exercise served as both a test bed for messaging techniques and a training opportunity for PSYOP operators.
The simulation was run on a synchronous, virtual, and distributed platform called ICONSnet, designed and managed by the University of Maryland (see Chapter 6: Designing a PSYOP Wargame). ICONSnet was designed to advance participants' understanding of complex
problems and strengthen their ability to make decisions, navigate crises, think strategically, and negotiate collaboratively.
Several insights from the simulation suggest means of enhancing
PSYOP training and message formation (visualized in the top
part of Figure 4).
The following volume contains the work of military and academic practitioners committed to understanding and influencing our nation’s adversaries. The ideas put forth by these authors represent efforts to develop scientifically informed approaches that address the operational challenges we face now and into the future. Contributing authors examine tactics that shape conditions and influence behavior through cognitive engagement; a concept that acknowledges the importance of psychological factors in modern conflict. The approaches to cognitive engagement discussed in this volume are ideally suited for Military Information Support Operations. They are also applicable to a wide range of military and interagency activities.
The work contained in the following pages focuses on how to operationalize scientifically informed approaches to understanding and influencing our adversaries. It applies science to the challenge of shaping human behavior and represents an important step forward in the study of biological, psychological, and social approaches as they relate to cognitive engagement. By leveraging science, we may act more effectively to counter the intentions of adversaries and facilitate security and stability in regions worldwide.