US psychological operations Soldiers visit Jordanian Directorate of Moral Guidance

Photo By Sgt. Marco Gutierrez | Soldiers of the 360th Psychological Operations Company, 11th Battalion, 2nd Group out of Jersey City, New Jersey visit the social media department of the Jordanian Armed Forces Headquarters Directorate of Moral Guidance, May 15, in Jordan.  

JORDAN

05.15.2017

Story by Sgt. Marco Gutierrez 

U.S. Army Central   

Soldiers of the 360th Psychological Operations Company, 11th Battalion, 2nd Group out of Jersey City, New Jersey visited the Jordanian Directorate of Moral Guidance, May 15, at the Jordanian Armed Forces Headquarters during exercise Eager Lion 2017.

U.S. Army Capt. Chad Treboniak, a U.S. Army Central psychological operations planner, said being invited to the JAF headquarters was an incredible compliment.

“We learned a lot about what they do,” said Treboniak. “We saw them do video, cartoons, songs, Facebook posts, website updates, news articles. They deal with a lot more than we normally do in PSYOPS.”

Unlike the U.S. Army where military functions like public affairs, information operations, and psychological operations are separate, the Jordanian Armed Forces combines these functions under the Director of Moral Guidance.

U.S. Army Sgt. Erik Jones, a psychological operations specialist with the 360th PSYOPS Co., explained that the trip taught him a lot about how the Jordanian Armed Forces do military information support operations.

“The Jordanians focus a lot more on operational information like supporting the king and keeping the population's moral up,” said Jones. “Our focus is more on impacting the behavioral change of a foreign population.”

Although Eager Lion gives U.S. Central Command component commands the opportunity to exercise working as a coalition force, it also allows service members to build relationships with nations they may partner with during future operations. Understanding how each military operates is important to mission success during a crisis.

Spc. Daniel Figueroa, a psychological operation specialist with the 360th PSYOPS Co., said he was surprised at how much the Jordanians do, especially with social media.

“Our focus is very different from that they do,” said Figueroa. “They really want to get information out to their people and keep them informed on what they do.”

The 360th PSYOPS Co. deployed to Jordan for Eager Lion with the U.S. Army Central contingency command post. The CCP tested their ability to conduct combined operations as a Coalition Forces Land Component Command during the exercise.

Eager Lion is an opportunity for USCENTCOM forces and partner nations to pursue opportunities to better address common threats to regional security at the operational level, increase understanding among the forces, and shows a commitment to prevail during complex challenges.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2017
• Date Posted: 06.02.2017 12:14
• Story ID: 234585
• Location: JO
• Hometown: JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, US