The 8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) or 8th POG(A) is one of the United States Army's active Psychological Operations units alongside the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne). The unit was activated August 26, 2011. The activation ceremony was held on Meadows Field at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command headquarters. Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, Jr., served as a host. The 8th Group assumed responsibility for the 1st, 5th and 9th Psychological Operations battalions.[3] The unit is based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina and is a part of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne).
8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)[1] | |
---|---|
Active | August 26, 2011 – present |
Country | United States of America |
Branch | United States Army |
Role | Psychological operations |
Size | 1,070 |
Part of | 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) |
Garrison/HQ | Fort Liberty, North Carolina |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Eric B. Johnson |
Insignia | |
Unit beret flash | |
1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) shoulder sleeve insignia, worn by all subordinate units[2] | |
Former combat service identification badge |
As of June 2015, both the 4th POG(A) and the new 8th POG(A) are operational. However, the group's former parent unit (originally envisioned as a Brigadier General-level command) known as Military Information Support Operations Command (MISOC) (Airborne) and created at the same time as 8th MISG, in 2011, enjoyed only a very brief operational existence before being dissolved in 2014. The MISOC(A) exists now only as a historical footnote. The 4th POG(A) and 8th POG(A) were subsequently reassigned under the newly established 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (SFC(A)), under U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).[4]
The unit has not participated in any military campaigns yet.
8th POG(A) currently consists of a headquarters company and two psychological operations battalions (or POBs):
3rd POB(A) – Dissemination
The 3rd POB(A) is organized to provide the PSYOP Force and other SOF units with dissemination capabilities. The battalion supports operations around the globe with specialized expeditionary teams to execute print, A/V, and broadcast activities. The unit also houses the Information Warfare Center and other capabilities designed to support SOF.[5]
9th POB(A) – Tactical
This is the Tactical PSYOP element and supports ground commanders in the planning and production of MISO programs.