R 121519Z DEC 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 715/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO//
SUBJ/CHANGING THE TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS TO MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT OPERATIONS//
REF/A/SECDEF MEMO/YMD:20101203//
REF/B/MCO 3120.10/YMD:20080630//
NARR/REF A IS A 2010 MEMO FROM THE SECDEF TO SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. REF B IS THE MARINE CORPS INFORMATION OPERATIONS PROGRAM (MCIOP).//
POC/M.A. SENN/MAJ/MARINE CORPS INFORMATION OPERATIONS CENTER (MCIOC),
PPO/TEL:703-784 5864/EMAIL:MSENN(AT)MCIA.OSIS.GOV//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. REF (A) OUTLINED THE REASON AND PROCESS FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (SECDEF) DIRECTED CHANGE IN TERMINOLOGY FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS (PSYOP) TO MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT OPERATIONS (MISO) THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD).  THE SECDEF NOTED THAT THE TERM "PSYOP" HAS BECOME MISLEADING AND, "ALTHOUGH PSYOP ACTIVITIES RELY ON TRUTHFUL INFORMATION, CREDIBLY CONVEYED, THE TERM PSYOP TENDS TO CONNOTE PROPAGANDA, BRAINWASHING, MANIPULATION, AND DECEIT." FOR THAT REASON, THE DOD WILL NO LONGER USE THE TERM PSYOP TO DESCRIBE ACTIVITIES (IN PEACETIME OR DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS) THAT ARE INTENDED TO INFLUENCE FOREIGN AUDIENCES.  THE REPLACEMENT TERM, MISO, MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE NATURE OF THESE ACTIVITIES.
2. ACCORDING TO REF (A) ALL CURRENT POLICY, LEGAL, ORGANIZATION, PRACTICAL AND DOCTRINAL GUIDANCE PREVIOUSLY APPLIED TO PSYOP WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR MISO, AND ALL CURRENT GUIDANCE DELINEATING THE DISTINCT ROLES OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND PSYOP WILL REMAIN APPLICABLE FOR MISO.  ALL DOD AND SERVICE LEVEL DIRECTIVES AND DOCTRINE WILL BE REVISED TO REFLECT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SECDEF'S MEMORANDUM.
3. THE COMMANDER, U.S. SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND, AS THE JOINT PROPONENT FOR MISO, SUPPORTED BY THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS, THE JOINT STAFF, AND THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY, WILL OVERSEE THE TRANSITION OF THE TERMINOLOGY. 
4. THE MARINE CORPS HAS BEGUN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION BY CHANGING THE TERMINOLOGY IN ALL USMC DOCTRINE TO INCLUDE THE REVISION OF THE CURRENT MCWP 3-40.6 PYSCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS.
5. THE MARINE CORPS INFORMATION OPERATIONS CENTER, AS EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR REF (B) AND ACTING AS THE OCCUPATIONAL FIELD MANAGER FOR THE MISO MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY, IS THE SERVICE LEAD FOR THE TRANSITION.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN TRYON, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR PLANS, POLICIES AND OPERATIONS.//