Turkiye | Exercise Gladio

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Exercise Gladio | Psychological Operations (PsyOPS)
Readiness Training Exercise
Classification: TOP SECRET
Security Level: Maximum Restricted
Location: Somewhere in Malatya, Turkiye
Approved by: Ministry of National Defence, Turkiye
Date: March, 2003

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1. Background:

Exercise Gladio is a high-level psychological warfare training exercise conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces. This exercise is designed to enhance the skills and capabilities of military personnel in the field of psychological operations (PSYOP). It involves a variety of units and personnel from different branches of the Turkish Armed Forces working together to refine their psychological warfare tactics.

2. Objective:

Exercise Gladio, conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces, aims to enhance the skills and capabilities of military personnel in psychological operations (PSYOP). The objectives include fostering inter-service cooperation, improving counter-PSYOP capabilities, and ensuring information dominance. Ethical awareness is instilled, and adaptability in the ever-evolving information warfare landscape is encouraged. This exercise prepares personnel for real-world scenarios, with a strong emphasis on evaluation and feedback to refine tactics and strategies. Overall, Exercise Gladio equips the Turkish Armed Forces to effectively utilize and defend against psychological warfare, contributing to national security and strategic interests in the digital age.

3. Topics of PsyOPS:

Propaganda	White, Black, & Grey Propaganda
Information Warfare	Offensive, Defensive, & Exploitive
Demoralization	Deception, Disinformation, Distributing Pamphlets, Direct Transmissions
False Flag	Blaming Opponents
Irregular Warfare (IW)	Will be teaching the basics of IW

4. Units Involved: (A limited number of participants from Each Branch will participate in this Exercise)

Unit	Branch	Personnel
9th Tactical Infantry Division	Turkish Land Forces	400
4th Commando Regiment	Turkish Land Forces	500
Alpha Amphibious Commando Regiment	Turkish Naval Forces	100
Delta Underwater Offence (SAT) Special Forces Group	Turkish Naval Forces	150

5. Pre-Exercise Scenario:

Exercise Gladio will be conducted in Malatya HQ to simulate real-world scenarios. Units from different branches will work together to achieve the exercise objectives. They will practice creating and disseminating propaganda materials, analyze the impact of psychological operations on target audiences, and counter enemy disinformation.

Throughout the exercise, evaluators will assess the performance of the participating units and provide feedback for improvement. The exercise will involve both classroom training and field exercises that will challenge the participants' ability to adapt and innovate in the evolving landscape of information warfare.

Exercise Gladio will serve as a testament to the Turkish Armed Forces' commitment to staying at the forefront of psychological warfare capabilities. It will ensure that they are well-prepared to protect Turkish national interests and security in the dynamic and complex information environment of the 21st century.

 

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Phase I- Propaganda Training
Security Level: Maximum Restricted
Classification: TOP SECRET
Location: Malatya HQ, Turkiye
Time: 0800 HRS

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"Psychological operations are like a symphony of words and actions, designed to conduct a silent, invisible orchestra of influence."​

1,150 Personnel from the Turkish Land Forces and Turkish Naval Forces joined Malatya HQ for PsyOPS training exercises, respectively. At 0800 HRS, Exercise Gladio commenced by the Turkish Land Forces Commanding Authority. At first, these personnel from two (2) different armed forces branch starts to learn Phase 1 of Propaganda Training. At the end of Phase I training, selected students would have to engage in Hands-on simulated exercise.

As the Exercise Gladio progresses, Turkish Armed Forces' psychological operations (PSYOP) instructors begin teaching the art of propaganda, a fundamental element of psychological warfare. Propaganda involves the systematic dissemination of information, often biased or misleading, to influence public opinion, beliefs, and attitudes. It is a crucial component of psychological warfare used to shape narratives, control perceptions, and advance strategic objectives.

The PSYOP instructors, who are experts in the field, conduct specialized classes on various aspects of propaganda. The training includes:

1. Message Creation: Instructors guide trainees in crafting persuasive and emotionally resonant messages that align with the strategic objectives. This involves tailoring propaganda content for different target audiences.
2. Media Manipulation: Trainees learn how to manipulate various forms of media, such as print, digital, and visual, to effectively convey propaganda messages. They practice utilizing graphics, images, and videos to support their narratives.
3. Psychological Impact: Instructors emphasize the psychological techniques behind successful propaganda campaigns. This includes creating a sense of urgency, fostering emotional connections, and exploiting cognitive biases.
4. Narrative Control: Trainees are taught how to establish and maintain control over the narrative, ensuring that the desired message prevails. This involves countering adversary narratives effectively.
5. Ethical Considerations: Ethical guidelines are discussed, emphasizing the responsible use of propaganda. Trainees are made aware of the ethical boundaries and legal limitations of psychological warfare.

After each practical exercise and each lesson, debriefing sessions will be held to evaluate the effectiveness of the propaganda campaigns. Instructors provide constructive feedback to trainees on areas of improvement and offer guidance on refining their techniques.

The addition of propaganda training to Exercise Gladio will equip military personnel with a comprehensive skill set to effectively utilize the power of information to shape perceptions, influence public opinion, and achieve strategic goals. This ensures that the Turkish Armed Forces are well-prepared to operate in the complex information environment of the 21st century and protect Turkish national interests effectively.

 

[EnigmaMage]

Phase I- Propaganda Training
Security Level: Maximum Restricted
Classification: TOP SECRET
Location: Malatya HQ, Turkiye
Time: 0950 HRS - 1500 HRS

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During the Hands-on exercise in Exercise Gladio, 1,150 personnel from the Turkish Land Forces and Naval Forces had the opportunity to apply propaganda techniques in a practical setting. The exercise was designed to allow participants to implement what they had learned during the propaganda training phase. Here is a detailed description of how these personnel applied propaganda techniques:

1. Target Audience Identification: Before creating propaganda materials, participants began by identifying their target audience. They had to analyze the demographic, psychographic, and cultural characteristics of the audience they intended to influence. This step involved studying the audience's beliefs, values, and preferences.

2. Message Crafting: After understanding the target audience, the personnel crafted persuasive messages that were tailored to the specific characteristics of that audience. These messages were designed to emotionally resonate with the audience and align with the exercise's strategic objectives. The training emphasized the importance of using language, visuals, and narratives that would be appealing and convincing to the chosen audience.

3. Media Selection: Participants were encouraged to think about the most effective media channels for conveying their propaganda messages. They could choose from various forms of media, including print materials, digital content, or audiovisual presentations. The choice of media depended on the characteristics of the target audience and the message being delivered.

4. Graphic and Visual Design: For those who selected visual media, participants received training in graphic and visual design principles. They learned to create visually appealing content that would enhance the emotional impact of their propaganda materials. This could involve using persuasive imagery, color schemes, and layout techniques.

5. Psychological Techniques: The personnel applied psychological techniques learned during training to make their propaganda more effective. These techniques included creating a sense of urgency, fostering emotional connections, exploiting cognitive biases, and using storytelling to engage the audience.

6. Ethical Considerations: Throughout the exercise, ethical guidelines were emphasized. Participants were expected to create propaganda that adhered to international laws and ethical standards. They were reminded to avoid false or misleading information that could cause harm or undermine credibility.

7. Evaluation and Feedback: After creating their propaganda materials, the participants presented their work to instructors and evaluators. This presentation allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of their propaganda campaigns. Instructors provided feedback on message clarity, emotional impact, and the alignment of propaganda materials with the intended objectives.

8. Iteration and Refinement: Following the initial evaluation, participants were encouraged to iterate and refine their propaganda materials based on the feedback received. This iterative process allowed them to improve their techniques and create more compelling and persuasive content.

This Hands-on exercise provided a practical and dynamic learning environment for personnel to gain hands-on experience in the art of propaganda. It helped them understand the nuances of influencing public opinion and the importance of ethical considerations in psychological warfare. Overall, the exercise ensured that participants were well-prepared to employ propaganda effectively in real-world situations, advancing the Turkish Armed Forces' psychological warfare capabilities. At the end of each hands-on exercise, all students head to the cafeteria for lunch to stay energetic.

 

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Phase I- Propaganda Training - Black
Security Level: Maximum Restricted
Classification: TOP SECRET
Location: Malatya HQ, Turkiye
Time: 0400 HRS - 0830 HRS

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"The power of persuasion in psychological operations lies in the art of influencing beliefs without the use of force."

After the completion of the Basic Propaganda training, these students advanced to the next level by delving into Black Propaganda techniques. Black Propaganda is a more covert and deceptive form of psychological warfare, where the true source of the information is concealed, and the message is designed to appear as if it comes from a different, often hostile, entity. The students applied this advanced knowledge in the next phase of their training. Here's a description of how they applied Black Propaganda techniques:

1. Covert Message Creation: In Black Propaganda, the students learned to create messages designed to mislead and deceive. They practiced crafting messages that appeared to come from a different source or ideology, even one opposing their own while aligning with their strategic objectives.

2. False Attribution: The students were taught to effectively attribute the information to a fabricated or deceptive entity, making it difficult for the audience to trace the message back to its actual source. This element of deception was a central aspect of Black Propaganda.

3. Concealing Identities: Black Propaganda involved concealing the true identities of the propagandists. The students practiced techniques for remaining anonymous while disseminating deceptive information.

4. Exploiting Vulnerabilities: Black Propaganda relies on identifying the vulnerabilities, fears, or biases of the target audience. Students learned how to exploit these weaknesses to make the deceptive information more convincing.

5. Psychological Manipulation: Building on their prior psychological techniques training, the students focused on the psychological manipulation of the target audience, making the message emotionally persuasive and exploiting cognitive biases.

6. Ethical Considerations: Even in the realm of Black Propaganda, ethical considerations remained a part of the training. Students were reminded of the importance of adhering to international laws and ethical standards, even when using deceptive techniques.

7. Evaluation and Feedback: After the application of Black Propaganda techniques, the students presented their work to instructors and evaluators. Instructors assessed the effectiveness of the deceptive campaigns and provided feedback on the message's plausibility and the success of the attribution deception.

8. Continual Improvement: Participants were encouraged to continuously refine their Black Propaganda techniques based on the feedback received. The iterative process allowed them to become more proficient in the art of deception while maintaining their strategic objectives.

This phase of their training in Black Propaganda provided the students with a deeper understanding of covert psychological warfare, where deception and concealment play central roles. It prepared them to apply these advanced techniques in highly sensitive and complex situations where the source of information is intentionally obscured, and the psychological impact is carefully engineered.

 

[EnigmaMage]

Phase I- Propaganda Training - Black
Security Level: Maximum Restricted
Classification: TOP SECRET
Location: Malatya HQ, Turkiye
Time: 1000 HRS - 1300 HRS

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During the simulated psychological operations (psyops) exercise, the 1,150 students from the Ottoman Land and Naval Forces applied their advanced Black Propaganda knowledge in a controlled and dynamic environment. The exercise was designed to test their ability to employ covert and deceptive psychological warfare tactics while concealing their true identities and intentions. Here's a detailed description of what these students did during the exercise and how they applied their knowledge:

1. Scenario Analysis: The exercise began with students receiving a detailed scenario, mirroring real-world situations where psychological operations are critical. They analyzed the scenario, identifying key factors, the target audience, and the desired strategic objectives.

2. Target Audience Profiling: Students conducted an in-depth analysis of the target audience. They considered demographic, psychographic, and cultural characteristics, as well as the audience's beliefs, values, and preferences. Understanding the audience was a crucial starting point.

3. Message Creation: Drawing from their Black Propaganda training, students crafted messages that were designed to mislead and deceive while appearing to originate from a different source or ideology. These messages aligned with their strategic objectives, and they were created to emotionally resonate with the audience.

4. False Attribution: The students applied their knowledge of false attribution to effectively attribute the information to fabricated or deceptive entities. This deception was central to their messages, making it challenging for the audience to trace the message back to its true source.

5. Concealing Identities: To maintain the covert nature of the exercise, students practiced concealing their true identities. They used techniques for remaining anonymous and not revealing their affiliations, ensuring that the audience could not easily identify them.

6. Exploiting Vulnerabilities: With a deep understanding of the target audience's vulnerabilities, fears, and biases, students tailored their deceptive messages to exploit these weaknesses. This personalized approach aimed to maximize the impact of their propaganda.

7. Psychological Manipulation: Building on their prior psychological manipulation training, students employed psychological techniques to engage the audience emotionally and exploit cognitive biases. These tactics made their deceptive messages more persuasive.

8. Ethical Considerations: Throughout the exercise, ethical considerations were emphasized. Students were reminded to maintain a level of responsibility and adhere to international laws and ethical standards, even when employing deceptive techniques.

9. Message Dissemination: The students selected the most effective channels for disseminating their Black Propaganda messages, taking into account the characteristics and preferences of the target audience. This could involve various media, including digital content, printed materials, or even face-to-face interactions.

10. Interaction and Response Handling: Students engaged with the simulated target audience and handled responses, questions, and skepticism. This phase assessed their ability to maintain the credibility of their deceptive messages while responding to inquiries.

After the exercise, the students presented their Black Propaganda campaigns to instructors and evaluators. These experts assessed the effectiveness of their deceptive tactics, providing feedback on message plausibility, attribution deception, and emotional resonance. Participants were encouraged to use the feedback and evaluations as a basis for refining their Black Propaganda techniques. This iterative process aimed to make them more proficient in the art of deception while maintaining their strategic objectives. These students received an A+ and will be proceeding into Grey Propaganda techniques.

The simulated psyops exercise allowed these students to practice their Black Propaganda skills in a realistic setting, bridging the gap between theory and practical application. This training ensured that they were well-prepared to employ covert and deceptive psychological warfare tactics effectively in real-world scenarios, securing the strategic interests of the Ottoman Land and Naval Forces.