Bullets or Words

The basic theory behind the use of psychologjcal warfare as a military weapon is simple - kill the enemy's will to fight without destroying his body. Bullets and bombs will not change the enemy's mind. It is true, he can be physically beaten and forced to surrender, but you have not captured his mind and PEACE becomes extremely difficult.

Words in psychological warfare, on the other hand, are aimed at the enemy's mind - which controls his body. Therefore, if you are able to capture his mind - you capture his body as well and the establishment of PEACE becomes easier.

That psychological warfare is not a new-fangled idea is illustrated on these pages by a number of historical instances of its use in ancient as well as in modern times and how efforts were made to exploit the psychological potentials of military weapons and combat operations.

Long before 225 B.C. , the Chinese developed gunpowder which they used in firecrackers to create more fear than actual damage. Hannibal created terror in the ranks of stalwart Roman soldiers when he appeared at the gates of ancient Rome with troop-carrying elephants. Everyone is familiar with the ancient legend of how the Greeks used a wooden horse, better known now as the "Trojan Horse," to infiltrate and capture the impregnable city of Troy. The ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Romans attached scythes and swords to their war chariots to scare the enemy's foot soldiers. The Greeks made use of burning oil in their Naval operations. The psychological effect of this weapon terrorized the crew of enemy ships.

The full recognition of psychological warfare as a military weapon represents a great advancement in military science. Both during World War II and the present Korean conflict, it was discovered that every military operation can be assisted by psychological warfare, which is of extreme importance when used prior to and in conjunction with our other weapons and combat operations.

In order to get the best results from destructive actions such as bombing, strafing, and artillery barrages, it is necessary to give the fullest possible consideration to their psychological impact on the enemy and develop and exploit every opportunity to our benefit.

In fashioning new psychological weapons. it is necessary to base them on sound scientific principles and an understanding of psychology. cultural anthropology, sociology and other allied fields of knowledge.

Since the beginning of the current conflict in Korea, from June 1950 to mid-September 1951, more than 600,000,000 leaflets were showered upon communist forces and communist-held territory. Psychological warfare is being used with telling effect, an effectiveness well demonstrated by the fact that an actual count of prisoners of war taken by the United Nations forces shows that approximately one-third of them surrendered to this weapon. When it is considered the enemy suffered that many casualties - reducing the number of enemy troops that fire guns at our troops - and reducing that number without having to go out and kill or capture these enemy soldiers on the battlefield, it becomes obvious why psychological warfare has won the wholehearted support of everyone in the field - from our top commanders to the soldiers on the front lines who must accept the surrender of the enemy troops.

Your United States Air Force is working very closely with the other Services in the development of new techniques, equipment and media to make our military psychological warfare efforts more effective.

United States Air Forces assigned responsibility in our military, psychological warfare program is sizeable and requires a considerable number of qualified military personnel in this specialized field for assignment to Air Force psychological warfare wings, major commands, and overseas posts.

Qualified civilian personnel can now, in accordance with the. provisions of Air Force Manual 36-5A, apply for direct tommissions in the Air Force Reserve as Psychological Warfare or as Foreign Language Propaganda Officers. Applications may be obtained from the numhered Air Force in the area in which you reside.