353rd Psychological Operations Battalion

Activation & Historical Lineage

The 353rd Psychological Operations Battalion (POB) holds a distinguished place in the history of U.S. Army Information Warfare. During the Cold War, the need for specialized reserve forces capable of conducting large-scale psychological and information operations led to the unit's formation.

• Initial Activation: The battalion was officially created in the U.S. Army Reserve in November 1965. It was subsequently activated at The Presidio of San Francisco on December 1, 1965.
• Reorganization: As the Cold War drew to a close and the U.S. military structure evolved, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as a Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) in 1990. During this era, elements of the unit actively supported Operation Just Cause in Panama.
• Relocation & Redesignation: In 1994, the unit was relocated to Moffett Field in California. By 1996, the Army retired the 353rd designation for this specific battalion, officially renaming it the HHC, 12th Psychological Operations Battalion, which continues its legacy today.

Core Mission & Warfare Philosophy

Both as the 353rd and in its current incarnation as the 12th POB, the unit’s mission is encapsulated by its official motto: "Mutatio Animi," which is Latin for "Attitude Change". The unit specializes in deploying information, media, and interpersonal communications to influence the emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals.

The philosophy of the battalion is heavily visually represented in its Distinctive Unit Insignia (unit crest):

• The Lamp of Knowledge: Represents the use of information to change the perception and behavior of both friendly and enemy forces.
• The Barbed Arrows: Placed at the cardinal points of a compass, symbolizing the global scope of the unit's psychological warfare capabilities.
• The Three Discs (White, Gray, Black): These colors directly represent the three types of propaganda utilized in information warfare: White (truths and official acknowledgments), Gray (half-truths and unattributed information), and Black (untruths or covert PSYOP).

Modern Evolution: The 12th POB

Operating today under the 7th Psychological Operations Group, the battalion carries forward the lineage of the 353rd. Relocated to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington State, the command remains a vital U.S. Army Reserve asset, having heavily supported the Global War on Terror, including extensive deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa.