Cognitive Warfare

“The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same,” cited from the French author Marie-Henri Beyle.

Civil Military Operations were created to engage the enemy and the community without using traditional combat operations. Civil Military Operations are planned actions carried out alone or in cooperation with civilian organizations to increase public support for the AFP, reduce the enemy's will to fight, and persuade threat groups to give up their armed resistance in support of the AFP mission.

The CMO’s history dates back to the time of Lapu-Lapu as it was used to counter Spanish influence on the Philippine islands. CMO was prominent during the Marcos Sr. era as it countered leftist propaganda. It is essential to learn the history of CMO to grasp its total operational value further and understand how it truly works and its ideas.

The CMO can be described using a triangle. The CMO triangle is further divided into three more equilateral triangles, representing the three pillars of CMO; Information Support Affairs, Civil Affairs, and Public Affairs. These three pillars have different target audiences, each complementing the other. Each post also has its components that relate to the primary nature of the activities of the pillars. The CMO inverted triangle represents the pillar's interplay in the middle of the triangle.

To help complete the overall military mission, CMO must be integrated with other operational aspects. The goals of the CMO are to win over the public and reduce the resistance of adversaries. CMO can weaken the opposition while the force is launching an assault. The military will maintain the initiative with an ongoing PsyOps offensive and robust counterpropaganda against the adversary. If all CMO components are utilized, CMO can significantly impact a military operation. CMO seeks to win the public's support for the armed forces. According to the AFP, the person with the people’s backing can win the fight. The usage of CMO is necessary to win over as many individuals and groups as possible. This is a call to action for the public to stop aiding the enemy.

Therefore, CMO is a necessity for the organization to develop purposeful activities that address the communities’ challenges and struggles. The military can persuade the masses that cooperation and collaboration with the government will generate a harmonious relationship. Through CMO, peace can be achieved through relentless effort that promotes the organization and gains community support.

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Reference:

“Quote of the Week.” Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen, 7 July 2019, energyindemand.com/quote-of-the-week/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2023.