Major Gittipong "Eddie" Paruchabutr deployed with his military information support team (MIST) from the 5th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) in May 2004 to support Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines. Able to reach back to the United States to the group's Strategic Studies Detachment, Major Paruchabutr's team helped shape public perceptions about the combined Philippine-American execution of tactical and operational aspects of the Global War on Terrorism. Military information support team methods employed in the Philippines by US forces supported primary Philippine government requirements, often leading with the non-kinetic means of public diplomacy and information, military civic action, and interagency missions with law enforcement. Attached to the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, ongoing operations meant working with the Armed Forces of Philippines, US embassy personnel, as well as US military elements. Reinforcing host nation legitimacy is a critical task, part of every mission pursuing al-Qaeda in the Philippines. Major Paruchabutr's MIST element helped create a consistent, positive public image of the elements of soft power resident in health care outreach and development that are part of military civic action. Constant command and staff education and awareness development was also part of MAJ Paruchabutr's team's mission. The PSYOP soldiers quickly had to communicate to host nation and US elements and parent unit capabilities. The major's team made similar efforts to educate their customers on the evolving requirements of information operations in real time. All of these "growing pains" found their way into after-action reviews for incorporation into the battalion's knowledge base. Efforts to systemize organizational and institutional learning have taken on greater importance in the psychological operations career fields as it experiences expansion.

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