Operation Assured Voice
Operation Assured Voice - Africa

Operation Assured Voice was an overarching information operations program designed to shape all activities, first in the US European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility, and then in the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) area of responsibility, that had an impact on the information environment. The objectives were to counter the ideology, propaganda, and recruitment efforts of violent extremist organizations. Operation Assured Voice sought to harness all available knowledge, expertise, and resources to enable the conduct of: Synchronized, coordinated actions and activities to counter violent extremist organization influence; support to US public diplomacy efforts; and measurement of the operation's overall effectiveness to better direct future activities. Operations were conducted in cooperation with private industry and other US government agencies, such as the Department of State.

What became known as "voice" operations began in EUCOM in the period following the attacks on 11 September 2001 and the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism. EUCOM reorganized its information activities around a concept called Operation Assured Voice, which had a combined information operation and public affairs cell reporting to the Chief of Staff. Websites aimed at the Balkans and North Africa (Operation Assured Voice - Africa) were established to carry content in the appropriate languages to support the commander's mission to shape the environment in his area of responsibility.

Operation Assured Voice was widely considered a success in its establishment of a specific web site focused on the Maghreb states in 2004 (www.magharebia.com) and publishing a newspaper in the Balkans (Southeast European Times), which was also web-based. As of 2006, the Southeast European Times was reported to average over 5 million hits a month from within the target area, with average visits exceeding 20 minutes. Magharebia.com was said as of 2006 to be realizing similar results. These efforts were funded in the Command's future years defense plans and thus created in these organizations a culture and a sense of community and continuity that transcends the rotation of individual commanders or specialized personnel.

The EUCOM approach subsequently became a model for other combatant commands to consider. By 2009, similar operations were being established in the AFRICOM and US Pacific Command areas of responsibility. In 2009, control of Operation Assured Voice - Africa was transferred completely to AFRICOM, where it was renamed Operation Objective Voice.