Reputedly the deer's antlers symbolize both the combat support function of PSYOPS and the antennae associated with a major means of dissemination of psychological warfare messages.

[8] Leading members of the Black and White Association include Colonel Colin Mason (ret'd),[9] Tony Rowlands (former Foreign Office official), Commander Steve Tatham RN,[10] and the UK's former two-star Director of Defence Communications, Stephen Jolly.

[citation needed] In October 2012, the group was awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace for its "valuable contribution to humanitarian activities by establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants of any community at home or overseas".

The unit runs a network of radio stations employing local Afghans as DJs, broadcasting music, poetry, debate programmes and even a Helmandi soap opera, as well as producing graphical posters and leaflets to communicate in an area where literacy rates are only around 20%.

Recent projects include information campaigns to prevent children picking up spent ordnance they find, disseminating information from farming and veterinary workshops using their radio stations, and promoting debate on political issues of the day.The sword was presented to the group's then commanding officer, Commander Steve Tatham RN at a ceremony in London by the Chief of Defence Staff General Sir David Richards.