Psychological Operations

PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS

PSYOP Soldiers are assessed and selected for their intellect, critical and analytical thinking skills, adaptability and mental resilience. They analyze operational environments, physical targets and target audiences; advise on psychological effects; plan influence options; develop actions and messages targeting psychological vulnerabilities; deliver optimally timed actions and messages; and assess influence effectiveness. Operating in small, autonomous teams, PSYOP units conduct military information support operations; Department of Defense deception activities; build partner influence capacity; and, when called upon by the President, provide civil authority information support.

BENEFITS OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS CAREER

*Click each benefit to learn more

Quality Family Time
PSYOP Soldiers experience 1:2 Dwell Time
Station Longevity
PSYOP Soldiers PCS less than the average military member, with the majority of ARSOF PSYOP assignments located on Fort Liberty, NC.
World Class Training Facilities and Coaches
The United States Army Special Operations Command employs THOR3 (Tactical Human Optimization Rapid Rehabilitation and Reconditioning) strength coaches and equip our unit facilities with top-of-the-line training and recovery equipment. The result: our PSYOP Soldiers have access to the same performance optimizing tools that college and professional athletes utilize for both body and mind.
Unique Real World Missions
The PSYOP mission set takes its teams into hostile, denied and politically sensitive environments. PSYOP teams provide strategic, operational, and tactical options to the theater combatant commanders, joint force commanders, or ambassadors that employ them. The array of employment opportunities, combined with the tactical techniques and equipment utilized, define a unit and mission unlike any other on the battlefield.
Advanced Training Opportunities
Basic Airborne and Jumpmaster Courses
SERE Level C (High Risk) Course
Advanced influence skills and techniques
Special Operations Military Deception Planner’s Course
MISO Program Design and Assessment Course
Special Warfare Network Development Course
Special Warfare Operational Design Course
Live Environment Training (Language Immersion)
Advanced Civilian Education Programs
Training with Industry (TWI) Program
+ Many More
Accelerated Promotions
PSYOP NCOs out-pace their peers in the U.S. Army. Becoming PSYOP qualified fast-tracks your career. At the completion of training, PSYOP students in the rank of PVT – SPC / CPL are promoted to SGT.
Special Duty Pay
Current and qualified ARSOF PSYOP Soldiers receive monthly special duty pays such as: Special Duty Assignment pay (SDAP) ($150-225), language pay ($100-1000), Static Line Parachute ($150), and others.
Army Reserve Opportunities
Whether already in the Army Reserve or a Soldier looking to transition from active duty or the Army National Guard, the United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), provides additional opportunities to serve as a PSYOP Soldier
If interested USACAPOC PSYOP recruiting can be reached by email at: usarmy.usarc.usacapol.list.po-recruiting@army.mil

Meet PO Prerequisites

Initial Entry Enlisted Requirements
- No more than 10 years combined active federal service (if prior service)
- GT score of 105 or above (non-waiverable)
- Pass the Physical Fitness Assessment (contact a recruiter for current requirements)
- DLAB Score of 75 or higher
- Willing to volunteer for airborne trainingFive year minimum enlistment contract
- Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to possess a SECRET security clearance
- Must be eligible to obtain and possess a TOP SECRET with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance within 24 months of completing training
- Must meet all qualifications for initial entry in 31B/Military Police (MP One Station Unit Training serves as the Basic and Advanced Individual Training path for PSYOP)
In-Service Enlisted Requirements
- Must be in the rank of Private First Class (PFC) to Sergeant (SGT) non-promotable
- Promotable Sergeants and Staff Sergeants with less than 10-years Time In Service (TIS) and Staff Sergeants with less than 6-months Time in Grade (TIG) can request a waiver to attend POAS
- Must have a minimum of 18 months TIS (waiverable)
- Must have no more than 10 years combined active federal service
- Must have a GT score of 105 or above (waiverable)
- Capable of running three to six miles at a nine-minute per mile pace
- Capable of completing a 12-18 mile road march with a 35-pound rucksack
- Must have a DLAB Score of 75 or higher (waiverable)
- Must be Airborne qualified or willing to volunteer for Airborne training
- Must have 36 months of service remaining upon the completion of training
- Must have no UCMJ actions within 24 months of attending PSYOP Assessment and Selection (waiverable)
- Must possess or be eligible for a Secret Security Clearance to attend training
- Must be eligible to obtain and possess a TOP SECRET with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance within 24 months of completing training
- Pass the Physical Fitness Assessment (contact a recruiter for current requirements)
Officer Requirements
- Be a 1LT in a targeted year group (usually in 3rd year of service)
- Possess a baccalaureate degree
- Airborne qualified or willing to volunteer for Airborne training
- Eligible for a TOP SECRET with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance
- 36 month ADSO incurred upon the completion of training
- Must have a DLAB Score of 75 or higher (waiverable)
Required Documents
The following documents are required to be returned to your recruiter. For questions or clarification, please contact your recruiter. If you have not yet spoken to a recruiter, click here to start the conversation. Packet Documents can be downloaded here.
- ARSOF Volunteer Statement
- Soldier Record Brief (SRB)
- DLAB Score or DA 330 Language Proficiency current within 12 months of application if not on SRB
- PFA Card
- SFAS or SERE Physical with EKG
- Waiver Documents (where required)
Prepare to Train
- Train up plan: click here
- Packing list: click here

Attend PO Qualification Course

Assessment & Selection
- Candidates are assessed for trainability and suitability during individual physical fitness and confidence events, intelligence and psychological assessments, and individual and team problem solving task

* duration: 10 days
Phase I: Orientation Course

- Reception and Integration
- ARSOF and PSYOP Overviews
- Soldier & Family Integration

*duration: 2 weeks
Phase II: MOS Training
- Fundamentals of influence theory and tasks
- PSYOP mission planning, execution, and assessment
- Final testing and validation on all PSYOP and influence tasks
- Culmination Exercise in larger scale combat environment

* duration: 10 weeks
Phase III: Special Warfare Course
- Roles & functions of SOF
- PSYOP in support of SOF missions
- Fundamentals of Unconventional warfare
- Narratives & Resistance
- Social movements
- Targeting Process
- Social Network Analysis
- Theories of International Relations
- Interagency / Inter-Governmental cooperation
- Partner Force Assessments
- Security Force Assistance
- Culmination Exercise in an unconventional warfare environment

*duration: 10 weeks
Phase IV: Language Training
- Language training in one of our 14 core languages
- Cultural studies in target language regions or origin
- Regional studies

* duration: 19-24 weeks

Join a PSYOP Detachment

37A: Detachment Commander:
Influence and Human domain expert; advises, leads planning and operations at the tactical, operational and strategic levels in Military Information Support Operations (MISO), DoD deception activities and Building partner force influence capacity; engages with Joint, Interagency and multinational, and partner leadership and forces.
37F: Detachment NCOIC
The Detachment NCOIC is the senior enlisted member of the detachment and principle advisor to the detachment commander. Regional and Cultural expert; Supervises PSYOP activities, leads PSYOP and specialized individual and collective training.

**E8 Position**
37F: SR PSYOP Sergeant (OPS):
Supports the targeting process. Assists the detachment leadership with planning, coordinating and management of PSYOP activities.

**E7 Position**
37F: SR PSYOP Sergeant (Team Leader)
Leads a PSYOP Team, supervises the planning, analysis, development, design, dissemination / execution and evaluation of PSYOP activities

**E7 Position**
37F: PSYOP Sergeant
Conducts analysis, develops and disseminates targeted messaging and content; conducts analysis on adversary propaganda, misinformation and disinformation.

**E5/E6 Position**