Psychological Operations (2024)

TURN WORDS

INTO ACTION.

TURN WORDS

INTO ACTION.

Become a strategic thinker and skilled communicator.

PSYOP Soldiers support Army missions by using intelligence, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and foreign language proficiency to affect the actions and opinions of foreign individuals, groups, and governments.

TURN WORDS

INTO ACTION.

TURN WORDS

INTO ACTION.

Become a strategic thinker and skilled communicator.

PSYOP Soldiers support Army missions by using intelligence, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and foreign language proficiency to affect the actions and opinions of foreign individuals, groups, and governments.

TURN WORDS

INTO ACTION.

TURN WORDS

INTO ACTION.

Become a strategic thinker and skilled communicator.

PSYOP Soldiers support Army missions by using intelligence, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and foreign language proficiency to affect the actions and opinions of foreign individuals, groups, and governments.

TURN WORDS

INTO ACTION.

TURN WORDS

INTO ACTION.

Become a strategic thinker and skilled communicator.

PSYOP Soldiers support Army missions by using intelligence, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and foreign language proficiency to affect the actions and opinions of foreign individuals, groups, and governments.

Serve as an expert in human connection.

PSYOP Soldiers work in small teams to execute missions around the world. They build relationships with leaders and civilians to gain trust and influence. They also use social media, digital marketing, and pamphlets to share information meant to help shift beliefs and behaviors in the U.S. Army’s interest.

Psychological Operations (1)

Influence with information.

Military Information Support Operations (MISO) missions involve sharing specific information to foreign audiences to influence the emotions, motives, reasoning, and behavior of governments and citizens. This can include cyber warfare and advanced communication techniques across all forms of media.

Psychological Operations (2)

Intentionally deceive.

Military deception missions use psychological warfare to deliberately mislead enemy forces during a combat situation.

Psychological Operations (3)

Advise governments.

Interagency and government support missions shape and influence foreign decision making and behaviors in support of United States’ objectives.

Psychological Operations (4)

Communicate in rescue efforts.

Civil Authorities Information Support (CAIS) missions aid civilian populations during disaster relief situations by sharing critical information to support the rescue effort.

The Psyop selection process.

Psychological warfare requires adaptability, resilience, and problem solving. To be selected as a PSYOP Soldier, you’ll first be trained and tested in order to prepare for the mental and physical toughness you’ll encounter in the field.

Step 01: 10 Days

PSYOP Assessment

You’llbe tested on your physical and psychological fitness to become a candidate for this elite force.

Step 02: 43 Weeks

PSYOP Qualification Course

During the PSYOP Operations Specialist Course you’ll learn the core skills of PSYOP Soldiers including basic speaking and listening proficiency in a foreign language, military intelligence, advanced interpersonal communication, adaptive leadership, cultural analysis, and advanced social media and marketing.

Step 03

Graduation

You’ll graduate the course as a PSYOP Specialist if you’re an enlisted Soldier, or as a PSYOP Officer.

Requirements to become a PSYOP Soldier.

You can join the Army as a PSYOP Soldier or transfer into the role if you’re a current Soldier. There are different requirements depending on the path you take.

Requirements to Join

  1. New Soldiers

  2. Current Soldiers

Requirements for new Soldiers:

  • Be a U.S. citizen

  • Have a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score of 85 or above

  • Pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) and clear the Army height and weight standards

  • Qualify for Airborne School

  • Be eligible for a secret security clearance

Requirements for current Soldiers:

  • Have an ASVAB placement test GT score of 107 or above

  • Hold a rank between private first class and sergeant (non-promotable)

  • Have more than 18 months in service, no more than 10 years in service, and at least 36 months remaining in service

  • Reclassify from your current MOS or branch to PSYOP

Common questions about PSYOP.

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Do I need to attend Basic Training to become a PSYOP Soldier?

Yes. In addition to Basic Combat Training, Soldiers must completeAdvanced Individual Training and U.S. Army Airborne School.

What happens if I’m not selected to PSYOP during training?

If you are not ultimately selected to join, you will be assigned to a unit as a qualified specialist in the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) you trained for while applying to PSYOP.

What equipment do PSYOP Soldiers use?

PSYOP Soldiers use effective technology to deliver critical messages during disaster or combat situations, including: The Fly Away Broadcast System, a vehicle-mounted or stationary system to broadcast radio messages or block enemy communications in the field; The Next Generation Loudspeaker System, a portable or vehicle-mounted loudspeaker to blast high quality recorded audio over large distances during disaster rescues; and video editing software, high tech cameras, and state of the art recording studios, to produce mission-critical messages.

What language could I be assigned to learn as part of PSYOP?

Assigned languages include French, Indonesian-Bahasa, Spanish, Chinese-Mandarin, Korean, Persian-Farsi, Russian, Tagalog, Thai, and Arabic.

Do PSYOP Soldiers receive extra pay?

Yes, they receive special pay for learning a foreign language and graduating from Airborne School. Their total benefits package includes more than $50,000 to further their education, 30 days of vacation per year, complete medical and dental care, initial entry and reenlistment bonuses, and more.

What is the history of Army Psychological Operations?

Founded during World War I to devastate opposing troops’ morale, the PSYOP unit has played a critical role in World War II, the Vietnam War, and recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where unconventional warfare provided by PSYOP has been crucial to national security.

Psychological Operations (2024)

FAQs

Is psyops selection hard? ›

Like many other special operations forces, soldiers must make it through a physically and mentally demanding training pipeline that starts with a grueling assessment and selection before they enter the ranks of PSYOP.

How much do psyops get paid? ›

The estimated total pay for a Psychological Operations Specialist is $72,822 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $62,487 per year.

What are the three types of psyops? ›

There are three main types: strategic, operational, and tactical. Strategic PSYOP includes informational activities conducted by the U.S. government agencies outside of the military arena, though many utilize Department of Defense (DOD) assets.

What is an example of a Psy Ops? ›

One example of PSYOPS is propaganda, a type of communication or advertisem*nt that aims to influence a targeted group's way of thinking or decision-making. Ultimately, the goal of a propaganda campaign is to compel a population to take action in line with a specific message by introducing influential information.

What happens if you fail PSYOP selection? ›

If you are not ultimately selected to join, you will be assigned to a unit as a qualified specialist in the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) you trained for while applying to PSYOP.

How to pass PSYOP selection? ›

To qualify to be a psychological operations specialist, applicants must score a minimum of 105 on the general technical line score of the Armed Forces Qualification Test and pass the Occupational Physical Assessment Test at the moderate level.

Where do PSYOPS get stationed? ›

PSYOP Soldiers PCS less than the average military member, with the majority of ARSOF PSYOP assignments located on Fort Liberty, NC.

How long is PSYOP training? ›

Job training for a psychological operations specialist requires 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training and 14 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, where you'll learn the skills of a psychological operations specialist.

Are PSYOPS illegal? ›

United States PSYOP units and soldiers of all branches of the military are prohibited by law from targeting U.S. citizens with PSYOP within the borders of the United States (Executive Order S-1233, DOD Directive S-3321.1, and National Security Decision Directive 130).

What is a psyop girl? ›

The name for PSY-OP Girls originates from the backlash they have received for encouraging young people to join the military. "PSY-OP" stands for "psychological operations", which means using propaganda and other psychological techniques to influence the behavior of enemy forces, civilians, and governments.

Are PSYOPs considered special forces? ›

On 15 OCT 1987 4th POG (A) was brought into USSOCOM and on 03 MAR 1993, PSYOP was officially designated as a Special Operations Force.

What does PSYOPs actually do? ›

Psyops is a military term that refers to efforts to influence enemy battlefield perceptions through leafleting, radio and television broadcasting and deception. Such operations, as Sun Tzu attests, are as old as organized warfare itself.

What is psyops selection like? ›

PSYOP Soldiers are assessed and selected for their intellect, critical and analytical thinking skills, adaptability and mental resilience.

What is the hardest special ops to get into? ›

U.S. Army

The most elite special operations forces in the U.S. are known as the Green Berets, and while that alone is enough to spark debate, there's great reasoning behind it. Training includes harsh mental and physical undertakings, including the school that's widely regarded as the hardest: Combat Diving.

Is it hard to get into Spec Ops? ›

Special Forces, also called the Green Berets, are guerrilla warfare experts who use unexpected and unconventional techniques to carry out missions abroad. Joining requires extensive training, secret security clearance eligibility, Airborne qualification, and a score of at least 100 on the ASVAB.

How hard is Army Special Forces selection? ›

For these reasons, it is a prerequisite that every prospective Green Beret successfully completes the 19-day SFAS course and is selected for Special Forces training. The Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) course is one of the most grueling selection processes in the Army.

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