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)

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.

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.

Do psyops actually work? ›

They can also disrupt, confuse, and protract the adversary's decision-making process, undermining command and control. When properly employed, PSYOP have the potential to save the lives of friendly or enemy forces by reducing the adversary's will to fight.

How much do psyops get paid? ›

Psychological Operations Officer Salary
Annual SalaryWeekly Pay
Top Earners$160,500$3,086
75th Percentile$142,000$2,730
Average$126,253$2,427
25th Percentile$109,500$2,105

How to pass PSYOP selection? ›

Meet PO Prerequisites
  1. No more than 10 years combined active federal service (if prior service)
  2. ​GT score of 105 or above (non-waiverable)
  3. Pass the Physical Fitness Assessment (contact a recruiter for current requirements)
  4. ​DLAB Score of 75 or higher.

What is the 10-day course for PsyOps? ›

Upon graduation, Soldiers will attend Airborne training, followed by a 10-day Psychological Operations Specialist Assessment and Selection program. This program tests Soldiers' psychological, intellectual, physical and problem-solving capabilities with team event assessments.

What ASVAB score do you need for psychological operations? ›

Additional requirements for current Soldiers:

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.

What is the fail rate for Green Beret? ›

SFQC Attrition Rate

The 21 day SFAS course is simply step one to earning a Green Beret. For enlisted soldiers, the attrition rate at SFQC has been as high as 50% and as low as 23%. The average attrition rate is 35%.

Are psyops considered special forces? ›

It was deactivated in 1971 in Fort Lewis, Washington, before being reactivated in 1972 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 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.

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.

What is psyops selection like? ›

Upon successful completion of POPC, Soldiers will then attend the 10-day Psychological Operations Assessment and Selection Course. This program tests and assesses the Soldiers' psychological, intellectual, physical and problem-solving capabilities within a team environment.

Are psyops legal in the US? ›

Military PsyOps aka Military Information Support Operations (MISO) cannot by law (10 USC 167) target US citizens anywhere under any circ*mstances.

What are the three types of psyops? ›

Jacobowitz, USAF, Retired, provide a general introduction to and a commonly accepted definition of PSYOP. The authors explore the three types of PSYOP and give several examples of strategic, tactical, operational, and consolidation PSYOP.

What is the new term for Psyops? ›

Rebranding PSYOP to MISO was simply the most recent evolution in a series of terms that the Army utilized to describe those activities aimed at changing the minds and actions of foreign audiences.

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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