PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS SPECIALIST (37F)
Psychological Operations Specialist (37F)
- Enlisted
- Officer
- Active Duty
- Army Reserve
- National Guard
- Entry Level
Overview
As a member of the Army special operations community, the psychological operations specialist is primarily responsible for the analysis, development and distribution of intelligence used for information and psychological effect.
Job Duties
- Research and analyze methods of influencing foreign population from a variety of information sources
- Operate and maintain equipment such as ground tactical vehicles and shelter systems, loudspeaker systems, state of the art computers, analog and digital recording and playback devices and communication systems
- Travel to overseas locations in peace, crisis and conflict to assist U.S. and foreign governments, militaries and civilian populations
REQUIREMENTS:
Those who want to serve must first take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a series of tests that helps you better understand your strengths and identify which Army jobs are best for you.
- Clean record.
- U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
- Driver's License.
- No serious medical issues to include asthma.
Training
Psychological operations specialists attend military police One Station Unit Training (OSUT), which combines Army Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training in a 20-week course.
Upon graduation, psychological operations specialists will attend Airborne training, followed by a 10-day Psychological Operations Specialist Assessment and Selection program. This program allows an opportunity to assess each Soldier’s capabilities by testing their psychological, intellectual, physical and problem-solving (dilemma-based) with team event assessments.
If the recruit passes, they’ll move on to the Psychological Operations Specialist Qualification Course to develop the necessary skills of a PSYOP Soldier. The course is currently divided into five phases:
- In-Processing
- Language and Culture
- PSYOP Core
- PSYOP Culmination Exercise
- Graduation
Helpful Skills
- Interest in foreign countries, cultures and languages
- Ability to analyze and organize information
- Skilled at building rapport in unfamiliar surroundings
- College-level aptitude in the social sciences
Required ASVAB Score(s)
General Technical (GT): 107
Learn more about the ASVAB and see what jobs you could qualify for.
Compensation
Total compensation includes housing, medical, food, special pay, and vacation time. Learn more about total compensation.
Earn Cash For In Demand Jobs
You could earn up to $40,000 in cash bonuses just for enlisting under certain Military Occupational Specialties. Visit Jobs in Demand to see if this job qualifies for an enlistment bonus.
Education Benefits
In the Army, qualified students can earn full-tuition, merit-based scholarships, allowances for books and fees, plus an annual stipend for living expenses. Learn more about education benefits.
Future Civilian Careers
The skills you learn will help prepare you for a career with the Department of Defense, State, other federal government agencies or related fields in the commercial industry.
The training you receive may prepare you for other fields, such as public relations, sales, marketing and advertising. Because of the time you’ll spend studying foreign cultures and social systems, you can explore a future career in the diplomatic service or as an anthropologist, journalist, social scientist, statistician, market analyst, advertising consultant or sales manager.