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 (ASVAB), a series of tests that helps you better understand your strengths and identify which Army jobs are best for you.

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.

For active-duty Soldiers, graduation from Advanced Individual Training will be followed by three weeks of airborne training and then four to six months of language training. For Reserve psychological operations specialists, airborne and language training are not required for qualification.

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)

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.

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.