Psychological Operations Soldiers use persuasion to influence perceptions and encourage desired behavior. The cornerstone of PSYOP is truth, credibly presented to convince a foreign audience to cease resistance or take actions favorable to friendly forces. During Desert Storm, the effective use of PSYOP was a combat multiplier that directly contributed to the surrender of thousands of Iraqi Soldiers. It is clear its effectiveness saved countless coalition and Iraqi lives.

Psychological Operations units also have Soldiers with unique skills. These Soldiers are communicators who provide the commander with the ability to communicate information to large audiences via radio, television, leaflets and loudspeakers. The PSYOP Soldier's language skills, regional orientation and knowledge of communications media provide a means of delivering critical information to host-nation audiences.

Psychological Operations are a vital part of the broad range of diplomatic, informational, military, and economic (DIME) activities used by the U.S. Government. PSYOP Soldiers use information to influence the behavior of foreign audiences in support of U.S. policy and national objectives.

Used during peacetime, contingencies, and declared war, these activities are non-lethal. They are force multipliers that use nonviolent means in often violent environments.  Persuading rather than compelling physically, they rely on logic, fear, desire or other psychological factors to promote specific behaviors. The ultimate objective of U.S. military Psychological Operations is to convince enemy, neutral, and friendly governments, forces and populations to take actions favorable to the United States and its allies.

Psychological Operations support national objectives at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of operations. Strategic psychological operations advance broad or long-term objectives; global in nature, they may be directed toward  large audiences or at key communicators. Operational psychological operations are conducted on a smaller scale. They are employed by theater commanders to target groups within the theater of operations. Their purpose can range from gaining support for U.S. operations to preparing the battlefield for combat. Tactical psychological operations are more limited, used by commanders to secure immediate and near-term goals. In this environment, these force-enhancing activities serve as a means to lower the morale and efficiency of enemy forces.

Both tactical and operational level Psychological operations may be used to enhance peacetime military activities of conventional and Special Operations Forces operating in foreign countries.  Cultural awareness prepares PSYOP Soldiers to effectively communicate the positive aspects of combined military exercises and deployments.

In addition to supporting military units, Psychological Operations provides  interagency support. In operations ranging from humanitarian assistance to drug interdiction, Psychological Operations support the missions of those agencies. Their activities can be used to disseminate information about ongoing programs and to gain support from the local populace.

Psychological Operations units of the U.S. Army are culturally oriented, linguistically capable.

• Be apart of Special Operations Community
• Work with other U.S. Government Agencies and Non Government Organizations
• World Wide Missions and Assignments
• Interaction with and advising of Foreign Government Officials
• Making a Difference to change peoples' lives

• Influence how people think and behave
• Additional Pay
• Parachute Pay
• Foreign Language Proficiency Pay (with qualifying DLPT Score)
• TDY Allowances

• Additional School Opportunities
• Ranger School
• Jumpmaster School
• Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape, Course (SERE)
• Special Operations Language Training (SOLT)
• Defense Language Institute (DLI)

1. PSYOP Volunteer Statement
2. Male and Female Soldiers Are Eligible To Apply
3. RANK SPC-SSG (SSGs with exceptional qualifications are being considered) SFC'S ARE NOT ELIGIBLE
4. Enlisted Record Brief (ERB)
5. Tech Score or 101 to 105 (depending on the test date)
6. DLAB 95+ You are  required a DLAB even if you have a DLPT rating
7. DLPT Rating If Proficient In Any Other Language with a 1/1 or higher is acceptable.
8. Airborne Qualified Or Willing To Volunteer For Airborne Training
9. Pass Airborne Physical IAW AR 40-501. Submit original DD Form 2808 and DD Form 2807-1, ensure all blood, urine, radiological exam results (Chest X-ray), EKG and all required signatures, DR and Dentist, are on or with the physical.  Physical must be annotated  qualified for Airborne training.
10. APFT Card Within 6 Months
11. Interim Secret Clearance Or Validated EPSQ. Security Clearance Verification is usually on the ERB, if not, a memorandum from your unit S2 (DA Form 873) verifying your level of clearance.
12. Packets can be sent via the following:

• Scanned and sent via E-mail to PSYOP Packets to SFC Jason Sutton or SSG Phillip Spaugh
• Faxed to 910-396-4994 (Least preferred)
• Regular mail to:

Special Operations Recruiting Battalion
ATTN: D Company
PSYOP Recruiter
P.O. Box 70180
Fort Bragg, NC 28307

The following is a guideline for Officer Candidates to use when submitting a Psychological Operations packet.  This guideline will discuss what is required to submit a complete packet for the Army Special Operations Forces Board (ARSOF).

Psychological Operations Officer – Minimum Requirements

1. Eligible for a Top Secret security clearance under provisions of AR 380-67
2. Possess a baccalaureate degree
3. Possess a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score of 85 or above or have foreign language ability as demonstrated by an acceptable Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) score of 1/1 or higher
4. Airborne qualified or willing to volunteer for airborne training
5. Be a correct year group 

Required Items

1. Volunteer Statement
2. ORB with current DA Photo (photo date NLT 1 April 2008)   
3. Security Clearance Verification Usually on the ORB; if not, a memorandum from your unit S2 (DA Form 873) verifying your level of clearance.
4. Resume  1 page in length maximum.  Do not repeat any information that is already on your ORB.  You may use the example as a template.
5. DLAB 85 or higher.  DLPT with a 1/1 or higher is acceptable.  We are accepting applications for review if the DLAB score is below this requirement.
6. Airborne Physical if not Airborne Qualified.  Ensure the physical is stamped with Soldier is qualified for Airborne Training.  Soldiers already Airborne Qualified must submit an Individual Medical Readiness Report from AKO.
7. APFT Card  Updated within 6 months.  Height and Weight screening MUST be submitted if you do not meet the height and weight requirements.

In lieu of documents that are unattainable due to operational situations such as OEF/OIF, a memo stating the reasons for the missing documents will be accepted, i.e. DLAB, unable to take the test due to deployment in OIF.

Submit your packet as soon as possible in order to assure complete and thorough processing and to allow adequate response time should errors be discovered. Before submission, ensure all documents are included and signed.  Packets can be sent via the following (listed in order of preference):

• Scanned and sent via E-mail to jason.sutton@usarec.army.mil or phillip.spaugh@usarec.army.mil
• Faxed to 910-396-4994
• Regular mail to:

Special Operations Recruiting Battalion
ATTN: D Company, Psychological Operations Recruiter
P.O. Box 70180
Fort Bragg, NC 28307

Out of Year Group Officers (YG05 and below)

Submit the following to your basic branch:

1. DA 4187 submitted through your current chain of command
2. Resume
3. Letter of intent
4. Letters of recommendation
5. Last 3 OERs

• Career Progression
• Candidate Instructions
• Reclass Instructions
• Sample Physical Memo
• Sample Resume
• Volunteer Statement (officer)
• Volunteer Statement (enlisted)

Delta Company, U.S. Army Special Operations Recruiting Battalion
Bldg. 2-1120 Ft. Bragg, NC  28310 
Office: (910) 396-6533 / 5786
Fax:    (910) 396-4994
DSN:   239