Can anyone tell me more about PSYOPS selection (than it's hard or physical or mental), specifically the day-to-day details?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:37:17 -0500

Just curious what its like or what things you need to do during it? Also what being psyops is like and day to day.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2018 9:38 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:38:35 -0500

Can’t get toonin the weeds, but make sure you can ruck, are personable, and can think quick on your feet. I went in 2011. If you have direct questions PM me.

Response by CPL Karl Richardt made Jan 29 at 2018 9:49 PM

CPL Karl Richardt — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:49:31 -0500

I was 11C and reclassed to 37F. The school is 90% classroom consisting of seemingly endless PowerPoint presentations. There are weekly exams if I remember. They will send you to Airborne school if you are not already qualified.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2018 2:59 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 14:59:14 -0500

Selection is exactly what you think it is. You are being evaluated against the SOF attributes to see if you are suitable for special operations training. I will not give you day-to-day details as that would undermine the point and purpose of selection. BUT, what I will do is give you some pointers and advice:
1. Forevermore refer to the regiment as PSYOP not PSYOPS
2. Ruck, Run, and Ruck some more
3. Brush up on your general knowledge (history, math, english)
4. Learn to put coherent thought to paper
5. Ruck, Run, and Ruck some more
6. Be personable, friendly, and open minded. They aren't selecting off a quota, so dont F*** your buddy thinking you're competing for limited slots. (Peer evaluations are weighted HEAVILY)
7. Learn how to talk to people, seriously. Go to a public place and start talking to random strangers, this helped me.
8. Be honest with the cadre and with yourself
9. Ruck and run just a little bit more
10. When in charge, be a leader. When you're not, then learn to play on a team. I cannot tell you how much this matters in our job. Everyone wants to be a chief, but no one wants to be an indian, swallow your pride and support your teammates.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2018 7:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 19:50:29 -0500

SGT P said it best :
[When in charge, be a leader. When you're not, then learn to play on a team. I cannot tell you how much this matters in our job. Everyone wants to be a chief, but no one wants to be an Indian, swallow your pride and support your teammates.]

This is important, help out your buddies not only do you have to get peered well but you must stand up well in comparison to your peers.

run a good amount for endurance, do "farmer's carries", put some weight on your body and walk with it or squat it, learn some knots because many people show up not knowing them and you'll have something to offer your team.

Be a team player, don't take it too seriously it can be a really fun experience.

oh and bring canteen straws and a good multitool

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2019 12:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 00:35:25 -0400

Hi,
Here is a preview of what kind of test you will go through.
Read a newspaper article, when complete, run a 3-mile loop. when you return, there a quiz waiting, on what you read.... easy right.
Now do it tried, hungry, and sleep deprived. What was the name of sheriff in the article? what was the name of the city? yeah, it's a mental test at all times. They don't care how fast you ran the 3-miles.

I hope you like riddles and number games. PSYOPers are SOF's brains in austere environments. Can you think quickly and react accordingly? do you understand the operating environment? what are the second order-of-effects on any action (lethal and non-lethal)? Can you write well, I mean, can you write clear and concise at the college level. if not, get some help. buy some textbooks. I recommend a desktop digest of punctuation, grammar, and style.

You will operate in a small team. three NCOs and a CPT. i.e. -MIST or OST.
A&S is the least of your worries. Get through the specialist/qualification course and the true journey begins. Fear the HHC 1SG/Commander, he/she is the one with the power to kick you out. The MAJ is the other companies are just place holders. UCMJ authority lies with the HHC CO. don't F-up during your free weekends in the course. Last CO was a Spanish guy nice guy unless you went to his office.

The course is mostly academic type. and yeah... you will eventually go to SERE-C and get slapped around. it's a humble experience.

Good Luck.