Infantry to CA vs PSYOP

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 22:18:21 -0400

So, I am at my roughly 10 year mark, E6, 11B, already Airborne Qualified.

Wanting to jump ahead in my career and considering CA and PSYOP. Issue is, I cannot find information that really seperate these two as far as what they do and how they operate.

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each? Also, what are some of the pro's and cons of transitioning to one of these while I am in my current position?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 3:10 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 03:10:25 -0400

Simplified CA = communication skills on a personal level
PSYOP = marketing skills , adversting

Response by SFC Aaron Calmes made Sep 5 at 2015 8:41 AM

SFC Aaron Calmes — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 08:41:06 -0400

As a SSG, you won't be jumping ahead in your career. You'll be stagnating it somewhat. It is an awesome MOS with a lot of interesting experiences in embassies, SOF missions, etc. So if that's why want to do it, go for it. The reality is for most people, they top out at E-7 because they just aren't many E-8/E-9 positions. Only two Active PSYOP Groups in the Army compared to how many Active infantry brigades? E-7 you will make fairly quickly so that is a plus if you have been stuck at E-6. The "jumping ahead" is mainly for the E-4s. They make E-5 automatically when they graduate the Sergeants Course (about 15 months of total training) and make E-6 usually quickly after that. Some of the things to know with the downsizing going on, you will have to maintain a 1/1 language score to be competitive for promotion and to make E-8, you have to be a jumpmaster.

Also, yes it is a lot of marketing but face to face engagement is our bread and butter on the tactical teams.

Hope this helps.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 12:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 12:17:02 -0400

okay so now the 38B take...

I am a active duty 38B currently deployed in support of SOCSOUTH. I will tell you from my personal experience how things work in my AOR. First let me dis spell a common misconception. We do not throw money at a problem. In fact, during my time at SWCS it was a major point of emphasis that we get away from that mind set. It is true that previously CA was often thought of as the "money man", but that train of thought has shifted. I will tell you that my team, and the teams in my AOR are very particular about how we spend our money, and how much we spend. We spend only the necessary, then begin to pull back the funds ever so slightly.

We are also not the peace corp or tree huggers. Every mission we conduct has an intended purpose, least of which is charity. The mission is conceived through aligning LOE(lines of effort) that match the presidents NSS(National Security Strategy) for that region. SOUTHCOM passes that combined effort down to SOCSOUTH who in turn passed it on to the AOB commander or SOCFWRD. Based off of that, we devise a plan that allows up to attack these lines of effort by focusing on critical vulnerabilities. Through a targeting frame work we are able to narrow down who, what, why, and where we need to be.

Our job is to gain access and placement, if you want it in the simplest of terms. ODA's, SEAL Teams, PSYOP Teams need access to many of these regions, but due to the fact many of these countries do not take kindly to DoD personnel in their area, we create a "need" to be there. The MIST team broadcasts that "need", we provide the means in which to conceptualize that need, and the ODA or whatever tactical element is in our area takes advantage of that opportunity, usually by sending an 18D or a dentist. He in turn, gains critical access and allows him network for his team, selling a reason for them to be there.... Access and Placement.

It doesnt always work that smoothly and thats always frustrating, as we are all SOF MOS's that should compliment eachother. But in my AOR thats how we try to work things. Working with one another to address our own line of effort that should align with the LOE of the region. our MIST team guys pretty good dudes, that do a great job, but frankly are constrained by the embassy and MILGROUP because of the fact that spreading a message can have huge implications, especially of the wrong message is distributed. They now mainly train host nation PSYOP soldiers at their school houses.

Finally as far as being autonomous goes, I think we actually have the smallest element of them all. A complete ODA is a 12 man element, however ive never seen a complete ODA except for maybe a sync brief in the states. A MIST Team is 6 man team, I think, but i could be wrong. We are a 4 man team, sometimes split into two 2 man teams. As a CANCO I am responsible for a hell of alot more stuff than any other NCO I knew in my previous MOS. I may not have any soldiers under me, but I am signed for thousands of dollars in funds and equipment, much of it SIPR, a rental POV, I take lead in most of the KLE's since i am a native speaker, and many other items. Reports, briefings, conducting training, the list goes on. It is a very rewarding job and one I am glad I took. Its up to you young Jedi, I am sure my write up may seem a bit partial, but how can it not be, as I honestly feel I have one of the best jobs in the military. Good Luck

Danny

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 1:48 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 13:48:08 -0400

I'll flip the script a little and ask you - what do you like to do? Do you like learning about other cultures? Are you good with people? (People/communication skills) Are you a complex problem solver?

I could add more - but hopefully that gets you thinking more of where you want to head in your career. Both branches are good - as they both have their slice of the pie in the SOF world.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 30 at 2015 1:32 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 13:32:20 -0500

I think your 11B background will lend itself perfectly to CA and PSYOPs. Good luck!

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Feb 4 at 2016 6:47 PM

SFC Marcus Belt — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 18:47:34 -0500

We have plenty of Soldiers who've made the same move. It probably won't advance your career because of the reasons mentioned previously. I'm PSYOP and one of the key benefits of the profession is that you must develop a multi-dimensional understanding of the areas in which you operate, so now you know why you're doing whatever it is you're doing. Also, the nature of the job requires working knowledge of and the ability to rapidly-learn about programs such as Security Assistance/Cooperation and other aspects of the interagency that won't do you any harm when your very finite career as a Soldier ends.

Response by SSG Leroy Farmer made May 18 at 2016 8:15 PM

SSG Leroy Farmer — Wed, 18 May 2016 20:15:55 -0400

Tactical Psyops , in my opinion, is a great segway for 11 series soldiers. You get the special operations experience when you go to JFKSWCC. Additionally, you already have the tactical experience from being a grunt. In short, tactical Psyops lets you work with your head more than your back, but you can kick some ass when necessary

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made May 24 at 2018 10:50 AM

SFC Quinn Chastant — Thu, 24 May 2018 10:50:34 -0400

Limited simple explanations:

CA, Civil Affairs is a Liaison Mission to support the Combatant Commander in regards to operations in Rural and Urban Environments where Civilians on the Battlefield is a distinct possibility. Some functions include coordination with local, regional, territorial, or national government elements to reduce the impact of operations to noncombatants. Identification of local resources which may aid the commands to which CA soldiers are assigned, and attempting to keep civilians from impacting operations against enemy combatants. CA Teams can operate in as small as 2 man cells in a combined US/Allied Forward Base of Operations in the Rural Environment based upon threat, but more normally a 4 to 6 member Team that may function as part of a modified mission which combines with the commander's other assets, Intelligence, military police, etc as mission outlines dictate.

PsyOps, is also Combatant Commander's asset in the regards of information dissemination for Civilians in AO's to encourage them to act in a fashion which does not hinder or adversely impact Operations. Deception operations against Enemy intelligence gathering, and related operations. Additionally Psy Ops can deploy assets that to disrupt enemy sleep and readiness postures though sound and visual means.
More traditionally PsyOps is thought of as the makers of Leaflets to disperse, publishers of Print Information and articles for local News Services, Print or Electronic. PsyOps may have some elements of Journalism, but the information is meant to assist the Combatant Commander in operations.

As for the information I just provided, it is from limited personal experiences and some may be factually wrong or outdated based upon current policies, and doctrines. In any regards look up the most current info available from the schools. As for myself; I found the Civil Affairs Missions I participated in personally gratifying and rewarding.