Psychological Operations Specialist
Psychological Operations Specialist
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37F - 37X-Ray, Here's what happens if you are a nonselect! ?
Alright, so this is my first time posting anything in RallyPoint, though i've used it for a long time. I hope I posted this in the right place. I know it says questions...but I figured somebody's google search will bring this up.
I am a 37F - now called a 37X - nonselect. Meaning, I enlisted into psychological operations as a candidate for the program, went through selection, and was not selected to stay in the pipeline after selection. When I joined, I found no information anywhere to help me, and did not know things that would have completely changed all my decisions.
SO first things first, I will tell you the basic process. I was the 3rd class of only a handful to try the new 37X program. There was only 15 in my group, 7 in the 2nd, and fewer before that. Now they're on the 6th or 7th group right now, and the numbers go up each time. The 37F candidate program existed in the early 2000's and was cancelled, restarted right about when I joined for it.
So, want to know the basic pipeline? Here ya go.
FIrst, Military Police OSUT at Fort Leonard Wood. Still makes no sense to me, and it was a year ago when I attended. Still used. School is basic and AIT combined, 19 weeks. You will NOT, I repeat, you WILL NOT, be an MP if you fail PSYOP selection. It is a complete waste of Army money to send you there, it is not a fallback.
Originally, airborne school was required before selection. The first two classes of the 37X program fucked that up because nobody was in shape, they almost all failed. Airborne was eliminated with my class. ( I believe it is actually a breach of contract I haven't taken to JAG yet ) It is still in my contract. So....I'm still bitter. I'm trying to get into Airborne now.
SO after MP school, you go to Bragg, day of graduation. MP school is awful, you have zero freedom, no phones, etc. It is a worse AIT than almost any other MOS. NO freedom.
You get to Bragg reception, and are suddenly granted tons of freedom. Don't abuse it. They'll drop you from the program.
You'll eventually get a shit ton of CIF gear to lug with you to the barracks. You will stay in some awful gross barracks, but only one roommate...so better than FLW. You can have whatever in the rooms. No room inspections, you're allowed to have alcohol, electronics, etc. Again, don't abuse the freedom.
When you arrive to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group, 5th BN, you'll receive a harsh greeting from your cadre. They will not take your shit. Do what they say.
You are scheduled into a 3 week preparation course, similar to what the 18X guys do for SF. It will be challenging. You'll be hurting, badly at times. You'll get smoked a lot. But..your PT will improve. I am not allowed to discuss the actual prep course or selection, and what they entail.
So you'll finish the course, hopefully. Not everyone does. Some people quit before the prep course is over. There may be weeks of waiting before the prep course begins. Then maybe months before selection. I had to wait two months for selection because of a hurricane flooding Camp McCall.
So...you go to selection finally. You MUST have a 240 minimum PT score. Many people are dropped for that. They grade form extremely harshly. You better have a perfect pushup.
You can either get selected, quit, or finish and they do not select you.
I was the last one. I finished it and was told nice try, come again in two years. I was one of 6 in my group of 15 that had that answer. The rest were selected.
Also, random fun fact for those selected, you MUST reenlist or extend your contract to graduate from the 1.5ish year training. Must have 36 months on the contract at graduation.
SO, what happens next? A lot of bullshit. You will be sent to the Support battalion to do mindless details and await your fate. You'll be waiting for your reclassification. You go where the Army wants you to go. You cannot influence anything. I tried it all. I called every number. I talked to CSMs and a colonel at HRC. I emailed every MOS manager I could find. I asked everybody. I have a bachelor's degree, and a lot of real world experience. Guess what? Doesn't matter. They look at nothing. You go where the army needs bodies.
So, I got reclassed to 25S, SatCom. I'm starting AIT now, as an MOS-T. The job seems boring to me, but I'm happy it wasn't a reclass to Cavalry Scouts like the last class. It could have been anything.
So, as an MOS-T as a 25S, your life will be a breeze. I live off post with my wife at Fort Gordon. I drive to PT in the morning, go back home to change and eat. Head to class at 0830. Off by 5 every day. Some guys are randomly assigned to night shift classes, midnight to 7am or something. Not horribly, but not as nice as days.
So, as an MOS-T, it is a PCS move. Long ass AIT. 28+ weeks of training. Maybe an additional 18 weeks if you're selected for 1C school. But...also requires a 36 month contract at the end of graduation. SO....i have to extend my contract. Ridiculous. I only wanted to be in PSYOP, and had no plans of doing any other job. I was 100% sure I'd be selected and this wouldn't happen, but it did.
So, yeah. There's all the basic info on how it works for the new program. Nobody on earth knows what 37X is. No recruiter has info. Nobody in the Army knows. SO here it is. I hope this helps all the many people out there to know what they're getting into.
By all means, try for PSYOP if it is what you want. I want it more than anything. I'm going to return in a year if I can get a waiver to come back sooner than 2 years. It is an incredibly job in a whole new world compared to regular Army. You'll be doing great things in ARSOF. Training will be beneficial to the rest of your life in almost any field. You'll get paid to learn new languages, deploy a lot, and be able to stay stationed at Fort Bragg, no PCS moves all over. It is absolutely worth it. I just want people to have information and know what they are getting into, since I did not get this.
Would I have still enlisted into 37F knowing what I know now? No, I would have gone to OCS with my degree like a smart person. But, if you don't have a degree, there's no harm in trying if you really believe it is for you. PT! PT! PT! before you go, or you will roll over and die at selection.
Hopefully this helps some of you
Alright, so this is my first time posting anything in RallyPoint, though i've used it for a long time. I hope I posted this in the right place. I know it says questions...but I figured somebody's google search will bring this up.
I am a 37F - now called a 37X - nonselect. Meaning, I enlisted into psychological operations as a candidate for the program, went through selection, and was not selected to stay in the pipeline after selection. When I joined, I found no information anywhere to help me, and did not know things that would have completely changed all my decisions.
SO first things first, I will tell you the basic process. I was the 3rd class of only a handful to try the new 37X program. There was only 15 in my group, 7 in the 2nd, and fewer before that. Now they're on the 6th or 7th group right now, and the numbers go up each time. The 37F candidate program existed in the early 2000's and was cancelled, restarted right about when I joined for it.
So, want to know the basic pipeline? Here ya go.
FIrst, Military Police OSUT at Fort Leonard Wood. Still makes no sense to me, and it was a year ago when I attended. Still used. School is basic and AIT combined, 19 weeks. You will NOT, I repeat, you WILL NOT, be an MP if you fail PSYOP selection. It is a complete waste of Army money to send you there, it is not a fallback.
Originally, airborne school was required before selection. The first two classes of the 37X program fucked that up because nobody was in shape, they almost all failed. Airborne was eliminated with my class. ( I believe it is actually a breach of contract I haven't taken to JAG yet ) It is still in my contract. So....I'm still bitter. I'm trying to get into Airborne now.
SO after MP school, you go to Bragg, day of graduation. MP school is awful, you have zero freedom, no phones, etc. It is a worse AIT than almost any other MOS. NO freedom.
You get to Bragg reception, and are suddenly granted tons of freedom. Don't abuse it. They'll drop you from the program.
You'll eventually get a shit ton of CIF gear to lug with you to the barracks. You will stay in some awful gross barracks, but only one roommate...so better than FLW. You can have whatever in the rooms. No room inspections, you're allowed to have alcohol, electronics, etc. Again, don't abuse the freedom.
When you arrive to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group, 5th BN, you'll receive a harsh greeting from your cadre. They will not take your shit. Do what they say.
You are scheduled into a 3 week preparation course, similar to what the 18X guys do for SF. It will be challenging. You'll be hurting, badly at times. You'll get smoked a lot. But..your PT will improve. I am not allowed to discuss the actual prep course or selection, and what they entail.
So you'll finish the course, hopefully. Not everyone does. Some people quit before the prep course is over. There may be weeks of waiting before the prep course begins. Then maybe months before selection. I had to wait two months for selection because of a hurricane flooding Camp McCall.
So...you go to selection finally. You MUST have a 240 minimum PT score. Many people are dropped for that. They grade form extremely harshly. You better have a perfect pushup.
You can either get selected, quit, or finish and they do not select you.
I was the last one. I finished it and was told nice try, come again in two years. I was one of 6 in my group of 15 that had that answer. The rest were selected.
Also, random fun fact for those selected, you MUST reenlist or extend your contract to graduate from the 1.5ish year training. Must have 36 months on the contract at graduation.
SO, what happens next? A lot of bullshit. You will be sent to the Support battalion to do mindless details and await your fate. You'll be waiting for your reclassification. You go where the Army wants you to go. You cannot influence anything. I tried it all. I called every number. I talked to CSMs and a colonel at HRC. I emailed every MOS manager I could find. I asked everybody. I have a bachelor's degree, and a lot of real world experience. Guess what? Doesn't matter. They look at nothing. You go where the army needs bodies.
So, I got reclassed to 25S, SatCom. I'm starting AIT now, as an MOS-T. The job seems boring to me, but I'm happy it wasn't a reclass to Cavalry Scouts like the last class. It could have been anything.
So, as an MOS-T as a 25S, your life will be a breeze. I live off post with my wife at Fort Gordon. I drive to PT in the morning, go back home to change and eat. Head to class at 0830. Off by 5 every day. Some guys are randomly assigned to night shift classes, midnight to 7am or something. Not horribly, but not as nice as days.
So, as an MOS-T, it is a PCS move. Long ass AIT. 28+ weeks of training. Maybe an additional 18 weeks if you're selected for 1C school. But...also requires a 36 month contract at the end of graduation. SO....i have to extend my contract. Ridiculous. I only wanted to be in PSYOP, and had no plans of doing any other job. I was 100% sure I'd be selected and this wouldn't happen, but it did.
So, yeah. There's all the basic info on how it works for the new program. Nobody on earth knows what 37X is. No recruiter has info. Nobody in the Army knows. SO here it is. I hope this helps all the many people out there to know what they're getting into.
By all means, try for PSYOP if it is what you want. I want it more than anything. I'm going to return in a year if I can get a waiver to come back sooner than 2 years. It is an incredibly job in a whole new world compared to regular Army. You'll be doing great things in ARSOF. Training will be beneficial to the rest of your life in almost any field. You'll get paid to learn new languages, deploy a lot, and be able to stay stationed at Fort Bragg, no PCS moves all over. It is absolutely worth it. I just want people to have information and know what they are getting into, since I did not get this.
Would I have still enlisted into 37F knowing what I know now? No, I would have gone to OCS with my degree like a smart person. But, if you don't have a degree, there's no harm in trying if you really believe it is for you. PT! PT! PT! before you go, or you will roll over and die at selection.
Hopefully this helps some of you
37F: Psychological Operations Specialist
Reclass
18X: Special Forces Candidate
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 6
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4
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I was in the 6th class of 37X, got injured during a ruck and am being recycled into the 8th class once I am better. Everything is still the same for us. Because we are 37X we do not use ARSOF recruiters. My recruiter knew nothing about the MOS. He didn’t even know what OSUT was. I was surprised when I arrived at FLW but I didn’t mind at all. I signed on the dotted line so I was prepared to take whatever orders I received. I did a ton of research before signing my contract so I knew a little of what to expect. Even though I did my research, there’s not much to find. I absolutely loved the prep course. It’s very difficult, especially coming out of osut, because they do not physically prepare you at all. But I saw a huge improvement in my pt in only 2 weeks (I got hurt Thursday of my second week). It’s a 3 week prep course. Being a female, they push us harder to keep up with the males, which I understand and appreciate. I am looking forward to getting back into the course.
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This program is still in its infancy stages and they are thriving to make the course better. I cannot tell you why or why not as to the reasons of your being a non select. I was a non select myself when I tried out for SFAS. Made it to the end but did not get selected. It is hard for me to even understand what it is that they are looking for during selection. Nonetheless, you should not post and assume that all people going through the 37X option are going to experience it in the same manner that you did. Results WILL vary. I have been in the army almost 15 years now and have been in the Psyop regiment for over 10 years now. As a 37F, I was also assigned to be an OSUT Infantry Drill Sergeant at Fort Benning. To teach an MOS that I never was and never will be....pretty challenging as I was the only non blue-disk and non blue-cord wearing NCO not only in my training company, but in my entire battalion (with the exception of S1 and S4 personnel). For the last 2 years, I have been an AIT instructor for 37F.
Do not discredit the hard work that us cadre are putting into this program and the regiment. It has its flaws, I get it. I see it more than enough times and I have had to endure some pretty rough shit that I have no control over. You do not understand what obstacles we, as cadre, have to endure to make these things possible. Do you think that the 18X was a perfect system during its initial phases? No.
I will tell you like I tell all of my kids that I have had the privilege of being a leader for (as a drill sergeant, as cadre at AIT, and as cadre for the POSC)....”when life gives you lemons, you make apple juice.” If life was perfect you would get lemons and make lemonade all the time. Unfortunately, life is going to present you with challenges and adversity. So life gives you lemons and expects you to make something different out of it. Is it going to be impossible? Maybe. But I’m going to give it my all.
I would encourage you to come back. If it’s meant to be, then it will be. But you cannot expect to get everything you want when you want it. You will either get it in time, or you may not get it and will have to find something else. You must be prepared to accept that.
I wish you all of the best and I hope that we may cross paths again some day.
Do not discredit the hard work that us cadre are putting into this program and the regiment. It has its flaws, I get it. I see it more than enough times and I have had to endure some pretty rough shit that I have no control over. You do not understand what obstacles we, as cadre, have to endure to make these things possible. Do you think that the 18X was a perfect system during its initial phases? No.
I will tell you like I tell all of my kids that I have had the privilege of being a leader for (as a drill sergeant, as cadre at AIT, and as cadre for the POSC)....”when life gives you lemons, you make apple juice.” If life was perfect you would get lemons and make lemonade all the time. Unfortunately, life is going to present you with challenges and adversity. So life gives you lemons and expects you to make something different out of it. Is it going to be impossible? Maybe. But I’m going to give it my all.
I would encourage you to come back. If it’s meant to be, then it will be. But you cannot expect to get everything you want when you want it. You will either get it in time, or you may not get it and will have to find something else. You must be prepared to accept that.
I wish you all of the best and I hope that we may cross paths again some day.
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SPC (Join to see)
SSG, I did not intend to discredit the course. I have no hard feelings on being a nonselect, and I know they saw something that did not appeal to them for selection. I fully understand. I know some points where I made big mistakes at selection. I fully understand.
The point of my post is to show the pipeline to future 37F candidates, as I had no idea. Even when I arrived at Fort Bragg, I still had no clue what was next. Nobody did. There was no information anywhere on anything. I simply wanted others doing their research to know what to expect.
I fully intend to try selection again and fix the mistakes I made last time. I know cadre do more than we see, and I have utmost respect for any cadre for doing what they do.
Again. Just wanted to put some basic information for people out there to see. Like the second to last paragraph said, I want people to be sure this is what they want. If they fail, things are not pretty. I had no warning when I joined. I had no info. I was told I'd be an MP if I failed, which sounded ok for the time waiting to try again.
I truly appreciate you and your work as cadre, and in the psyop regiment. I hope to join you in the regiment eventually. It just might be a while...haha
Thank you
The point of my post is to show the pipeline to future 37F candidates, as I had no idea. Even when I arrived at Fort Bragg, I still had no clue what was next. Nobody did. There was no information anywhere on anything. I simply wanted others doing their research to know what to expect.
I fully intend to try selection again and fix the mistakes I made last time. I know cadre do more than we see, and I have utmost respect for any cadre for doing what they do.
Again. Just wanted to put some basic information for people out there to see. Like the second to last paragraph said, I want people to be sure this is what they want. If they fail, things are not pretty. I had no warning when I joined. I had no info. I was told I'd be an MP if I failed, which sounded ok for the time waiting to try again.
I truly appreciate you and your work as cadre, and in the psyop regiment. I hope to join you in the regiment eventually. It just might be a while...haha
Thank you
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SFC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) You’re absolutely right. Fear of the unknown, it’s a terrible thing that we all face. Because by the time it happens, the first words to come out of our mouths is “this is not what I expected.” Well, of course it’s not what we expect. I felt the same way when I went to Drill Sergeant School.
I do appreciate that you want to put out information for others to help keep people informed. It’s definitely a good thing to have, in preparing future soldiers. Just be careful with how your word some things. Perception is reality and someone will be really quick to read what you say and take it for what it is, that just because you experienced it this way that everyone else will experience it the same way. We, as cadre, want what’s best for soldiers but even we have adversities to face because not all soldiers are developed the same and some others require more attention/assistance than others. Unbeknownst to you.
I hope to see you try this again and that you will be even more prepared for what Psyop has to offer you in the future. I’m here if you need help.
I do appreciate that you want to put out information for others to help keep people informed. It’s definitely a good thing to have, in preparing future soldiers. Just be careful with how your word some things. Perception is reality and someone will be really quick to read what you say and take it for what it is, that just because you experienced it this way that everyone else will experience it the same way. We, as cadre, want what’s best for soldiers but even we have adversities to face because not all soldiers are developed the same and some others require more attention/assistance than others. Unbeknownst to you.
I hope to see you try this again and that you will be even more prepared for what Psyop has to offer you in the future. I’m here if you need help.
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If you wished to post simply an informative post about the pipeline you missed the mark. There's a good amount of griping here. Allow a SOF Recruiter to answer some of your gripes.
Yes, Army Recruiters don't know much about the program, because there are no SOF members in normal recruiting, only in-service recruiting. 37X is a new program and has its issues.
Griping about barracks and the lack of freedom at OSUT? Dude, it's OSUT, that's how its run. Welcome to the Army. Saying it's a "worse AIT" than any other MOS is a ridiculous statement, have you been to 11B OSUT, 19D OSUT?
Getting a ton of CIF gear.....welcome to the Army. If you get Selected and finish a Q course you're going to get even more at your SPEAR issue.
Gross barracks....welcome to the Army, it's a temporary barracks to give you training so you have a chance at POAS. We could put you in kush barracks and not give you a train up but hey, we figured people with 0 experience deserve a little help, and that their desire to join a good MOS would trump the housing.
Yes, you need 3 years of contract left from graduation day for the government to spend the time and money in training you. 1 year of school and you owe 3, with the amount of qualifications you gain from graduating a Qualification Course it's well worth it.
You MUST have a 240 minimum score - thats an average of 80%, much. you could literally get 2 90s and a 60 and enter. Yes a 240 is mandatory, but it's not hard nor are they strict, its by regulation. Perhaps your MP Drill SGTs were too lenient.
You have a 2 year ETR, if you wish to come back to PSYOP or even CA, ensure you are not promotable to SSG.
Yes, Army Recruiters don't know much about the program, because there are no SOF members in normal recruiting, only in-service recruiting. 37X is a new program and has its issues.
Griping about barracks and the lack of freedom at OSUT? Dude, it's OSUT, that's how its run. Welcome to the Army. Saying it's a "worse AIT" than any other MOS is a ridiculous statement, have you been to 11B OSUT, 19D OSUT?
Getting a ton of CIF gear.....welcome to the Army. If you get Selected and finish a Q course you're going to get even more at your SPEAR issue.
Gross barracks....welcome to the Army, it's a temporary barracks to give you training so you have a chance at POAS. We could put you in kush barracks and not give you a train up but hey, we figured people with 0 experience deserve a little help, and that their desire to join a good MOS would trump the housing.
Yes, you need 3 years of contract left from graduation day for the government to spend the time and money in training you. 1 year of school and you owe 3, with the amount of qualifications you gain from graduating a Qualification Course it's well worth it.
You MUST have a 240 minimum score - thats an average of 80%, much. you could literally get 2 90s and a 60 and enter. Yes a 240 is mandatory, but it's not hard nor are they strict, its by regulation. Perhaps your MP Drill SGTs were too lenient.
You have a 2 year ETR, if you wish to come back to PSYOP or even CA, ensure you are not promotable to SSG.
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