What insight can you provide on either PSYOP or CA, from a officer's point of view (progression, life on the job, etc.)?

2021-05-18T17:14:11-04:00

Hello, I'm looking to go green to gold, and PSYOP and CA peaked my interest. Does anyone have any insight on either from a officer's point of view? Progression, life on the job ect.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2021 11:08 PM

2021-05-18T23:08:51-04:00

After talking to other psyops officers, Psyop is run by a full bird colonel while Civil Affairs is run by a 2 or 3 Star General. I remember talking to a major in Psyop who told me that it takes forever to get his Captain's career course in his branch. I don't mean to bash on my sister service but if you're looking for opportunities, you have more opportunities and promotion in Civil affairs. Civil Affairs has a 90% selection rate to lieutenant colonel. I am in the Army Reserve. There are Psyop and Civil Affairs Airborne units in the Army Reserve. 1 psyop Airborne unit is in Texas and I belonged to a civil Affairs BN that was airborne in Upland California. Active duty, you know they are all at Fort Bragg. No matter which choice you make , you will have plenty of opportunities. When I joined civil Affairs, it was a functional area and you had to have a captain's career course from another branch. Now things are different and civil Affairs is a branch. Either way, you have plenty of opportunities.

Response by 1LT Voyle Smith made May 19 at 2021 9:23 AM

2021-05-19T09:23:07-04:00

I’ve served in both fields as a lieutenant but my experience was so long ago (50 years) that it would be meaningless to your situation. I earned my Psyop MOS (9305) in residence at Ft Bragg in 1967 and served as a Psyop analyst in the 13th Psyop Battalion, 2d Psyop Group. Then was appointed S2 of the 13th, then S2 of the 2d, all while still a 2LT. In Vietnam, I served as the Assistant Psyop Officer in the G5 shop of HQ First Cavalry Division (Airmobile) from November 1967 to November 1968. In that job, I was backup to the Civil Affairs Officer. Later as a Reservist, I served in a Civil Affairs Group as an area analyst. I was in that outfit for less than a year when I received orders in my civilian position with AF Intel to PCS to Germany to serve as an Intel liaison with the staffs of USAREUR, NAVEEUR, USEUCOM, USAFE and Allied Command Europe. That was in 1973-‘76. Ancient history. From my perspective, you would be better off to choose Civil Affairs rather than Psyops. The latter is usually conducted at very high security classification levels, so sensitive that you can’t discuss your work with members of your own family, much less with friends and acquaintances. CA is conducted out in the open, in a benign security environment. And your work experience can be directly translated to the civilian world; not so with Psyops. That’s my two cents worth.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2021 9:32 AM

2021-05-19T09:32:24-04:00

*piqued
Active is different from Reserve so we'll need that info as well to effectively answer your question.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made May 19 at 2021 4:05 PM

2021-05-19T16:05:53-04:00

Many years ago, about 1983, I was assigned to 1st Psyop Bn at Ft. Bragg. That was an unusual unit. The 2 things I remember most about it are: 1) we did the first air drop of leaflets since the Vietnam War and there were many many details that had to go into doing that, 2) we had the most unique group of reservists come on active duty for their annual training, among them were cartoonists from Disney Studios and other famous studios or companies. They were all taking a big cut in pay to go on active duty for their Annual Training.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2021 3:18 AM

2021-05-20T03:18:56-04:00

It depends heavily if you will be assessing into the Reserves or Active Duty. If Reserves, LTC Conway’s post sums it up nicely. If Active Duty, don’t worry about going Special Operations (where active duty Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs are organized on AD) until after you get through your time as a 2LT and 1LT. Keep your eyes on the 50m target and develop into an adaptive, creative, well rounded leader - thats what SOF is looking for in their formations.

Response by LTC Eric Udouj made May 20 at 2021 11:47 AM

2021-05-20T11:47:19-04:00

Here is a little perspective on what you ask - and that goes along with many of the comments and input given already. To get to PSYOP or CA - you have to go somewhere else first. Even on the RC side you will need to be a promotable 1LT to get one of the billets - and though it can be done - its not always the case. PSYOP has a funnel that kicks in about LTC - only a few go on to be COLs. But such really does not mean much at the start - and where we will go in the future will change that. If you go to CA - it is possible to retire as a GO on the RC side.. much tougher on the AC side. SOF does not favor CA GOs.. and yet some have made it because it does provide excellent rounded officers. GO's are branch in material.. but one crisis changes everything. But does anyone really think of that when they start when they will stop?
PSYOP is NCO driven - and the caliber of NCOs is exceptionable in both how much they must learn and in how much they must know and do. An officer is a jack of all trades - the Army teaches you a little - you got to learn a lot on your own. A one day trip to a radio or TV station does not really provide you the ability to establish and run them 24/7. You have to learn aspects of journalism and editing - marketing - advertising - history - culture - and interpersonal communications all in addition to what you are taught - and its re-occurring throughout your career. And you have to be ready to sell your capabilities to both US military and Allied leaders as well as Ambassadors and others. Its by far the funnest experience ever had in life! Both AC and RC PSYOP officers spend more time in other places.. and it just goes with the territory.
CA is officer driven - and officer heavy on both the RC and AC sides - though the AC SOF side does have some NCO focus - while the RC has very limited. Due to that factor - starting in CA as a CPT is far more easier.. but just as long a road. JFK school house only teaches you the basics - its on you to improve them. The skill sets needed in CA are different than those of PSYOP - but the demand to be a cultural expert is the same. The focus on RC side is much more Army focused at the lower levels while on AC side it is Joint focused. That changes at about the MAJ or LTC level for RC to being Joint and Combined - with work in whatever theater of operations your unit focuses on. CA basics is civil military operations - and from humanitarian aid to disaster relief to preparing for disasters in civil defense- its all in your planning tool kit. And that is the tip of an iceberg in so many functions.
Hope that helps! EU