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39B Career Guide

Army

39B: Psychological Operations Officer

Career transition guide for Army Psychological Operations Officer (39B)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 39B veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Market Research Analyst

$78K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced statistical analysisSurvey design methodologiesData visualization software (Tableau, Power BI)

Public Relations Specialist

$68K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Media relations strategiesCrisis communication planningDigital marketing expertise

Political Campaign Manager

$72K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FundraisingVolunteer ManagementPolitical ScienceCampaign Strategy

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced data analyticsCybersecurity fundamentalsSpecific regional expertise

Corporate Communications Manager

$95K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Internal communications strategyChange management communicationExecutive communications

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 39B training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

PSYOP officers constantly analyze potential adversaries, understanding their motivations, vulnerabilities, and decision-making processes to craft effective influence strategies.

This skill translates directly into anticipating competitors' moves, identifying weaknesses in business strategies, and developing robust counter-strategies.

Situational Awareness

Maintaining comprehensive awareness of the operational environment, including cultural, political, and social factors, is critical for PSYOP planning and execution.

In the civilian world, this translates to understanding market dynamics, recognizing emerging trends, and anticipating potential risks and opportunities within a business context.

System Modeling

PSYOP requires building mental models of how target audiences perceive information and how different messages will affect their behavior.

This is valuable for designing effective marketing campaigns, predicting consumer behavior, and understanding complex social systems.

After-Action Analysis

PSYOP units conduct thorough after-action reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of their operations, identify lessons learned, and improve future performance.

This experience equips you to critically assess project outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and implement data-driven changes to optimize processes and strategies.

Rapid Prioritization

PSYOP officers often operate in dynamic environments, requiring them to quickly assess competing demands and prioritize tasks based on their potential impact.

This ability to quickly assess and prioritize in high-pressure situations is invaluable for managing projects, responding to crises, and making critical decisions under tight deadlines.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Market Research Analyst

SOC 19-3022

You've been trained to analyze target audiences and understand their motivations. As a market research analyst, you can use these skills to identify consumer trends, assess market potential, and develop effective marketing strategies. Your experience in evaluating the impact of influence operations translates directly to understanding how marketing campaigns affect consumer behavior.

Political Campaign Manager

SOC 11-1011

You've developed expertise in shaping public opinion and influencing behavior. This experience is highly relevant to managing political campaigns, where you'll be responsible for crafting messaging, mobilizing voters, and winning elections. Your skills in strategic communication and understanding target audiences will be invaluable in this role.

Corporate Communications Strategist

SOC 11-2011

You've honed your ability to craft persuasive messages and manage information flow. As a corporate communications strategist, you can use these skills to develop effective communication plans, manage public relations, and protect the company's reputation. Your experience in advising senior leaders and working with diverse stakeholders will be highly valuable in this role.

Negotiation Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've developed keen adversarial thinking skills and an understanding of how to influence people's behavior. As a negotiation consultant, you can use these skills to help businesses and individuals reach favorable agreements in complex negotiations. Your ability to anticipate the other party's moves and develop effective counter-strategies will be invaluable in this role.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Psychological Operations Qualification Course (POQC), Fort Liberty

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Social Sciences and Communications

Topics Covered

  • PSYOP Planning and Execution
  • Influence Techniques
  • Target Audience Analysis
  • Military Deception
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Regional and Cultural Awareness
  • Operational Law

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)60% covered

Formal business analysis methodologies, documentation standards, and stakeholder management techniques specific to business contexts need further study.

Project Management Professional (PMP)50% covered

Formal project management methodologies (PMBOK), risk management, scheduling, and resource allocation in civilian projects.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP)Certified International Trade Professional (CITP)Strategic Communication Management Professional Certification (SCMP)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Information Environment (JIE)Cloud-based data sharing and collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Azure Government, AWS GovCloud)
Defense Information Systems Network (DISN)Secure Wide Area Network (WAN) solutions for government and enterprise (e.g., Verizon Enterprise Solutions, AT&T Government Solutions)
Tactical Radios (SINCGARS, PRC-117F)Two-way radio communication systems, satellite phones, and push-to-talk apps (e.g., Motorola two-way radios, Iridium satellite phones, Zello)
Propaganda Dissemination Systems (various)Marketing Automation Platforms, Social Media Management Tools (e.g., HubSpot, Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
Intelligence Analysis SystemBusiness Intelligence software and analytical tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI)
DCGS-A (Distributed Common Ground System - Army)Data analytics and intelligence platforms (e.g., Palantir, Splunk)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Mapping and spatial analysis software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS)

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