On April 2, 2026, the SOCoE graduated 44 its first class in the initial transformation of Psychological Operations, as part of the Total Army solution to cognitive warfare. The new graduates included PSYOP service members from all three components, Regular Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve, as well as members of the Joint Force.
The push for modernizing Psychological Operations stems from the realization that adversaries are outmaneuvering the U.S. in the information environment. A recent example is the widespread use of disinformation campaigns during the 2025 Black Sea tensions, in which hostile actors manipulated social media platforms to sow confusion among NATO partners and influence public opinion against U.S. policy goals. This incident highlights how adversaries have leveraged information superiority to gain tangible strategic advantages, underscoring the urgent need to contest and regain the initiative in this domain. This initiative aims to contest our adversaries' current information superiority.
The current Army structure, with its information capabilities spread across various commands, branches, and centers of excellence, does not sufficiently address sophisticated threats. To bridge this gap and regain the initiative, the Army announced a major transformation of the Information Forces: consolidating the Psychological Operations (CMF 37) and Information Operations (FA30) communities into a single branch.
The HQDA EXORD 083-26, titled "Information Warfare (IWAR) Initiatives," directs the consolidation of proponents under the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, also known as the Special Operations Center of Excellence (SOCoE). This officially designates SOCoE as the lead for modernizing Psychological Operations, which includes developing the curriculum, executing pilot courses, and overseeing the force modernization effort. The mission, as stated in these directives, is to transform information activities across the competition continuum. The SOCoE cadre and instructors constantly adapt and modernize training scenarios that test our new Psychological Operations Officers. We're learning from global conflicts and adapting to the continuously changing character and conduct of war.
The Psychological Operations Qualification Course curriculum transitioned from a Global War on Terrorism focus to Large-Scale Combat Operations, shifting from large-population messaging and counter-radicalization to countering peer adversaries: how they fight, how they make decisions, and how to influence the adversary commander's next move. For example, instead of designing messaging campaigns aimed at deterring insurgent recruitment, the course now trains students to analyze and counter peer and near-peer adversarial information. In one scenario, students practice developing influence strategies that disrupt an enemy commander's decision-making cycle during a simulated large-scale combat exercise, employing techniques to exploit cognitive vulnerabilities.
With the consolidation of FA30 into CMF 37, the new qualification course curriculum focuses on providing the maneuver commander greater lethality. The modernized training curriculum bridges the two career fields together, strengthening the integration of information with warfighting functions at the corps and division levels. Students now have a better understanding of how to use the other information forces for an influence effect. They also now have a better understanding of how to integrate PSYOP into the targeting cycle and operational planning for a maneuver commander.
These new graduates will be able to integrate information effects with the same rigor the Army applies to integrating fires and maneuver, providing Army Senior leaders with a blueprint for how information can maximize combat power. The new qualification course showcases new concepts in employment, the application of cutting-edge technology and software, and an updated training scenario to reflect the current threat landscape. The modernized qualification course also integrates emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to help generate relevant solutions at speed, enabling combat power for the Army and the Joint Force.
The cognitive dimension is a key part of the battlefield, and our adversaries are outmaneuvering us at the strategic level with low-cost, high-impact information activities. Integrating into the maneuver commander's operations and targeting cycle is where PSYOP can provide lethality. They can create advantageous conditions for the commander by understanding the adversaries' behavior and decision-making calculus. The modernized course teaches about human behaviors, motives, and vulnerabilities that shape decision-making. PSYOP recognizes how the adversary thinks and processes information, and how this affects their behavior on the battlefield, which can be influenced. Bringing that understanding to the staff and the commander enables more effective targeting.
Previously undertaken as Information Warfare (IWAR), the name has now officially reverted to Psychological Operations. The name change does not affect the initiatives and modernization efforts that the SOCoE has implemented over the past year. The revamped Psychological Operations branch modernizes a career field that leverages information to benefit the entire Army and the Joint Force. This evolved branch creates an agile force capable of weakening enemy combat power and providing our commanders with a decision-making advantage in multidomain operations.
This transformation directly enhances the lethality and combat power of the entire Joint Force. It ensures we can compete, deter, and win against any adversary in today's complex information environment. The 2026 graduation of the Army's first class under the transformed Psychological Operations curriculum marks a significant milestone in Army modernization and operational readiness. By equipping Soldiers with advanced cognitive warfare capabilities, this initiative strengthens the Army’s ability to effectively compete in the information environment and maintain a strategic edge.
Author’s Note: Maj. George Wasickanin is a career Regular Army Soldier and Public Affairs Officer with more than 16 years of service. The views, opinions, and analysis expressed do not represent the position of the U.S. Army or the Department of War.