SpecialForces.net -

Activated on 27 November 1990, the United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC) is responsible for overseeing two lesser known areas of Special Operations whose contributions are no less valuable than Special Forces or Rangers. Used during peacetime, contingencies and declared war, these activities are not a form of force, but are force multipliers that use nonviolent means in often violent environments. Persuading rather than compelling physically, they rely on logic, fear, desire or other mental factors to promote specific emotions, attitudes or behaviors. The ultimate objective of U.S. military Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs is to convince enemy, neutral, and friendly nations and forces to take action favorable to the United States and its allies.

Of the command's approximately 10,000 soldiers, 96 percent of them are in the reserve component located throughout 26 states. USACAPOC has 1 active duty Psychological Operations unit, the 4^th Psychological Operations Group, and 1 active duty active duty Civil Affairs unit, the 96^th Civil Affairs Battalion.

USACAPOC, headquartered at Fort Bragg, NC, is one of four major commands making up the United States Army Special Operations Command. Soldiers under this command maintain a constant state of readiness and are ready to deploy any where in the world with short notice.

Even though Psychological Operations (Psyop) and Civil Affairs activities often complement each other, each battle system operates independently in support of field commanders. CA soldiers are the commander's link to civil authorities in the area of operation. With specialists in nearly every form of government, they can assist a host government to meet its population's needs and maintain a stable civil administration

Psyop soldiers employ persuasion to influence desired behavior. The foundation of Psyop is truth, plausibly presented to convince any given audience to desist resistance or take actions favorable to friendly forces.