How to Become a Journalist in the Military

How to Become a Journalist in the MilitaryHow to Become a Journalist in the MilitaryBut did you know that there are servicemen and women every day chatting up soldiers and civilians on TV, just like your friendly local anchor? The Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines are each responsible for handling their public affairs- spreading the good (and bad) word to their members and the American public without contradicting military policy or hurting the mission. The boots on the ground are the military journalists, enlisted individuals who do everything from writing print articles to producing radio and television broadcasts that cover military events, spread command information, and deliver entertainment to the troops. Education As an enlisted field, entry-level journalists require no college education. All applicants must be high school graduates and need to pass the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery with scores that meet the requirements set by their chosen service branch. Once accepted, the prospective military journalist attends all of the basic training required of any other soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine, followed by advanced training specific to their fields, such as print journalism or television broadcasting. Military Guidelines and Requirements In addition to basic requirements, prospective journalists may have to demonstrate a minimum typing speed, such as the Air Force requirement of no less than 20 words per minute. For fields such as broadcasting, you may also have to pass an audition- because the swagger you gain from graduating boot camp doesnt necessarily make you a good public speaker. TV broadcasters in the military definitely buck the unfair stereotype of the brainwashed soldier- take a look at a podcast from The fnfeck Channel, the only branch of the Armed Forces Network available free to civilians, and see just how savvy and confident they are. Auditions are there to make sure youve got a good foundation to build on, and that b eing the face of the military on TV isnt an unrealistic goal for you. Duties and Responsibilities Depending on thebranch of service and specific Military Occupational Specialty, military journalists learn to do a surprising variety of jobs. Not just writers or talking heads, they can also work in editing, behind-the-scenes media operations, and as liaisons with the public. To keep pace with current tech and entertainment trends, these roles even extend to working in web-based media to deliver articles, blogs, and podcasts. The Downside of Journalism Work in the Military There are inherent contradictions to being a military journalist that might make skeptics, cynics, and aspiring investigative journalists bristle. For example, policies such as Joint Publication 3-61, Public Affairs emphasizes the importance of transparency and trust between the military and the publicbut simultaneously limits the scope of that transparency when it would threaten national security or undermin e the mission. However, those with a troublemaking streak should take heart that kindred spirits have done the job and come through to the other side marching to the beat of their own drum. Novelist Gustav Hasford began his career in the Marines as a combat correspondent before immortalizing the perspective of the unreconstructed Vietnam veteran in The Short Timers, the basis for the filmFull Metal Jacket. And gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson spent his time in the Air Force working on the base newspaper until he received an early discharge because he was (so he claimed in a satiric press release) totally unclassifiable. The Pros But is it really propaganda to exercise caution, and make sure the good news gets out with the bad? Military journalists inform the public of events and ideas they might otherwise never hearand counteract the effects of enemy propaganda. Embedded civilian journalists, though vital storytellersare at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing inside inf ormation and, more importantly, understanding the troops perspectives. Journalists within the military are better able to give voice to the daily lives of their brothers- and sisters-in-arms, delivering the difficult facts without losing sight of the good news. They provide a vital service to the troops themselves, keeping them informed and entertained in every clime and place.