Defense Information School

Last updated
Defense Information School
Seal of the Defense Information School.png
DINFOS 2.jpg
Agency overview
FormedJanuary 1946 (1946-01)
Headquarters Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, U.S.
39°05′52″N76°44′59″W / 39.0979°N 76.7498°W / 39.0979; -76.7498
Motto"Strength Through Truth"
Agency executive
  • Colonel John S. Hutcheson, Commandant
Parent agency Defense Media Activity
Website www.dinfos.dma.mil

The Defense Information School (DINFOS) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) school located at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. DINFOS fulfills the Department of Defense's need for an internal corps of professional journalists, broadcasters, and public affairs professionals. [1] Members from all branches of the U.S. military, DoD civilians and international military personnel attend DINFOS for training in public affairs, print journalism, photojournalism, photography, television and radio broadcasting, lithography, equipment maintenance and various forms of multimedia. Since 1995, DINFOS is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. [2] The American Council on Education recommends college credit for most DINFOS courses. [3]

Contents

History

The Army Information School was founded in 1946 at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Other branches of the military merged with the Army Information School in 1948 to form the Armed Forces Information School at Fort Slocum, New York. The joint service venture disbanded due to poor enrollment until 1964, when Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Arthur Sylvester chartered DINFOS. DINFOS moved to Fort Benjamin Harrison, just outside Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1965 where it remained until its 1995 move to Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

Training

Leadership courses

The Public Affairs Leadership Department is one of four departments in DINFOS.

The Public Affairs Leadership Department offers the Qualification Course (PAQC), the Joint Expeditionary Course (JEPAC), the Joint Intermediate Course (JIPAC), and the Joint Senior Course (JSPAC). Courses are offered to military officers, senior enlisted personnel, Department of Defense civilians, and members of coalition partners from around the world who are preparing for or already in billets of public affairs leadership.

The Public Affairs Qualification Course (PAQC) provides those who are new to the public affairs field the fundamentals of public affairs to include military-media relations, the different mediums used to facilitate the flow of accurate and timely information, and how to conduct public affairs operations in support of the command's mission. In addition, the students are taught the fundamentals of news, journalism, and how to write and copy-edit in accordance with the Associated Press (AP) Styleguide.

The Public Affairs Expeditionary Course is a ten-day, intensive follow-on course to PAQC. Students are expected to have a basic working knowledge and experience in PA as the course is focused more on the application of PA skills in a field environment.

Journalism courses

Journalism classes feature basic writing skills and include a headline style known at the school as "headline-ese," a style for writing and developing headlines. Students are taught a variety of writing styles and formats such as news, sports and feature writing.

Photojournalism courses focus on composition, exposure and general camera operation skills. Flash photography is introduced in the basic photography course. Students learn advanced photo-editing, composition and other techniques not taught in basic photojournalism classes.

For military journalists, DINFOS offers the 6-month Mass Communication Fundamentals Course (MCF), two-week Intermediate Public Affairs Specialist Course (IPASC) and four-week Content Management Course. U.S. Army students are awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) designator of 46S, Mass Communications Specialist, U.S. Air Force students are awarded the Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 3N0X6, Public Affairs, and U.S. Marine Corps students are awarded the MOS 4341 Combat Correspondent.

For military Broadcast journalists, DINFOS offers the Broadcast Communication Specialist Course. Broadcasters begin by attending several weeks of BWAS - Basic Writing and Announcing Skills. If the class requirements are met, students may continue into Radio and Television broadcasting classes.

Students in all courses hail from all branches of the U.S. military and Reserve as well as international military students.

Equipment maintenance courses

The Basic Television Equipment Maintenance (BTVEM) course includes apprentice level instruction in the repair of all types of studio and transmission equipment. Students also learn how to maintain the Adobe Premiere non-linear digital editing systems. The U.S. Army MOS 25R is awarded upon completion. Since December 2006 Air Force class graduated, DINFOS no longer trains Air Force personnel in the BTVEM course.

The Broadcast Radio and Television Systems Maintenance course is an advanced level course where students learn the ins and outs of American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) engineering standards and practices.

Both maintenance courses are nationally accredited by the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE). Upon completion of either course with an average GPA of at least 85%, students are certified by the SBE as broadcast technologists (CBT).

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Meade</span> United States Army installation

Fort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation located in Maryland, that includes the Defense Information School, the Defense Media Activity, the United States Army Field Band, and the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, the Defense Courier Service, Defense Information Systems Agency headquarters, and the U.S. Navy's Cryptologic Warfare Group Six. It is named for George G. Meade, a Union general from the U.S. Civil War, who served as commander of the Army of the Potomac. The fort's smaller census-designated place includes support facilities such as schools, housing, and the offices of the Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program (MICECP).

A United States military occupation code, or a military occupational specialty code, is a nine-character code used in the United States Army and United States Marine Corps to identify a specific job. In the United States Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) is used. In the United States Navy, a system of naval ratings and designators are used along with the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) system. A system of ratings is also used in the United States Coast Guard.

The School of Infantry (SOI) is the second stage of initial military training for enlisted United States Marines after recruit training. The ITB now called IMC went from a 59 day course to 14 week course. Since the initial training pipeline is divided between coasts, Marines from areas east of the Mississippi River usually graduate from MCRD Parris Island and move on to SOI at SOI East, while those from the western half of the nation attend MCRD San Diego and move on to SOI West at the Camp San Onofre area of Camp Pendleton in California. Female Marines are trained at both SOI East and SOI West. The School of Infantry's training mission ensures "Every Marine is, first and foremost, a Rifleman". At SOI, Marines with the Military Occupational Specialty of infantry are trained at the Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), while all non-infantry Marines are trained in basic infantry and combat skills at the Marine Combat Training Battalion. SOI marks a transition in the professional training of entry-level students from basically trained Marines to combat-ready Marines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences</span> United States federal government university in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is a health science university and professional school of the U.S. federal government. The primary mission of the school is to prepare graduates for service to the U.S. at home and abroad as uniformed health professionals, scientists and leaders; by conducting cutting-edge, military-relevant research; by leading the Military Health System in key functional and intellectual areas; and by providing operational support to units around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badges of the United States Air Force</span> Military badges of the U.S. Air Force

Badges of the United States Air Force are specific uniform insignia authorized by the United States Air Force that signify aeronautical ratings, special skills, career field qualifications, and serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Benjamin Harrison</span> Former US Army post in Indianapolis, IN, US 1906-1991

Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located in suburban Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis, between 1906 and 1991. It is named for the 23rd United States president, Benjamin Harrison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Sergeants Major Academy</span> Military unit

The United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) was established on 1 July 1972 at Fort Bliss, Texas, and began instruction in January 1973. Its curriculum is designed to broaden the student's current knowledge base. This approach differs from the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) related training at the basic and advanced levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System. The prime educational technique employed throughout the course is the small group participatory learning process.

The 13th Aviation Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army.

Public affairs is a term for the formal offices of the branches of the United States Department of Defense whose purpose is to deal with the media and community issues. The term is also used for numerous media relations offices that are created by the U.S. military for more specific limited purposes. Public affairs offices are staffed by a combination of officers, enlisted personnel, civilian officials and contract professionals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Communication Electronics School</span> Military unit

Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School (MCCES) is the Marine Corps training ground for the majority of the communications and air/ground electronic maintenance Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). MCCES is based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs</span>

The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, or ATSD (PA), is the principal staff advisor and assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense for public information, internal information, community relations, information training, and audiovisual matters in support of Department of Defense activities, leading a worldwide public affairs community of some 3,800 military and civilian personnel. The Assistant to the Secretary follows the Secretary's Principles of Information in providing Defense Department information to the public, the United States Congress and the media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defense Media Activity</span> US Department of Defense service

The Defense Media Activity (DMA) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) field activity. It provides a range of media and services to that aim to "inform, educate, and entertain Department of Defense audiences around the world." The Defense Media Activity is located on Fort Meade, Maryland. DoD field activities are established as DoD components by law, by the President, or by the Secretary of Defense to provide for the performance, on a DoD-wide basis, of a supply or service activity that is common to more than one Military Department when it is determined to be more effective, economical, or efficient to do so. DMA operates as a separate DoD Component under the authority, direction and control of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan R. Lynn</span> United States Army general

U.S. Army Lieutenant General Alan R. Lynn was the Director, Defense Information Systems Agency at Fort Meade, MD.

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Military media publishing unit of the U.S. Department of Defense

The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), formerly the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, is an operation supported by the Defense Media Activity (DMA). It provides a connection between world media and the American military personnel serving at home and abroad. It supports all branches of the U.S. military as well as its coalition partners in the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.

The Defence Public Affairs Learning Centre (DPALC) is a Canadian military training institution that provides Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces personnel with specialized military public affairs and communications training. It is part of the Assistant Deputy Minister organization and executes its mandate under the authority of the Canadian Defence Academy.

Stationed in Bell, CA, the 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment (BOD) is an Army Reserve public affairs unit that is capable of operating an Armed Forces Network (AFN) radio/television station as well as providing media relations support for the U.S. Army Reserves, Regular Army, and Department of Defense. Their products include videography packages such as video news releases (VNR), B-Roll packages, veteran history projects, and training videos. Most recently, the 222nd supported the U.S. Army's public affairs mission with two, year-long tours of duty in Baghdad, Iraq, were the unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), 2003–2004. The 222nd BOD supports the 201st Press Camp Headquarters (PCH) in Bell, CA, and the 63rd Regional Support Command (RSC) in Mountain View, CA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John P. Otjen</span> United States Army general

John Putnam Otjen is a retired United States Army officer. He attained the rank of lieutenant general, and his command assignments included First United States Army and the 8th Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane T. McCoy</span> American photographer (born 1974)

Shane T. McCoy is an operational photographer for the U.S. Marshals Service, where he started working in 2009. His photos have been published in hundreds of publications worldwide. McCoy is responsible for covering all operational aspects of the multi-mission U.S. Marshals Service, and he has photographed thousands of arrests of people wanted on federal and local warrants.

References

  1. "DINFOS History" Archived 2014-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Defense Information School. Retrieved 2014 Jan. 22.
  2. Council on Occupational Education. Retrieved 2024 Feb. 20.
  3. "ACE Military Guide" American Council on Education. Retrieved 2014 Jan. 22.
  4. "Hall of Fame induction ceremony held" Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine Fort Meade SoundOff. 2013 Mar. 21. Retrieved 2014 Jul. 5.
  5. 1 2 3 "Defense Information School Holds Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction" United States Army. 2013 Mar. 26. Retrieved 2014 Jul. 5
  6. "WCSU Faculty" Western Connecticut State University. Retrieved 2014 Jan. 22
  7. "Play’s Gay Theme Reflects Background of Creator" Jewish Journal. 2006 Aug. 10. Retrieved 2014 Jul. 5.
  8. "About Chas Henry" Retrieved 2014 Jul. 5
  9. "LouAnne Johnson Biography" Retrieved 2014 Jul. 5.
  10. "Rod Simmons Biography" IMDb. Retrieved 2014 Jul. 5
  11. "A Soldier's Peace" Retrieved 2014 Jan. 22
  12. "James E. Whaley" Corporate Communication International. Retrieved 2014 Jan. 22
  13. "DINFOS graduates reflect on their careers in panel discussion" Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine Ft. Meade SoundOff. Retrieved 2014 Nov. 18