military/ government photographer...

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/27/2007 05:51:06 PM · #1

with the new presdent comming to town.. either obama (first choice) hillary (default second) i was wondering which branches of the government has photographer sections... like army i know and i asume navy does... but what about national gaurd airforce ect...
i will be 18 in 2009 so if by that time the waris died down or better yet overwith i might consider enlisting fo photojournalist or what have you

so any advice or oppinions such as that th military is not the way to go for photography.. i figure ill get much needed experience as well as a free education afterward... any ideas?

admins feel free to change the title to fit post more i didnt know what to call it

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

11/27/2007 05:59:32 PM · #2

If you want to be a photojournalist in the military, you WILL go to the Middle East, and any where else we may have troops stationed. It will not be a free ride. We will be involved in a conflict somewhere. If this isn't your cup of tea, don't join. Period. You may or may NOT get the job you want - ie photographer - there aren't a whole lot of them. Each service does have photographers, though.

island_girl1

Nikon D70s

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D ED

11/27/2007 06:00:00 PM · #3

The Coast Guard has a Public Affairs rate for photojournalists. They will send you to school to learn photography and journalism.

Message edited by author 2007-11-27 23:01:42.

11/27/2007 06:01:47 PM · #4

Originally posted by Melethia:

i dont mind foriegn countrys.. i do however mind being in gunfire

RayEthier

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

11/27/2007 06:19:04 PM · #5

Originally posted by Jib:

Originally posted by Melethia:
If you want to be a photojournalist in the military, you WILL go to the Middle East, and any where else we may have troops stationed. It will not be a free ride. We will be involved in a conflict somewhere. If this isn't your cup of tea, don't join. Period. You may or may NOT get the job you want - ie photographer - there aren't a whole lot of them. Each service does have photographers, though.

i dont mind foriegn countrys.. i do however mind being in gunfire

That being said, perhaps the military should NOT be your first area of consideration.

Ray

11/27/2007 06:23:39 PM · #6

well i mean navy and airfoce sees the least ground experience i assume plus airforce leave tons of room for nice air shots... as well as the nave has a nice sceery all the time...(ocean life, suroundings) those are the only 2 options i would consider given my speculations are correct

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

11/27/2007 06:40:24 PM · #7

Jib, I can't speak for the US defence forces, but I do know that in the many of the UK military photographers are civil servants rather than soldiers. That said, the work is a slog - long, long days, huge amounts of travelling in uncomfortable transport, and no time to take your own stuff - oh, and not very well paid, either.

11/27/2007 06:46:06 PM · #8

well im not woried about the money... as long as afterward i get my free colege education within reason and can get all the experience i can in it... i just tought of this today... chances are it will blow over... and i might keep it in mind on the back burner if my original plan doesnt pan out...but hey servig your country kicks up the brownie poinnts with schols/employers/ and better yet the ladies ;) (oh yea... i went there)

robs

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

11/27/2007 06:56:38 PM · #9

I never understood why people want the military to cover the cost of training them and are then surprised that it sometimes means going places they don't want to go and sometimes even getting shot at or shooting others (go figure).

If you are not in it for the right reasons then I think it would be a mistake. Chances are a photg might see some shooting in the current environment..... but pay your money and takes your chances.

Message edited by author 2007-11-27 23:57:17.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

11/27/2007 06:57:03 PM · #10

Another thing to keep in mind - while the Air Force and Navy don't usually see as much combat as the Army or the Marines, the latter two services are stretched to their limits so the first two are filling in. Many AF and Navy folks are here now - they're filling Army jobs and getting shot at and blown up along with everyone else. I'd have to say that your motivations are not exactly in line with what you'd probably end up with. Photographers are expected to be combat photographers in addition to shooting the boring routine awards ceremonies and changes of command.

Maybe consider checking with local publications for an apprenticeship?

Message edited by author 2007-11-27 23:57:42.

awpollard

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

11/27/2007 07:17:13 PM · #11

Originally posted by robs:

Well said... I was trying to put words together but they were not coming out so kind.

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

11/27/2007 07:21:00 PM · #12

Remember that your "Free" college education is only $5,000 a year so how free it is depends on where you want to go.

11/27/2007 07:47:54 PM · #13

Originally posted by emorgan49:

Remember that your "Free" college education is only $5,000 a year so how free it is depends on where you want to go.

Well, you're only thinking about Tuition Assistance and forgetting about the GI Bill. That's another $13,000 a year or so for up to 36 months.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

11/27/2007 07:52:56 PM · #14

Originally posted by Jib:

I've got to say that these are bad reasons to join the military; you sound too much like a spokesperson for "the Me Generation." Then again, you're only 16 years old and I shouldn't expect you to sound like Patrick Henry. But, I would hope that you'd come up with some more honorable reasons to join than the ones you've thought of so far. In the meantime, work on your spelling.

levyj413

Nikon D7100

11/27/2007 07:52:56 PM · #15

The Environmental Protection Agency has two professional photographers on staff at HQ. I don't know about regional offices. The State Dept. also employs photographers.

In fact, I'd be willing to bet that most cabinet-level agencies do, if not all.

Also, don't forget that "government" doesn't just mean federal. There are governments at the state, county, and city levels, along with regional authorities.

levyj413

Nikon D7100

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

11/27/2007 07:57:25 PM · #16

Originally posted by Jib:

well im not woried about the money... as long as afterward i get my free colege education within reason and can get all the experience i can in it...but hey servig your country kicks up the brownie poinnts with schols/employers/ and better yet the ladies ;) (oh yea... i went there)

Wow. What an amazingly short-sighted, selfish set of reasons to join the military. I hope that as you mature, your interest increases in helping others beyond your own benefit. And that you aren't killed in combat before that happens.

11/27/2007 07:58:56 PM · #17

Originally posted by Jib:

with the new presdent comming to town.. either obama (first choice) hillary (default second)

God help us! OBama is just a kid with no experience!

Spork99

Canon EOS R8

Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM

11/27/2007 08:08:01 PM · #18

If you're not prepared for the possibility of coming under fire, don't join the military.

Find another way.

jtf6agent

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

11/27/2007 09:28:57 PM · #19

I deal with a lot of military PAO's through my company Mil-Spec Photography. I find that the Navy, Marines and Army will be your best bet. Marine's you'll be hard pressed to get a PAO slot. It's tough to join the Marines and wind up with an alternate MOS (Military Occupational Skill) other than infantry. Army you have a far better chance of getting Combat Camera and an even better chance of winding up at Syracuse for there journalist course. I deal with a fair amount of Navy PAO's but for some reason they don't have too many of them and they only hire new PAO's as the current ones leave service. My best advice for military journalist would be the Army and that is with absolutely NO disrespect to the other services. Good luck which ever way you go.

Nick

11/27/2007 09:36:14 PM · #20

Originally posted by jtf6agent:

It's tough to join the Marines and wind up with an alternate MOS (Military Occupational Skill) other than infantry.
Nick

This sentence is incorrect. We (the Marine Corps) have LOT'S of other MOS's besides infantry and they all need to be filled. Now, Combat Camera may be a tough one to get because it is a small field. But there are lot's of other possibilities besides infantry (though infantry is the biggest and most likely).

jtf6agent

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 Compact High Speed Zoom for Nikon

11/27/2007 09:47:04 PM · #21

Oman I wasn't saying the Marines only have Infantry you are correct there are hundreds of occupations in the Marine Corps but the number one MOS is infantry and it has been difficult to get any other MOS other than infantry especially in light of current affairs

Semper Fi

Nick

fotomann_forever

11/27/2007 10:22:22 PM · #22

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

If you're not prepared for the possibility of coming under fire, don't join the military.

Find another way.

Yeah, I think civilian journalist, or other non-military government would be a better bit for someone that isn't terribly fond of the idea of gunfire (like myself).

Point is: if you are not willing to be a soldier, the military should be the last thing on your mind. We are ALWAYS going to be in a conflict with some one, no matter who is in the president's office.

If you want journalism training, get government grants or loans or scholarships, go to a good J-school. It's a little less binding than that military contract.

rbryan22

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

11/28/2007 08:54:02 PM · #23

I would not go into the military only for the reasons you are stating. I know the college money and training is attractive but I know too many kids who have gotten in without a full understanding of the decision they were making, thinking they were going straight to college after training, and went straight to the Middle East.

I have a friend who is a photojournalist in the Navy. He has told me of many occasions when he had to go out into the field and was under fire.