Don't lose it

Mike does not play.  I think he wrote a book about the proper way to place a mic back in its bag.

Want to know what the biggest downfall of MCs is? Keeping track of gear on a shoot. 

They can teach you in school until they're blue in the face but everything changes when you're out in the field and things are moving a mile a minute.

I'm turning gear in to our camera shop's gatekeeper Mike. If you lose something and don't pray to a god you better start.

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Holding a teddy bear (a week in the life of an MC)

It's my future. It's very sunny.

No we don't hold teddy bears all week but I needed an interesting title.  Here's a few random photos of life as an MC!

The above shot was taken at Fort Gordon, Georgia.  I was working with their public affairs officers to produce a story on the new cyber school there.  It's important to have a good relationship with PAOs because they are the gatekeepers of their territory.

SURVIVAL TIP: Prepare to be flexible because each PAO is different.  Some are military while others are civilian. Some are super chill, like these two, while some are controlling and hover over every shot you take.

haha Someone left him an apple!

This is Senior Chief Jones. I served with him on USS Nimitz, back when he was a chief.  We happened to be stationed together now at Defense Media Activity.

He swears it's not because he missed me and had me sent here.  mmhmm

SURVIVAL TIP:  Don't burn bridges with your shipmates because you could be stationed with them again.

MC1 Bidwell, me, MC2 Church, MCCM Weatherspoon.

Our volunteer events at the Maryland SPCA continue but we had a new addition to the group today.  Master Chief Weatherspoon recently arrived to DMA and she helped us shovel turds like a champ.

When we first met she said she really liked my blog. The least I could do is give her a cameo. ;)

That's not my teddy bear.  It's for the dogs but I liked it.

MC Perspective: So you were turned down for the rating?

MC3 Seth Coulter

Nobody wants this.  You decide to enlist but get told by the classifier at MEPS that there's no spots available.  You can pick another job and try to cross rate later or you can enlist as undesignated (no job) and strike to MC later.  

THERE'S HOPE!

Entering the fleet as an undesignated seaman/airman/fireman was surely not your first choice, but it's not the end of the world.  Let's talk to two MCs who have been through the process. 

For more information about what striking is check here.

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I Am Your Eyes: What were the steps you took to strike MC? 

Coulter: Make sure you go in with a high ASVAB score, this is one of the most single important things you can do. If you don't score high initially then re-take down the road. I was lucky enough to strike in while the rate was relatively open so I selected it, from the eligible list and once selected began working on my required portfolio. 

Brooks: First you have to be sure you meet the basic requirements to become an MC. Which means that you meet the required ASVAB scores to become and MC, you are not color blind, and you can get or already have a SECRET clearance level.

"You need to do some OJT (on the job training) with 
an MC shop so you can learn the job."

In order to do that you need your chain of command and the MC shop chain of command to approve you doing OJT with them. You'll more than likely have to do this outside of your normal working hours. 

Once you've worked with the shop and published plenty of work (photos, new story, etc.) you will then have to submit a 1306, along with a portfolio of your work (published and non-published), and get a letter of recommendation from a senior enlisted MC. Then submit all that to the MC community manager.

MC2 Brian Brooks

I Am Your Eyes: Did you go to A school after you passed the test?

Coulter: I don't know how many people go back to school after striking in but I sure wasn't one! Everything that Ive learned has either been taught to me from my peers or learned on my own. 

Brooks: I did not have to go to A school when I made it but that may be a decision that is made once you've make it. The thing you have to realize is that if you do go to A school the command that is gaining you will have to basically count you as a loss for about six months until you return. 

So in my opinion, they may not want to send you to A school due to being a person down and the cost of the school as well.    


 I Am Your Eyes: What's your final advice for strikers?
 
Coulter: The best advice I can give is to buy a DSLR, get a 35/50mm lens and leave it on manual. Go out and constantly shoot as much as possible. 

"Read more books and magazines on photography

 than you ever thought possible!"

Don't neglect the shooters of the film age either. Magnum, Time, Life and Nat. Geo. are good places to turn to for reference. Don't forget to practice good graphic design either, it can be something that sets you apart in the community.

Brooks: My advice is do as much learning as you can on your off time and take the initiative to do some MC work on your own to show them what you're capable of doing and that this is something that you really want to do with your Navy career. I can truly say that this is not a "hard" job in comparison to like Deck Dept. (trust me I know...they are some of the hardest working Sailors) but it can be a challenging job because you are always putting your personal work on the line. 

"Keep an open mind and be able to take criticism and learn from it. 

I hope that helps. If you need any specifics you can always talk to your career counselor at your command. Good luck.

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Gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to help us out with some great gouge! 

This never happens

I'm doing a story on the Triple Nickels, or the 555th Parachute Infantry, the legendary African American paratroopers from WW2.

I show up and there's a documentary crew already working there. They were nice enough to hook me up with their setup for my interview. All I have to do is put my camera and tripod down!

The only downside is I feel like a total noob hanging out with these pros.

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