Feeding Frenzy

The edge of sanity.

MC3 Tim Haake just arrived and found out real fast we are low on graphics people. He already has five projects in front of him and he doesn't know where the cafeteria is. Hold on dear Haake, hold on.

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

It's not always a one-MC band. (and updated C school info)

Steve shot everything but the garden and parking lot footage.

At Defense Media Activity, and specifically the DoD News division, news products are touched by many people.   I recently worked on a story where all I did was shoot the video.  This is a new experience for me.  Like many MCs, I'm used to doing it all myself.  I shot the video then immediately handed the memory card off to Terese.  The next time I saw my footage was on DoD News a couple of days later.

(By the way, you probably get our channel.  Check up around History.)

Here's how it went:

Producer: Terese
Shooters: Arik and MC2 Slaughter
Editor: Joe
Narration: MC3 Jacobs

Anchor: SSgt Usher

 

Terese produced the piece.  She was the director, did the interviewing and wrote the narration you hear.

 Joe edited the video together and added the DoD News graphics.

 

 MC3 Jacobs did the narration.  What a voice!

As you can see, we work closely with civilians here, many of whom have much more experience than us.  Steve's worked with a couple of U.S. presidents, and Terese used to work for NBC.  It makes for an interesting mix, and a great opportunity to learn.

MC1 Alan Gragg

I've had several questions about C school options recently.  It's changed a lot since I've been there, so MC1 Gragg, a DINFOS instructor, wrote in to answer for me.  An NEC is a Navy Enlisted Classification, or number assigned to you that tells how much training you've had.  For example, an MC with just 'A' school training would have a different NEC than one who goes to a 'C' school.  As you'll see below, there are several options.  You will be guided through this process at the school.

And remember, there's not many spots available.  Your best chance for getting a seat is to perform well at your job and stay out of trouble.

Stop by the Defense Information School website for more information.

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GRAGG:  We have IVC (Intermediate Videography Course), which  concentrates on intermediate level production skills.  It's great for someone who shoots a little video, and is looking to get some more insight into the craft.

AEJC (Advanced Electronic Journalism Course) is more about news/feature storytelling with narration. We cover a lot about writing, etc, and expect the students to be close to intermediate-level producers before they show up.

BCS (Broadcast Communication Specialist) is a basic-level course for video, but considered a C-School for us because it produces the 8150 Broadcaster NEC. Now that the Navy trains a little bit of that in the 'A' MC course (the video functional area), having BCS training is a bit redundant.

For photography, the Intermediate Photojournalism Course (IPC) is another NEC and is excellent C-School photo training.

To clear things up a little bit, none of these courses mean that someone will go to Combat Camera. Those units are just like any other unit. They have a need for NEC-qualified MCs, and therefore will get some of the folks who have been through those courses, but not any more than a carrier, NPASE or amphib with the same NEC demands.




This is a list of our NECs and what they mean. The courses that give the NEC may change but the numbers and their meaning stay roughly the same...or at least they have for as long as I've been in.

 MASS COMMUNICATION

8143 - Motion Media Cameraman

Performs all duties as a crewmember for controlled and uncontrolled motion media productions, including director on a small production crew. Primarily functions as a camera operator. Determines scene lighting and audio recording requirements. Can prepare shooting scripts and perform limited post production editing.

8144 - Motion Media Director/Editor

Directs crewmembers shooting controlled and uncontrolled motion media productions. Performs duties as on-scene crew chief. Senior editor for motion media post-production. Determines equipment and material requirements for each motion media production or Combat Camera mission. In controlled productions, directs action in the production of scenes and episodes, analyzes existing scripts and recommends appropriate script revisions, determines scene composition, coordinates action of performing personnel, directs audio recording during filming, supervises preparation of set, approves set design and props to be used.

8147 - Photojournalism Specialist

Covers and photographs events of news/documentary interest. Supports and effectively meets military services' public affairs objectives and programs. Applies layout and design principles; news and feature writing; basic and advanced photographic techniques and production; and demonstrates writing and photographic skills. Communicates with a mass print media audience through pictures and words. Produces news pictures, feature pictures and picture stories that lend balance and impact to print communication. Supports the efforts of ashore/afloat activity newspapers and the associated PAO effort.

8148 - Photojournalist

Covers and photographs events of news/documentary interests. Selects and prepares photography in news form. Writes captions and text for news stories. Maintains liaison with photo-news media. Trains personnel in photojournalism techniques.

8150 - Broadcaster

Works in broadcast delivery; principles and procedures of military broadcasting; collection, evaluation and preparation of military information for use on radio and television; techniques of radio and television production and interviews; operation of all radio/television equipment; preparation and maintenance of operation logs; essentials of audio and videotape recording, editing and use/selection of music and sound effects. Interacts with command, community and external media, preparing and releasing information to report news and Command Information in accordance with applicable directives. Uses studio video cameras, hand-held video cameras, and a variety of editing systems, audio studios and lighting equipment. Skilled in the principles of framing and composition, camera placement, audio and video editing, visualization, and storytelling. Works independently or supervises groups of 3 to 15 broadcasters/videographers depending on production.

8151 - Graphic Illustrator

Demonstrates skills in the principles of design and layout. Understands the fundamentals of color theory, realistic drawing, color media, lettering, printing reproduction, elements of graphic design; image editing; desktop publishing. Installs and understands electronic imaging equipment, multimedia and telecommunications software, image scanners, digitizing devices, output to black and white and color printers, film and video recorders, plotters, and image/data transmission. Creates, imports, exports and edits art work files, imagery captions, Visual Information Record Identification Numbers (VIRIN), and archiving data/image files. Demonstrates working knowledge of computer management, computer hardware and software, systems configuration, computer graphics raster and vector software, electronic presentations, ethics, visual communications, web page design software, animation software, digitized audio and video software, combat documentation (reference sketches) graphics and safety and security.

8152 - Public Affairs Officer (Enlisted)

Performs master-level duties as Public Affairs Officer or special assistant to Commanding Officer. Serves as spokesperson for the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense. Develops strategic communication, external information and internal information plans and executes them at the operational and tactical levels. Compiles news and information about people, places, activities, and programs in the Navy for use in press releases, speeches, feature articles, and publications. Performs research in response to media and public queries. Works independently and with 165X Public Affairs Officers to arrange public exhibits, demonstrations, speaking engagements, conferences, VIP visits, and tours. Schedules, drafts and conducts speeches, press releases and responses to public and media queries and coordinates special events. Oversees management of Public Affairs Supervisors, Photojournalists, Mass Communication Specialists and Multimedia Supervisors in the production of Navy and command publications.

I AM YOUR EYES:  This, like several listed, is a course that you would come back and take once you've been out in the fleet for a couple of years.

8153 - Public Affairs Supervisor

Manages operational unit or forward-deployed public affairs programs and teams. Serves either as command public affairs representative or special assistant at journeyman level. Understands concepts and development of strategic communication, external information and internal information plans; executes them at the tactical level. Compiles information for press releases, answers media and public questions, and serves as command spokesperson. Manages the efforts of Photojournalists, Mass Communication Specialists and Multimedia Supervisors in the production of Navy and command publications. Works with Public Affairs Officers and/or senior public affairs enlisted personnel to arrange public exhibits, demonstrations, speaking engagements, news conferences, VIP visits, and tours. Schedules and conducts speeches, drafts press releases, responds to public and media queries, and coordinates special events.

8193 - Electronic Imaging Systems Specialist

Installs, configures and operates advanced electronic imaging systems to acquire, import enhance, manipulate, print, store, export and electronically transmit and receive digital images from shore based, afloat or airborne platforms.

3251 - Broadcast Operations Director

Directs the operation of radio, television, satellite, cable, and shipboard SITE support systems as coordinated elements of the command information broadcasting function. Conducts research, plans programming, production, budgeting, training, and maintenance. Performs liaison with host and other tenant activities to provide broadcast command information service. Conducts initial negotiations for facility modifications and inter-service support agreements. Supervises Broadcast Operation Specialists, Broadcast Engineers, Videographers, Graphic Designers, Clerks and Logistic personnel. Coordinates with Department of Defense level media activities to support American Forces Information Service products and taskings.

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Thanks MC1!  I'm going to take a nap.  Too many acronyms and numbers.