Becoming a Military Photographer

David - Very interesting thread. Just curious, do enlisted people still do all the menial chores that we grunts did years ago, like cleaning toilets, pulling KP, overnight guard duty, and running errands for officers? Wouldn't that apply regardless of one's MOS or assigned main duties (at least, for a few years)?

 

Amy - Service to others is a wonderful thing. Such perks as there are, however nice, really are secondary to the commitment to give that service. So, FWIW, just be sure you understand that bullets and IEDs don't care what your assigned job might be. Anyway, you're doing well to do so much research before you decide. Maybe sit on a decision for six months or a year, and see how you feel then. It's that big of a choice. Best of luck - JW

"Just curious, do enlisted people still do all the menial chores that we grunts did years ago, like cleaning toilets, pulling KP, overnight guard duty, and running errands for officers? Wouldn't that apply regardless of one's MOS or assigned main duties (at least, for a few years)?"

 

Yes. Though how much that you get to do that sort of thing depends on which service you end up in and where you are stationed. Our base, for example, has cleaning contracts, so even the most junior sailors don't have to do those sorts of chores, at least the cleaning and the like. But that's not the case everywhere.

 

There are collateral duties that everyone in the military(uniformed personnel, not so much the civilians) has to do. The higher ranked you are, the less menial the jobs may be, i.e., privates clean toilets while seargants and officers manage the annual charity campaigns. But you're right, nobody really ever escapes those duties.

I'm in public affairs 46Q and know that that mos needs personnel its just a thing of where you'll be.

 

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/a/46q.htm

 

Photography comes 2nd to the writing part and you get access to all the happenings of the command your attached to. I joined to become a combat phtg 25V but that wasn't available. There's a strong possibility you may find yourself in the sandbox and you have to mentally prepare for what you'd have to capture on film. There are many ways to document the human condition. Just my few cents.

I like the Corps, but don't enlist just to be creative with photography. Especially at 31. Explore every other option but that one.

<p>hello, <br>

My name is Angela 21 going on 22 in a few months. Currently attending school to receive a BFA in Graphic Designer and an emphasis in photography. Wont be graduating until at least fall 2013. Unsure that once my degree is complete if working in the states will be satisfying. Was considering either joining the service or the peace-cor as a photographer. Strongly desiring to do something more meaningful in my life. Im not so concerned about the pay. Lets be honest people don't join the service for money. This to me is a chance to explore photography in recording history. Combat is what interests me most. Having reading a lot of the entries above what are the organization names that don't enlist but work as freelance photographers to the military? Is there also options to just volunteer for the military and not enlist? Also if at all possible it would be wonderful to see some of the photos of those that have shoot combat, ceremonies and so on? Has anyone had any near death experiences? would you enlist again today? how long do most enlist for? </p>

<p>thank you for all your guys help...</p>

<p>hello, <br>

My name is Angela 21 going on 22 in a few months. Currently attending school to receive a BFA in Graphic Designer and an emphasis in photography. Wont be graduating until at least fall 2013. Unsure that once my degree is complete if working in the states will be satisfying. Was considering either joining the service or the peace-cor as a photographer. Strongly desiring to do something more meaningful in my life. Im not so concerned about the pay. Lets be honest people don't join the service for money. This to me is a chance to explore photography in recording history. Combat is what interests me most. Having reading a lot of the entries above what are the organization names that don't enlist but work as freelance photographers to the military? Is there also options to just volunteer for the military and not enlist? Also if at all possible it would be wonderful to see some of the photos of those that have shoot combat, ceremonies and so on? Has anyone had any near death experiences? would you enlist again today? how long do most enlist for? </p>

<p>thank you for all your guys help...</p>

<p>hello, <br>

My name is Angela 21 going on 22 in a few months. Currently attending school to receive a BFA in Graphic Designer and an emphasis in photography. Wont be graduating until at least fall 2013. Unsure that once my degree is complete if working in the states will be satisfying. Was considering either joining the service or the peace-cor as a photographer. Strongly desiring to do something more meaningful in my life. Im not so concerned about the pay. Lets be honest people don't join the service for money. This to me is a chance to explore photography in recording history. Combat is what interests me most. Having reading a lot of the entries above what are the organization names that don't enlist but work as freelance photographers to the military? Is there also options to just volunteer for the military and not enlist? Also if at all possible it would be wonderful to see some of the photos of those that have shoot combat, ceremonies and so on? Has anyone had any near death experiences? would you enlist again today? how long do most enlist for? </p>

<p>thank you for all your guys help...</p>

<p>hello, <br>

My name is Angela 21 going on 22 in a few months. Currently attending school to receive a BFA in Graphic Designer and an emphasis in photography. Wont be graduating until at least fall 2013. Unsure that once my degree is complete if working in the states will be satisfying. Was considering either joining the service or the peace-cor as a photographer. Strongly desiring to do something more meaningful in my life. Im not so concerned about the pay. Lets be honest people don't join the service for money. This to me is a chance to explore photography in recording history. Combat is what interests me most. Having reading a lot of the entries above what are the organization names that don't enlist but work as freelance photographers to the military? Is there also options to just volunteer for the military and not enlist? Also if at all possible it would be wonderful to see some of the photos of those that have shoot combat, ceremonies and so on? Has anyone had any near death experiences? would you enlist again today? how long do most enlist for? </p>

<p>thank you for all your guys help...</p>

<p>I joined the Navy for the expressed intent of becoming a photographer. There we no openings at that time so I went into what they called Delayed Entry Program. My boot camp assignment was to coincide with the opening at photo school. Don't know if that still exists. Either way you are guaranteed a seat in the school, although at the time you had to add a year to your enlistment to get the school.<br>

It was better that getting a degree because they train you and then you work for those years doing photography. <br>

Be aware that the higher you move up in rank the less photography you actually do. It's more admin work, telling people to get haircuts, shining the belt buckle, that sort of thing. And if you are busted for drugs, all bets are off. You are at the mercy of whatever job they want you to do.<br>

Other than that, it was the best time of my life. I shot Queen Elizabeth's visit to Bermuda and had press privileges. I saw parts of the world, you'd never see otherwise and you have all the photo equipment you could ever use. If the detailer in D.C. hadn't lost all my records at my time to re-enlist, I would have stayed in for the career.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hello All,<br>

I came across this thread a few days ago and found it infinitely valuable - especially all of David Crenshaw's great advice! I'd be very curious to find out if Amy ended up pursuing military photography and what came of her interest in that. I've recently realized that military (specifically combat) photography is exactly what I feel like I'm meant to do. I can't imagine taking more meaningful and moving photos than of those serving. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread; I'm sure I'll have questions over the next few weeks and months of looking into this, so hopefully you will be able to provide even more insight and advice!<br /><br />~ Rachel</p>

<p>I second that notion. This conversation wouldn't be fully complete without finding out amy's decision. Hope she chose what was best for her!<br>

I'm also interested in this prospect. I've read all comments from this conversation and found it extremely helpful, specially because i'll be graduating next year with a BFA in photography with the interest of joining the navy as a photographer. Without conversations like these, i would be lost and perhaps making a naive decision. If anyone's still reading these, mind providing some feedback? <br>

For me, i would be joining primarily for the experience and sense of purpose. I personally crave struggle and first-hand experience as i find it motivating my photos to another level. Documentary photography is my passion, but i'm slowly finding war photography more alluring, partially because now-a-days, it's one of the only occupations left for a professional photographer that wouldn't be taken by an amateur with an expensive digital camera.<br>

A few years back, i met with Chris Hondros, a civilian war photographer for getty who became famous for his "Tal Afar" photos, at one of his speeches in pittsburgh.<br>

His work truly inspired me and i got the chance to talk with him one on one. You could see that he seemed unsettled but loved what he did. Thanks to him, i had something to look towards.<br>

He was killed with tim hetherington by an RPG in libya the same day the comment before this was posted. RIP.<br>

I'm now back on the fence about pursuing war photography. Perhaps military training would better prepare someone for this? What is your take on the photojounalism industry within the digital age? What is today's definition of a photojournalist?<br>

I found this quote inspiring-<br>

"While real people are out there killing themselves or other real people, the photographer stays behind the camera, creating a tiny element of another world: the image-world that bids to outlast us all." -Susan Sontag</p>