Military Photographer?

[DanielB]

okay, so ever since i was little i've wanted to be in the Marine Corps and i've always been interested in Photography... and i know there are in-the-field military photographers... so i figure that owuld be best for me, then i could go to college after my years are finished serving.

so do you know of any websites that are of Military photographers that i could go to, to look at what i would be getting myself into:dunno


thanks guys,

Daniel

[SCS_Photo]

They won't let you in with that 'doo. :D

Anyway... you might try contacting this guy: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7796595~days=9999~start=510#15251880

[DanielB]

They won't let you in with that 'doo.


:lol3


thanks man, but which guy:scratch

[SCS_Photo]

:lol3


thanks man, but which guy:scratch

The link should send you to the middle of the page... guy goes buy guscomcam, and is an Army Photographer in training. Hasn't been on dslr for 4 days... I'll see if I can email him the link to this thread through dslr.

[dragon300zx]

:lol3


thanks man, but which guy:scratch

I hate to break it to you cause even though I seem like a jerk most of the time, and don't get me wrong I do enjoy it, I don't like trouncing on other peoples dreams but......

At this point the main focus for you should be working with your doctor and figuring out what is going to happen with your SBO. A back problem, surgeries, etc, can all disqualify you from the military. Even their photojournalists, etc all have to go through basic's and be in great health. That and this is a field that gets alot of interest which makes getting in not as easy. As least this is what the reqruiter I was talking to told me. And although the recruiter will promise to try and get you into the profession you want it doesn't always work out that way, and I have had alot of friends find that out the hard way.

I think the military is great and I seriously looked into it at one point, but can you handle never being in control of your life, being goverment property, and having to do things you don't believe in?

There are alot of great things that can come from being in the military and alot of bad things depending on how a person looks at life and handles things. Check out military.com, americasarmy.com (which is a really cool game and I highly recommend you try shooting the sargent when you are on the shooting range), and each divisions site. You can also email a recruiter through each branches site and check into the SBO as to whether or not that is a automatic DQ, but I am pretty sure it is.

[gus]

Yep ..what dragon zxr350002135 said. They wont touch you if there is the smallest chance of you being a medical liability.

Then there is the psyc tests....god only know how i got through that bit :scratch I just told 'em i like wearing gladiator armour.

There is also this chap (http://www.dgrin.com/member.php?u=834)to talk to...he would know the deal i assume.

[Angelo]

Daniel-san, talk to this guy:

http://www.dgrin.com/member.php?u=1380

[cabbey]

I'll just add one second hand experience to the thread, wish I didn't have to, would rather not. When I was in high school I was taking photo classes at the local college, one of the students there was JROTC and all that jazz, and a really great photog. He went to the local recruiters and they talked him up big time about being able to get the right MOS to be a field photographer, or even an ariel photographer, which sounded even better to him. They told him all the things he wanted to hear, gave him all the right promises. When he actually got in and finished with basic training, they put him right into an advanced training course. He learned how to change tires for jet aircraft, and how to service landing gear assemblies. Why? because that's what the airforce needed that fall. After nearly 2 years of trying to get into some kind of position he actually wanted he finally manged to get someone that told him point blank that the list for those kinds of training was hundred of names long, and it would likely be a decade or more that he would have to be the best flight line mechanic in the air force before he would even be considered for that training, let alone a position doing that. He finished his tour of duty changing tires and shooting off duty shots of the officers playing golf for them to hang in their office. The last time I talked to him, he had been discharged for several months and was trying to figure out how to get into an art school somewhere on the east coast... by now he would have graduated from there, but I've long lost touch with him since then.

Does the Army or Marine Corps behave any differently? Possibly. But I doubt it... I currently work with a former Army guy. The Army trained him in Comp Sci, and pretty well I might add, he's quite good at what he does, and he seems to enjoy it, but he wanted to be an engineer... like a civil engineer... build bridges, damns, drainage that kinda thing. But that's not what the Army needed when he enlisted, so they sent him to UW (I think, or one of those universities out there in the pacific northwest) for 4 years first, then had him designing software for them for a number of years (8 I think, maybe more).

[Mike Lane]

Marine (or Army) = long ass tour in Iraq after long ass tour in Iraq. Enlisting in the marines = grunt = kicking in doors and taking roadside bombs in the face. Ooorah. Listen, far be it from me to say what a guy will and won't like. I got to spend 3 months in Iraq Army style (minus the messy killing) and I can tell you without a doubt, it is FAR better to be where the US Air Force is. Food's better, Gym's better, 3 beers a day, no PTSD, limbs in tact, etc.

If you're all thrust and no vector, give the marines a go. If you've got dreams of being more than a number, I'd stay away from the Marines and the Army. far, FAR away.

You want to be a combat camera guy? Join the Air Force Reserves. Get yourself into the only combat camera squadron in the AF Reserves at March AFB (http://www.afreserve.com/bases.asp?id=48). You'd be allowed to hop on to any plane in the inventory and go anywhere to take pics. You'll get your own sweet camera and gear to along with it, plus you'll have a life. And don't be fooled, you'd be the envy of 98% of the Marines and the Army guys out there. They may call you names, but they'd give their right nut to be in your shoes.

Better yet, go to college, get a BFA in digital media or photography and then get your MFA in the same. Earn the big bucks after that. Screw the military.

[flyingpylon]

I think the military is great and I seriously looked into it at one point, but can you handle never being in control of your life, being goverment property, and having to do things you don't believe in?

Ha... if you don't want that, don't join the corporate world either!

Screw the military.

DanielB- don't screw the military, it hasn't done anything to you. However it has already done things FOR you that you probably take for granted or may never realize. If you were to join some branch of the military it would do things both FOR you and TO you. It can be a double-edged sword in many respects. The military serves a greater purpose than that of one individual. That said, individuals have the potential to benefit greatly from military service.

I agree with Mike that military service most likely means an all-expense paid trip to Iraq sooner or later. You have to be realistic about that. If you've always wanted to be in the Marine Corps then you've probably also considered the fact that you could face combat. I have a brother-in-law in the Marine Corps that just went back to Iraq for his second tour. He's been a Marine for 18 years, loves it, and he *wants* to be doing his job in Iraq. Maybe you would too... who knows, it's up to each individual.

At any rate, there are no guarantees in life and certainly no recruiter can guarantee much of anything. And even if they do, the needs of the military can change in an instant. Be very very careful about that. Realize that when you join the military, it's not all about you.

Since others have shared negative stories, let me offer a positive one. A high school classmate of mine wanted to be an Army helicopter pilot. He enlisted after his recruiter convinced him that starting out as a helicopter mechanic was the way to go. I wished him luck but told him he was nuts and that he'd be a mechanic for the rest of his career. We lost touch but several years later I bumped into him at Ft. Drum in upstate New York, where he offered me a ride in HIS helicopter. It was a beautiful ride over the lake region, followed by a hair-raising ride from hell once we got back over Army property. I think that was his way of telling me "told ya so".

There is someone named Mark Rebilas that hangs out at SportsShooter.com who either used to be or still is a Navy photographer. You might try getting in touch with him. Here is a link to his profile page http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=832

This reply has gotten longer than I intended but I hope it's helpful in some way. If you have health issues of some kind then definitely get those figured out first. Good luck, and remember that it's only your own hard work and effort that will eventually put you where you want to be.

[dragon300zx]

Ha... if you don't want that, don't join the corporate world either!


You can quite the corporate world whenever you want. Not so with the military.

Besides I didn't say it was all bad. I was giving him a heads up on the reality of it though.

[luckyrwe]

I am back in the Army again...not as a photographer though. I know a USAF photographer, and it doesn't get any beter than that. I sent him the link to this thread. I sure wish I had been smart enough to go Air Force!

[Mike Lane]

I am back in the Army again...not as a photographer though. I know a USAF photographer, and it doesn't get any beter than that. I sent him the link to this thread. I sure wish I had been smart enough to go Air Force!

See? Told ya!

[flyingpylon]

Yeah, in the Army we used to joke that when the Air Force builds a new base, they build the golf course, the officer's club, the pool, the gymnasium, the BX...

... and THEN they figure out where to put the runways.

[Mike Lane]

Yeah, in the Army we used to joke that when the Air Force builds a new base, they build the golf course, the officer's club, the pool, the gymnasium, the BX...

... and THEN they figure out where to put the runways.

Priorities man, priorities!

[luckyrwe]

I did have the pleasure of being a photographer for the Department of Defense for seven years before this mobilization came up. :help

[DanielB]

so the general concensus is that the Chairforce is better than the rest of them? i've always dreamed of being on the front lines, defending my country, AND getting it all on film (or in this case CMOS censor:D ) and sharing my experiences with my friends and family.

My Dad was in the 101st Airborn division in the army on ReCon work, and was later sent to an island in the South Pacific called Johnson Atoll because some guys put a bomb on his car and he had to leave for safety reasons...

My grandpa was in World War II and was one of the first soldiers to enter the Dachau Concentration Camp...

i've heard stories of valor, defeat, honor, and sorrow. i know the gnitty gritty, i know about boot-camp, and personally if they kick me out just because of my back condition. i'll just try all the harder to get in.

call me a fanatic but even though i don't agree with some of the things Bush does, i look at it as serving my Countrymen, not the President...


i'll look into that and e-mail some people, thank you all for your concern and i would very much love to hear the rest of your side of the story.



Daniel

[Mike Lane]

Don't tell these guys (STS controllers - Air Force Special Operations) that they're in the Chair Force. They'll eat your lunch.

http://photos.mikelanestudios.com/photos/56173336-L-2.jpg

[DanielB]

They'll eat your lunch.

:lol3


ohhh, i like ur pic. that dry ground gets me hungry for a TS-E lense with some mean foreground textures/background mountains :eat

[GusComCam]

Thanks SCSphotography for emailing me this thread. I'm Gus, currently training as a Combat Documentation Specialist right here at DINFOS. First let me tell you guys a bit about myself. I was an artillery man for 3 years active in the Army. Now I got the chance to reclass into combat camera. The Army is the only service that will train you in both photography and video. Gotta go to formation, I will post more later.

[StevenV]

another mil pic for your pleasure, on my weblog (http://steven.vorefamily.net/2005/12/let-em-know-you-care.html).

crossing our fingers, knocking on wood, etc. etc. he should be home in the next couple of weeks.

[ReneesEyes]

Daniel,

I don't know what kind of back problems you have, but even if you were able to enlist it would only make your back worse. I had some scoliosis that they apparently missed. I only weigh about 100 lbs and had to carry duffel bags full of stuff that weighed as much as me or more, tote machine guns around, stuff like that. When I enlisted, it was the summer between my junior and senior year of HS. I took the supply specialist MOS, cause that was the closest unit to my house and I didn't have a ride. Anyways, after I signed up Desert Storm started. 6 days after my graduation I went off to basic training, then supply school (where I met my future husband) anyways, by the time I was done the war was over and I decided to go full time active duty. They told me my MOS was not needed active duty, so they offered me cook (are you crazy even though that's what my husband was), parachute rigger (sounds great but I fractured my leg in basic and wouldn't be able to finish airborne school), watercraft engineer/operator...yeah...but the workload involves heavy lifting. They told me, don't worry, you'll have lots of guys around to help you, I said, I don't think so. So I was there for like 15 hours or something and FINALLY a 91N slot opened--EKG tech. Heart stuff. I took it out of sheer exhaustion. I ended up liking it and having a great skill that transferred to the outside after I had served for about 9 years. But now I go to the chiropractor regularly.

I did like the Army, but the joke always was about how the Air Force is so much nicer, better food, quarters, uniforms, etc. How they don't do pushups, blah blah blah.

I guess I can't tell you much about photography in the military, but if you really want to serve your country and feel strongly about that don't let anyone talk you out of it. The only way you'll know if they have what you want and if they can take you with your back trouble is to visit the recruiter. Do know though that they are under quotas and can be a bit "high-pressured" :gun2

Good luck and let us know!

Renee

[Awais Yaqub]

wow daniel i also want to be a similer type of photographer :lust
have you seen photography by "Reza" blasting show on nat geo :wink
he covered wars like "Afgahnistan" some very touching heart melting shots :lust
anyone know his web ?

i also have back problem i simily forget when i have my camera in my hand i feel some pain after standing for long time or sitting for long time

[wxwax]

Thanks SCSphotography for emailing me this thread. I'm Gus, currently training as a Combat Documentation Specialist right here at DINFOS. First let me tell you guys a bit about myself. I was an artillery man for 3 years active in the Army. Now I got the chance to reclass into combat camera. The Army is the only service that will train you in both photography and video. Gotta go to formation, I will post more later.
Hi Gus. :clap Great to have you here sharing info about your deal. Can't wait to hear more... and see some of your shots. :nod

[GusComCam]

Thanks for the welcome. I don't have a lot of pictures to show off. Here's one it might be interesting. I took this picture with a Canon SureShot in Afghanistan.

[DanielB]

sweet photo man, especially for a P&S:thumb

i'm going through an Airforce and a Marines pamphlet and man is there some outstanding photography in these things...

[StevenV]

I pointed to this guy before (http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=23826&highlight=camo), he's got the job (http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200510323554).

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20051032404/$file/VIRIN-20051002-4220H-M-001l.jpg


Lots more images (http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/searchview1?SearchView&Query=iraq&SearchOrder=1&SearchMax=&SearchWV=TRUE&SearchThesaurus=FALSE) available too.

http://www.usmc.mil//marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200551692110/$file/050315-M-9176-010low.jpg

[Onrey]

Daniel,
Sounds like from your family military history that you have a good understanding of the military. think on everyones advice but in the end do what you want to do... If it turns out good or bad, then thats your personal experience and learned your way. Sometimes its the hardest way to learn but is also many times the best way.

Now for the reason I wanted to respond to you and this is exactly what your looking for, trust me. I have a friend (good aquainance) I spoke to him at lunch today before he headed out back to IRAQ. He is a Marine 15 plus years, Im not sure what all he is qualified as but I do know he is a sniper scout, and he is also a combat photographer, I think he is pretty far up in that command becouse he told me he convinced the marines to change over to Canon DSLR's, he told me the kit each one is given and its extremley impressive but I cant remember all the details. I told him about you and your thread and he gave me his e-mail and said he would love to talk to you. Just like GusCommCam, he can give you the REAL LIFE inside story of a marine photographer, what he went thru ect ect. Hope he can answer any Questions you might have or give you sound advice.


Good luck,

[DanielB]

His name is Jeff Foster
E-mail is: JSFosterUSMC@gmail.com


thanks a ton man:thumb

[Mike A]

Daniel,

I've looked through your site and I am sure whatever you do you will do great, your photos are excellent. I separated from the Air Force about 1.5yrs ago. One of the groups in my squadron were the photographers. I was always envious of their jobs. In the AF I believe photo/video are separate career fields but in their office everyone did everything. They were always traveling around to exciting places taking photos. The only negative thing from my point of view was the possibility of getting a bad assignment. For example, one of the guys in that office in Germany moved from San Antonio. His job their was to photograph people/kids at the hospital that had been abused. He did that for 3yrs. So there is a chance your work will not tap your creativity.

When I went into the Air Force your career field was in your contract and you were guaranteed that job. The only other service I am sure about is the Army, they guarantee you the training but not the job. So you may get the training you sign up for but end up doing something totally different.

If your main focus is becoming a good photographer I would seriously look at the Air Force, the normal living conditions are 1000x better then any other branch also. Anytime we had other branches on our base they talked about how nice everything was and how we were so lucky. That particular base wasn't even that nice by Air Force standards.

But if your main focus is to become a photographer look at school just as hard, or harder then the military.

[DanielB]

Thank Mike:thumb i'll be talking to some friends of my dad who are in the Airforce, also is it true that if you're in the airforce you can basicly fly anywhere in the world real cheap? all you gotta do is ask around for empty space:dunno



thanks,

Daniel

[Mike Lane]

Thank Mike:thumb i'll be talking to some friends of my dad who are in the Airforce, also is it true that if you're in the airforce you can basicly fly anywhere in the world real cheap? all you gotta do is ask around for empty space:dunno



thanks,

Daniel

That's called flying Space Available (Space A). Anyone in any branch of the military including cadets, retirees, and dependents (and maybe more that I'm not thinking of) can fly space a. There are caveats however. If you are a dependent or retiree you cannot fly from one place in the CONUS to another place in the CONUS unless you are travelling with your sponsor.

Space A is a good deal in some circumstances, and a bad deal in others. The aircraft commander doesn't have to take Space A pax. There could be last minute cargo that would bump you off. The plane could break or slip. It's not like flying on the airlines, believe me.

[DanielB]

It's not like flying on the airlines, believe me.


:lol3 are ya packed away w/ the cargo?

[Mike Lane]

:lol3 are ya packed away w/ the cargo?

Yes. Yes you are. Unless you're going on a C-5 and there are fewer than 75 people going space a. Of course if you're trying to go on a C-5, you're going to have to wait a week while they fix the landing gear.

You'll get troop seats which aren't comfortable. Generally made of netting. Bring a sleeping bag and some warm clothes. Find some ambien if possible. That's what we do.

[DanielB]

would the AF even consider me because of my back though?...:rolleyes

[Bodley]

Daniel,
.

His name is Jeff Foster
E-mail is: XXXXXXXXX

Good luck,

Since Daniel has his address you may want to knock it off the open post. Jeff doesn't need a bunch of nuts sending him email.

[Mike Lane]

would the AF even consider me because of my back though?...:rolleyes

Would any military branch? No idea. I'm a navigator, not a doc. Have you considered going to college before the military and entering as an officer BTW? ROTC, OTS (or OTC depending on the branch), or the various academies are all great ways to get an education, have a job after you're done, and get your commission.

Hell, you could be like me, get your ROTC scholarship and go to Illinois Tech in Chicago. They paid me to go to school there. I didn't even have to fill out an application or go through any interviews or anything. They sent a letter saying hey, we noticed that you got a ROTC scholarship and if you'd like to come here we'll pay for all your tuition, room and board, fees, and pay you $500 a semester plus all you have to do is call us and say yes and we'll get your acceptance letter out the door tomorrow. Not even the GI bill is that good.

Just saying.

[DanielB]

Hell, you could be like me, get your ROTC scholarship and go to Illinois Tech in Chicago. They paid me to go to school there. I didn't even have to fill out an application or go through any interviews or anything. They sent a letter saying hey, we noticed that you got a ROTC scholarship and if you'd like to come here we'll pay for all your tuition, room and board, fees, and pay you $500 a semester plus all you have to do is call us and say yes and we'll get your acceptance letter out the door tomorrow. Not even the GI bill is that good.

damn. that don't sound to bad... next year i'll be joining NJROTC, for high-school. so we'll see how that hashes out... whats all involved in being an officer? obviously better rations, board, and pay. but would that still allow me to be a combat photographer:dunno

thanks for all the advice thus-far guys

[Mike A]

As far as I know you will not be an officer and photographer. I think the officers that are involved with VI are communications officers. That's just as far as I know though.

I know you still have several years until you decide on what you are doing be keep in mind, doing you passion for a living sometimes takes away the passion. Then it's just a job.:dunno

[DanielB]

keep in mind, doing you passion for a living sometimes takes away the passion. Then it's just a job.

i don't think i could ever get tired of Photography:click

[Mike Lane]

damn. that don't sound to bad... next year i'll be joining NJROTC, for high-school. so we'll see how that hashes out... whats all involved in being an officer? obviously better rations, board, and pay. but would that still allow me to be a combat photographer:dunno

thanks for all the advice thus-far guys

Can't speak for the other services, and I don't know that much about AF combat camera. But here's the thing. As an officer you'd be in charge of a unit of combat cameramen. You'd likely get to do some of it yourself, but that wouldn't be your primary job.

FYI, here is a page of USAF combat camera work. Lots and lots of pics. http://www.af.mil/weekinphotos/

[DanielB]

As an officer you'd be in charge of a unit of combat cameramen. You'd likely get to do some of it yourself, but that wouldn't be your primary job.


that'd be sweet...





:dunno maybe i should just stick with my origional plan, go to college, then make my own studio...

[Mike Lane]

that'd be sweet...





:dunno maybe i should just stick with my origional plan, go to college, then make my own studio...

Just remember, you cannot un-go to college. Once you've got your degree, it's something that you will always have. Your options are wide open from that point. If you did ROTC, you'd be an officer with a 4 year committment to the USAF. If you didn't do ROTC and you still wanted to enlist, every branch would be more than happy to have you.

My recommendation is college first THEN choose your next step. You'll be glad you did, I guarantee it.

[wxwax]

Can't speak for the other services, and I don't know that much about AF combat camera. But here's the thing. As an officer you'd be in charge of a unit of combat cameramen. You'd likely get to do some of it yourself, but that wouldn't be your primary job.

FYI, here is a page of USAF combat camera work. Lots and lots of pics. http://www.af.mil/weekinphotos/
Thanks for the link, Mike. Some excellent shots, there. And you know what? If they weren't so big, I'd show some here (no copyright with government shots.)

[flyingpylon]

Just remember, you cannot un-go to college. Once you've got your degree, it's something that you will always have. Your options are wide open from that point. If you did ROTC, you'd be an officer with a 4 year committment to the USAF. If you didn't do ROTC and you still wanted to enlist, every branch would be more than happy to have you.

My recommendation is college first THEN choose your next step. You'll be glad you did, I guarantee it.

I agree with Mike on this... getting a degree, no matter what it's in or where it's from, allows you to "check the box" that says "college degree" anytime you ever have to apply for a job or give information about your education, for the rest of your life. That simple check mark that has nothing to do with your intelligence, skills, worth as a human being or anything else for that matter, can have a huge imapct on whether doors are open or closed to you in the future.

The other thing is that if you go to a school that has an ROTC program, you'll probably be able to get involved on a completely volunteer (i.e. no contract) basis for at least a year, maybe even two ("try" before you "buy"). That's how I got involved, by attending drills and weekend training for a year before signing up. Of course that was now 20 years ago (yikes!) and things may have changed. Once I joined ROTC, I also enlisted in the Army National Guard at the same time and took advantage of their officer training program.

But do think long and hard about whether you want to be an officer. It involves a very different set of duties and responsibilities, and whether you like it or not will depend on why you want to be in the military in the first place. I enjoyed it and learned a great deal from the experience, but I've had two friends that went the other direction. One enlisted and stayed enlisted, the other enlisted, became an officer, and decided to go back to being a non-commisioned officer. Both of them figured out that the reason they were in the Army was to do the "G.I. Joe" stuff and as officers they wouldn't or didn't get to do nearly as much as they'd like.

The other thing about being an officer is that there will not be as many opportunities to do the things you might be interested in. Like most organizations, the military services are like pyramids. As you move up, there are fewer and fewer spaces available, and the competition can be quite fierce. Back when I was first getting in, Active Duty wasn't even guaranteed to ROTC graduates. I'm not sure if that's still true or not, things have probably changed a great deal in the last several years.

[JimM]

Thanks for the welcome. I don't have a lot of pictures to show off. Here's one it might be interesting. I took this picture with a Canon SureShot in Afghanistan.

This is an AMAZING SHOT!!! WOW:clap

[DanielB]

This is an AMAZING SHOT!!! WOW:clap

:nod its defnitely great, especially for a powershot

[pat.kane]

Browse the public links on the Joint Combat Camera Center web site.

http://dodimagery.afis.osd.mil/dodimagery/home.html

You won't be able to pull up any imagery, but there is some information that will be of interest, e.g., the Tasking ComCam link will take you to a page that provides phone number and addresses for each of the Service's combat camera groups.

You will find publicly released photos on the AFIS main site:

http://dodimagery.afis.osd.mil/

[ian408]

Have you considered going to college before the military and entering as an officer BTW? ROTC, OTS (or OTC depending on the branch), or the various academies are all great ways to get an education, have a job after you're done, and get your commission.

A friend of mine went this route. He's been in for some time. Prior to flight
school, he earned a masters while working at Travis. He's a Major now and
working on a second master's. He's flown fighters in Afghanistan and run the
flight sim in AZ (I forget where).

He's done well for himself.

If you are planning a career in the military, make sure you get what you
want out of the deal. My buddy was originally dealt flight school and when
cutbacks cancelled his schooling, he was offered an out or anywhere/any
job. He chose out and was lucky enough to come back in when there was
an available pilot slot with no loss in rank/seniority.

Good luck Daniel. If you think your back is going to be an issue, see if there
are excercises, etc. that you can do to mitigate the problem.

Ian

[DanielB]

If you are planning a career in the military, make sure you get what you
want out of the deal. My buddy was originally dealt flight school and when
cutbacks cancelled his schooling, he was offered an out or anywhere/any
job. He chose out and was lucky enough to come back in when there was
an available pilot slot with no loss in rank/seniority.

Good luck Daniel. If you think your back is going to be an issue, see if there
are excercises, etc. that you can do to mitigate the problem.

Ian

:nod there are exercises that the therapist told me to do and such to help keep it strong...

also, i was considering getting a bachelor/masters in Buisness and whatever photography degrees there are.:dunno i want to eventually open my own studio, or Camera store.

[gus]

was considering getting a bachelor/masters in Buisness

OI !!! Rules of the game...if you can't spell it...you can't do it.The world needs ditch diggers too.

[DanielB]

OI !!! Rules of the game...if you can't spell it...you can't do it.The world needs ditch diggers too.

sorry, business*


lol. i always did have a hard time spelling that word, and i'm sure i butchered bachelor too.

[Alexandra_Marie]

Probably beating a dead horse here, but I feel compelled to say this.
Definitely go to college first, and do all the research you can before deciding whether to join or not. If you decide to do it...watch yourself and make sure you know everything you can about what you'll be doing and who you'll be working with. On the whole, it's not bad, but like the civilian side, there are those who will do everything they can to screw you over, just because they can. I just got kicked out a month ago because I worked with people like that (I'm still upset about it, but getting over it...college here I come).
If you can make it work, it's an awesome thing to do.
Ok, I'm done, shutting up now.
Good luck, and be careful.

[DanielB]

On the whole, it's not bad, but like the civilian side, there are those who will do everything they can to screw you over, just because they can.

:scratch what do you mean?

[DanielB]

thought i'd re-kindle an older thread.:wink

[mercphoto]

thought i'd re-kindle an older thread.:wink
Go to college first? I find that very odd advice myself. If you have your degree then use it! Why waste time in any other venture other than your chosen profession immediately after getting your degree? Once you are a new-grad you need to get into your profession and start using that knowledge.

Military, then college, makes much more sense to me, especially given the military will help pay for your college if you do things in that order.

[DanielB]

Go to college first? I find that very odd advice myself. If you have your degree then use it! Why waste time in any other venture other than your chosen profession immediately after getting your degree? Once you are a new-grad you need to get into your profession and start using that knowledge.

Military, then college, makes much more sense to me, especially given the military will help pay for your college if you do things in that order.

according to the parents, college money won't be an issue.... so if i do join the military it'll be for self-satisfaction and such like that. or for a career in Combat Photography.

[ian408]

I don't want to discourage you from your conviction. However, having a
college degree before you do will do more for your military career and for
your career beyond the military.

[Mongrel]

I just noticed this thread, and felt compelled to share one small detail with you from my personal experience...

IF, you make a decision to join up make sure that you go into the branch that *you* and YOU ALONE want to go into. DO NOT make this decision lightly, and do not let anyone 'talk' you into going into a different branch for any reason, and certainly not for the food or the shelter or the booze.

You mentioned the Marines, well I am the son of a Marine. I ran into a little bit of trouble around my 17th birthday and it was decided that I should "consider the military". I was fine with that and had my heart set on going to see a Marine recruiter. Well, being that I was 17 I needed parental consent to sign up. Unfortunately, the people that had custody of me at the time (an Aunt and Uncle), refused to even consider the Marines and gave me the choice of Navy or Airforce.

Let's just say (for the sake of time...), that it didn't work out.

In my heart I knew then and know to this day that I should have been a Marine. Yes, I know that you have to earn that title, and with utmost respect to those who have, I *know* I would have. Some things are in the blood, this is one of them.

So, *if* in your heart you know that you would like to earn the title MARINE (or Army Ranger etc.), don't sell short-go for it. If you don't you may wind up carrying the baggage of your decision for a long time. If it's not in your heart, there is nothing wrong or even sub-par with going into a different branch or direction all together.

Now, about becoming a combat photog......

Well, I'm afraid you pays your way and you takes your chances with that

:D

[PossumCorner]

....so do you know of any websites that are of Military photographers that i could go to, to look at what i would be getting myself into ....

Daniel you would not (hopefully) be entering a World War One situation, but Frank Hurley is my all-time photographer hero, some of his great wartime work is at this link.
http://www.greatwar.nl/frames/default-hurley.html -

and his earlier work for which he is probably more famous is here: - both are worth a look through I think.

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/features/endurance/

[gus]

Daniel you would not (hopefully) be entering a World War One situation,

My favorite quote ..

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

Albert Einstein

[marlinspike]

americasarmy.com (which is a really cool game and I highly recommend you try shooting the sargent when you are on the shooting range)

Neat game, but what kind of computer to they expect people to have? I've got all the settings on lowest and my p4 2.4 with 1gb ram still can't handle it.

[DanielB]

dragon300zx[/B]]americasarmy.com (which is a really cool game and I highly recommend you try shooting the sargent when you are on the shooting range)


i used to play Counter Strike alot.... real fun game.

[marlinspike]

i used to play Counter Strike alot.... real fun game.

You mean "a lot" Americas Army is quite different from CS. The online play is similar, but it also teaches you how to ID different vehicles and prepare a dressing and stuff like that.

[Seefutlung]

I used to be a photo journalist. Spent a year in Vietnam, time in Central America, Middle East and a few hell holes in Africa. You haven't any idea what you are getting yourself into (period)! Combat isn't like the movies or the books because no media can accurately represent what is different for each person ... no media can describe something which is beyond description.

As a Marine you will be trained to kill first ... all else is secondary. As a Marine the odds of you seeing combat is much much greater than in any other service. And this is the real thing, where permanent disability, lifelong disfigurement and even death is just a dice roll. In this game hitting restart does not count.

Dude, why would you want to gamble with something as precious as your life?

Granted more are spared then die in combat ... but why even chance it if you don't have too. I will not argue about defending our country, duty, et cetera ( I have nothing but total respect and admiration for those that serve our country) ... I just feel that after reading what you have written in this forum that you are too immature to make a responsible decision about you own life. There is no rush, give yourself some time, volunteer at a VA Hospital ... take your camera ... those are the brave men and women who's voice needs to be heard ... who's story needs to be told.

[DanielB]

I used to be a photo journalist. Spent a year in Vietnam, time in Central America, Middle East and a few hell holes in Africa. You haven't any idea what you are getting yourself into (period)! Combat isn't like the movies or the books because no media can accurately represent what is different for each person ... no media can describe something which is beyond description.

As a Marine you will be trained to kill first ... all else is secondary. As a Marine the odds of you seeing combat is much much greater than in any other service. And this is the real thing, where permanent disability, lifelong disfigurement and even death is just a dice roll. In this game hitting restart does not count.

Dude, why would you want to gamble with something as precious as your life?

Granted more are spared then die in combat ... but why even chance it if you don't have too. I will not argue about defending our country, duty, et cetera ( I have nothing but total respect and admiration for those that serve our country) ... I just feel that after reading what you have written in this forum that you are too immature to make a responsible decision about you own life. There is no rush, give yourself some time, volunteer at a VA Hospital ... take your camera ... those are the brave men and women who's voice needs to be heard ... who's story needs to be told.

only 14.:thumb i've still got 4 years before i could think about enlisting... yeah yeah i know. 3 technically. but who here really thinks i'm stupid enough to drop outta school and join... can't anyways. gotta have a Diploma or GED to join armed forces. i aint saying i'm gonna do it for certain... its just something i'm looking into.

[Seefutlung]

only 14.:thumb ... its just something i'm looking into.

Whew ... okay. Nothing wrong with looking. But seriously, volunteer at a VA Hospital ... it would be good for you and good for the patients ... one of those win-win situations. After a few trips ... after you have gained their trust ...take your camera. Take their pictures ... make 'em some prints ... teach them some photography. It will help you, it will help them, look good on your resume for college. (I have an 18 y/o old daughter who has volunteered at a local hospital for the last four years. Helped her get a college scholarship.)

[PetersCreek]

Retired USAF here...20 years, 7 months, 4 days...but I wasn't in a photography field. As mentioned, slots for that job are few and the list is long. I had a mid-career job changed and tried getting into the field.

Horror stories about recruiter career switching notwithstanding, let me add my advice. Depending upon manpower needs, services may offer "guaranteed" career selection to prospective recruits. Get one if you can. These guarantees may be job specific or they may only apply to broad career categories.

For instance, I enlisted way back in '78, with assurance that I would get a job—any job—in the electronics field. However, when they saw my language test scores, a few of the manpower folks at Lackland put a lot of pressure on me to accept a linguist/translator job. I stuck to my guns though, and got my top-choice electronics job. I had my guarantee in writing. When you're talking to a personal officer a thousand miles away from your hometown, precious little of what a recruiter verbally promised you will matter if you can't back it up with paper.

In the end, there's one thing that should always be understood. When push comes to shove, the needs of the military services come first. Say you do get a photography job...but then a year later, it's decided that field is over-staffed and you get shuffled to a new job. Be prepared to suck it up and press on. It comes with the territory.

[Mike Lane]

Retired USAF here...20 years, 7 months, 4 days...

SNIP

I enlisted way back in '78...

:scratch

[PetersCreek]

:scratch

I guess I didn't word it neatly. I enlisted in '78...retired in '99...after 20-plus years of service. Seems like a lifetime ago. :D

[Mike Lane]

I guess I didn't word it neatly. I enlisted in '78...retired in '99...after 20-plus years of service. Seems like a lifetime ago. :D

Or I'm an idiot. I don't know why I just assumed that you retired recently :lol3

[BassAngler]

I spent 4 years (1986-1990) in the Navy as a Photographers Mate. Went to "A" school in Pensacola, FL then went on to serve on a sub-tender (most photographers go to aircraft carriers) out of Charleston, SC. The school was great! It was 9 weeks long and equivalent to 2 years of photo school in the civilian world. Learned all about film processing, shooting, medium format, lighting, etc. The only part I hated was that typically in the military you do alot of "other" jobs besides what you trained for. So, in my 4 years I probably worked as a photog for maybe half the time. On my ship I photographed damaged parts, award ceremonies, renlistment ceremonies, roster photos, portraits, ship photos...basically anything and everything! The training and experience was worthwhile because when I got out I went to work in local tv as a video news photographer for 12 years.

Just my 2 cents worth!

:thumb

[DanielB]

I spent 4 years (1986-1990) in the Navy as a Photographers Mate. Went to "A" school in Pensacola, FL then went on to serve on a sub-tender (most photographers go to aircraft carriers) out of Charleston, SC. The school was great! It was 9 weeks long and equivalent to 2 years of photo school in the civilian world. Learned all about film processing, shooting, medium format, lighting, etc. The only part I hated was that typically in the military you do alot of "other" jobs besides what you trained for. So, in my 4 years I probably worked as a photog for maybe half the time. On my ship I photographed damaged parts, award ceremonies, renlistment ceremonies, roster photos, portraits, ship photos...basically anything and everything! The training and experience was worthwhile because when I got out I went to work in local tv as a video news photographer for 12 years.

Just my 2 cents worth!

:thumb

what happens after you're out of the military? do those photos belong to the U.S. government? or are they yours by copywrite?:dunno

[BassAngler]

They belong to Uncle Sam, especially if they are classified in any way. I had to process film from the submarine USS Bonefish when it caught fire at sea. Those were highly classified photos so they must stay with the military.

[Seefutlung]

what happens after you're out of the military? do those photos belong to the U.S. government? or are they yours by copywrite?:dunno

The government is paying you ... so everything you take belongs to the government. Same thing for the media. If you are employed by a newspaper, everything you take belongs to the newspaper.

[DanielB]

The government is paying you ... so everything you take belings to the government. Same thing for the media. If you are employed by a newspaper, everything you take belongs to the newspaper.

that sucks.... kinda wish i would be able to keep some. but i suppose if the pay wasn't bad it could change my mind.

[Mike Lane]

that sucks.... kinda wish i would be able to keep some. but i suppose if the pay wasn't bad it could change my mind.

If you're enlisted, the pay isn't good (http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/pay/bl06enlbasepay.htm).

[BassAngler]

that sucks.... kinda wish i would be able to keep some. but i suppose if the pay wasn't bad it could change my mind.

You would certainly have plenty of "downtime" to create your own work that you'd certainly be able to keep. I have a signifigant collection of my own work taken while in the Navy...Blue Angels slides, ship photos, pictures while in port in Bermuda, Bahamas & New York for example.

[GREAPER]

The government is paying you ... so everything you take belongs to the government. Same thing for the media. If you are employed by a newspaper, everything you take belongs to the newspaper.

I recently had the opportunity to spen some time with a Toledo Blade staff photog, and I was suprised to find that they split ownership 50/50 with the paper. I am not sure how this works, but it is nice to know the photog retains some rights, for this paper at least.

[Seefutlung]

I recently had the opportunity to spen some time with a Toledo Blade staff photog, and I was suprised to find that they split ownership 50/50 with the paper. I am not sure how this works, but it is nice to know the photog retains some rights, for this paper at least.

Wow ... that's pretty good. At the LA Times nothing like that. But I could print as much as I wanted and take them home and such ... but the paper retained the copywrite. At the Orange County News, when I left the paper they offer me my negatives as a going away present. Dunno if this was a gift or a reflection of the quality of my work. lol

As to $$$$. You will not get rich working for a media group. Unless you won a Pulitzer, you won't get close to six figures.

[Tmosley]

I came into this kinda late, but, i would have to say the military is an amazing experience, Yes you get stuck in Iraq a couple of times but, what the hell, atleast you can say you have done something, you get to be apart of a generation that is always looked up to,
i spent a year in iraq, i wasnt a combat camera, i am a 11 Bang Bang, or Infantry whatever you want to call it, but it was one hell of an experience
here are some pics i took while i was there, their more of a comaradery type photos, all of my friend from over here come and download them so they have the pics of themselfes. password is duce
http://tmosleyphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1319944/1

[JimM]

http://tmosleyphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1319944/1

Your site is password protected.

[Tmosley]

Your site is password protected.

oh yess forgot to add sorry pass is duce

and i will edit my post to add that also

[somethinglucky]

Have you ever considered being an imbedded journalist, or even a freelance journalist?




so the general concensus is that the Chairforce is better than the rest of them? i've always dreamed of being on the front lines, defending my country, AND getting it all on film (or in this case CMOS censor:D ) and sharing my experiences with my friends and family.

My Dad was in the 101st Airborn division in the army on ReCon work, and was later sent to an island in the South Pacific called Johnson Atoll because some guys put a bomb on his car and he had to leave for safety reasons...

My grandpa was in World War II and was one of the first soldiers to enter the Dachau Concentration Camp...

i've heard stories of valor, defeat, honor, and sorrow. i know the gnitty gritty, i know about boot-camp, and personally if they kick me out just because of my back condition. i'll just try all the harder to get in.

call me a fanatic but even though i don't agree with some of the things Bush does, i look at it as serving my Countrymen, not the President...


i'll look into that and e-mail some people, thank you all for your concern and i would very much love to hear the rest of your side of the story.



Daniel

[JESTER]

Okay Daniel....listen up!!!! There are some good information above and some good recommendations. I especially like those of BassAngler even though he was a sailor. I was in the Marines for 26 YEARS. I was a Recruiter (honest one) for 7 years. I loved the Marines and still do. We are a brotherhood.

I was an engineer and not a photographer. I spent 7 years recruiting and 4 guarding U.S. Embassies overseas. The Marines have a photography field but it is not a guarentee when you go in. So don't let some dishonest recruiter tell you different (no matter what service). Get what you want in writing. If you join with an "open contract" you will probably end up in the infantry. I signed a young man up once like this who wanted photography. He joined open enlistment and came back Infantry. I ask him if he was mad at me and he said no because I had told him the truth. But there are lots of Recruiters who will tell you anything to get you to join. Yes, they do have a quota!!

Whatever you decide I am sure you will enjoy the military no matter what service you join. I have served with them all and respect them all. They are what YOU make out of them. My best time was when I spent 10 days in Alcapulco Mexico with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his wife on their honeymoon. That was tough duty!!!

I also took thousands of photos all over the world that are MINE. I took scenics, air shows, parades, military balls, etc, etc. etc. The possibilities are endlesss. I am just a little ole country boy from Tennessee who would have never had the chance to travel like that if it weren't for Uncle Sam.

Just get a guaranteed contract in something you want to go into. Take the fewest number years you can (you can reenlist if you like it and get out if you dont). But I recommend it to every young man and woman.

Feel free to pm me if you need any more info.

[Photog]

I wanted to go into the military 20+ years ago...being blind as a bat (uncorrected vision, anyway) AND trying to sneak that past the medical didn't work out. If any medical issues put a roadblock in your way, something you may want to consider is becoming a photojournalist and go to work for a paper in a big military town that has dedicated military coverage. You'll get plenty of opportunities not only to embed but to cover issues that affect servicemembers and their famlies on an ongoing basis. Plus, you'll be able to do other stories as well. Feel free to PM me for more info.

[wxwax]

Okay Daniel....listen up!!!! There are some good information above and some good recommendations. I especially like those of BassAngler even though he was a sailor. I was in the Marines for 26 YEARS. I was a Recruiter (honest one) for 7 years. I loved the Marines and still do. We are a brotherhood.

I was an engineer and not a photographer. I spent 7 years recruiting and 4 guarding U.S. Embassies overseas. The Marines have a photography field but it is not a guarentee when you go in. So don't let some dishonest recruiter tell you different (no matter what service). Get what you want in writing. If you join with an "open contract" you will probably end up in the infantry. I signed a young man up once like this who wanted photography. He joined open enlistment and came back Infantry. I ask him if he was mad at me and he said no because I had told him the truth. But there are lots of Recruiters who will tell you anything to get you to join. Yes, they do have a quota!!

Whatever you decide I am sure you will enjoy the military no matter what service you join. I have served with them all and respect them all. They are what YOU make out of them. My best time was when I spent 10 days in Alcapulco Mexico with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his wife on their honeymoon. That was tough duty!!!

I also took thousands of photos all over the world that are MINE. I took scenics, air shows, parades, military balls, etc, etc. etc. The possibilities are endlesss. I am just a little ole country boy from Tennessee who would have never had the chance to travel like that if it weren't for Uncle Sam.

Just get a guaranteed contract in something you want to go into. Take the fewest number years you can (you can reenlist if you like it and get out if you dont). But I recommend it to every young man and woman.

Feel free to pm me if you need any more info.

Good post. :thumb

[StevenV]

I'm not sure if this has been posted elsewhere...

Death of a Soldier (http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0707/a-walk-in-the-sun.html)

July 2007

by Michael Kamber

[NavyMoose]

The U.S. Coast Guard has photographers as well. I don't remember the name for them. The Navy calls them now Mass Media Specialists.

Back when I was in the Navy Reserve, I had photographed a number of events as the "official" command photographer. Many of the photographers mates were working photographers as their regular job and were pretty good.

I'm in the Air Force Reserve now and I had looked into photography as my AFSC, but my eyes were not good enough by Air Force standards.

I hope this helps.


Have you ever considered being an imbedded journalist, or even a freelance journalist?