I was in the Journalist rating, not a Photographer in the Navy for 10 years, but I shot my own pictures to go along with my stories because there wasn't too many photographers who had the same passion for photojournalism that I did. They were happy shooting grips & grins, inspections, and official portraits. Most of my work, since photojournalism is 24 hours a day seven days a week was outside the 8-5 grind. The PH weren't thrilled about taking pictures outside their normal eight hour a day job. They would take a technically perfect picture, but weren't all too creative. So, I never had any use of them.
I believe the only true photographer job left in the service is in the Air Force, whereas most of the other, Coast Guard, Army and Navy have all combined career fields. The Navy and Coast Guard combined, the Journalist, Draftsman, Lithographer, and Photographer's Mate ratings into one job, they give you just enough training to become dangerous and you learn by on-the job training, getting switched from one type of job to another every six months. I believe the same is done in the Army, but not. The Coast Guard, Navy and Army students go to DINFOS, which is situated at Ft. Mead, MD. I believe the Air Force has their own school.
|