Defense Information School



The Defense Information School, or DINFOS, is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) school located at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. Members from all branches of the U.S. military, DoD civilians and international military personnel attend DINFOS for training in public affairs, print journalism, photojournalism, photography, television and radio broadcasting, lithography, equipment maintenance and various forms of multimedia. DINFOS fulfills the Department of Defense's need for an internal corps of professional journalists, broadcasters, and public affairs professionals. The American Council on Education recommends college credit for most DINFOS courses.

History
The Army Information School was founded in 1946 at Carlisle Barracks. The other U.S. armed services also conducted public affairs and journalism training, and merged with the Army Information School in 1948 to form the Armed Forces Information School in New York. Due to poor enrollment, the joint service venture disbanded until 1964 when Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Arthur Sylvester chartered DINFOS. DINFOS moved to Fort Benjamin Harrison, just outside Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1965 where it remained until its 1995 move to Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

Leadership Courses
The Public Affairs Leadership Department is one of four departments in DINFOS.

The Public Affairs Leadership Department offers the Qualification Course (PAQC), the Joint Expeditionary Course (JEPAC), the Joint Intermediate Course (JIPAC), and the Joint Senior Course (JSPAC). Courses are offered to military officers, senior enlisted personnel, Department of Defense civilians, and members of coalition partners from around the world who are preparing for or already in billets of public affairs leadership.

The Public Affairs Qualification Course (PAQC) provides those who are new to the public affairs field, the fundamentals of public affairs to include military-media relations, the different medium(s) used to facilitate the flow of accurate and timely information, and how to conduct public affairs operations in support of the command's mission. In addition, the students are taught the fundamentals of news, journalism, and how to write and copy-edit in accordance with the Associated Press (AP) Styleguide.

The Public Affairs Expeditionary Course is a ten-day, intensive follow-on course to PAQC. Students are expected to have a basic working knowledge and experience in PA as the course is focused more on the application of PA skills in a field environment.

Journalism Courses
Journalism classes feature basic writing skills and include a headline style known at the school as "headline-ese," a total style for writing and developing headlines. Students are taught a variety of writing styles and formats such as news, sports and feature writing.

Photojournalism courses focus on composition, exposure, and general camera operation skills. Flash photography is introduced in the basic photography course. Students learn advanced photo-editing, composition and other techniques not taught in basic photojournalism classes.

For military print journalists, DINFOS offers the 12-week Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course (BPASC), a 26-week online BPASC and three-week Editors' Course. U.S. Army students are awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) designator of "46Q." U.S. Marine Corps students are awarded the MOS 4341 Combat Correspondent.

For military Broadcast journalists, DINFOS offers the Combat Correspondent Course. Broadcasters begin by attending several weeks of BWAS - Basic Writing and Announcing Skills. If the class requirements are met, students may continue into Radio and Television broadcasting classes. U.S. Army students are awarded the MOS designator of "46R."

Students in all courses hail from all branches of the U.S. military and reserve as well as International military students.

Equipment Maintenance Courses
The Basic Television Equipment Maintenance (BTVEM) course includes apprentice level instruction in the repair of all types of studio and transmission equipment. Students also learn how to maintain the AVID non-linear digital editing systems. The related U.S. Army MOS is "25R," and the Air Force AFSC awarded upon completion is "2E134." Since December 2006 Air Force class graduated, DINFOS no longer trains Air Force personnel in the BTVEM course.

The Broadcast Radio and Television Systems Maintenance course is an advanced level course where students learn the ins and outs of American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) engineering standards and practices.

Both maintenance courses are nationally accredited by the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE). Upon completion of either course with an average GPA of at least 85%, students are certified by the SBE as broadcast technologists (CBT).

Notable alumni

 * Rob Riggle, Actor/comedian
 * Pat Sajak, became a disk jocky at Armed Forces Radio
 * Al Gore, print journalist, Vietnam War
 * Dan Quayle
 * Dale Dye
 * Adrian Cronauer
 * Zsa Zsa Gershick
 * Joanne (Lampe) Heilman
 * Chas Henry
 * LouAnne Johnson
 * Clarence Page
 * Rod Simmons
 * James Smith, White House media
 * Marshall Thompson
 * James E. Whaley
 * Earl Woods, father of golfer Tiger Woods
 * Jonathan Masaki Shiroma, Pacific Fusion Correspondent, News 10 Sacramento, Former UPN 31 "Good Day Sacramento," KGMB Nine News and CNN Radio Hawaii reporter.
 * Mark Rosenker, Major General, USAFR (ret) CBS NEWS Transportation Safety Analyst
 * Mark Stringer, Grad 1968, Signal Group 22 Germany 1968-69, Camp Alpha Vietnam 1969-70, MACV Vietnam 1970-71
 * Brad Blaisedale, Grad 1968, Vietnam 1968-69, Actor
 * Maj. Megan McClung
 * Gene Siskel, where he developed his love for journalism
 * Tony Dow, Leave It To Beaver fame, Fall '67
 * Walter F. Mondale, former Vice-President
 * John William Chancellor, a television news anchor and author
 * Nicholas A. Basbanes, author of numerous works of nonfiction, including A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books and On Paper: The Everything of Its Two-Thousand-Year History; Spring 1968.
 * Joseph R. Chenelly, reporter and advocate for injured and ill military veterans