Public Affairs

“You'll tell the Air Force's story — as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and social media strategist, all in one career. Air Force PA gets access to operational content that civilian media organizations cannot get and the portfolio you build is real and portable. Corporate communications, PR agencies, and digital media firms compete for military public affairs veterans because the discipline and the access are both things you cannot simulate in a civilian newsroom. Also Air Force PA professionals live on bases with actual amenities.”

You will photograph a genuinely impressive number of change-of-command ceremonies and award presentations. The grip-and-grin photo is the unit of production for military PA at most assignments, and you will become very good at making brass look approachable against a flag. The operational embed opportunities exist and when they happen your portfolio gets content that civilian journalists cannot access at any price. The career quality depends heavily on assignment: AFCENT PA is a different universe from a small training wing's PA shop. The civilian media and communications transition is one of the more consistently successful from any Air Force AFSC — the writing and visual storytelling skills transfer; the editorial independence is something you develop on your own.