Anyone do Combat Photography (Military)

[Coppatop85]

Does anyone here do this, or know anyone that does? I'm debating joining the military, and if I could do this, and photography, that would be pretty amazing. If anyone here does this, or knows how I could contact someone who does, please PM me or respond here.

Thanks!

[Gentleman Villain]

Whatever you do...don't listen to the recruiter...he's lying...take it from a guy that grew up in a military family

[goforphoto]

Whatever you do...don't listen to the recruiter...he's lying...take it from a guy that grew up in a military family
Amen brother!
What ever the recruiter promises make him put it in writing.

[Coppatop85]

I haven't talked to a recruiter yet, but I know enough people who have been screwed over by one. It's just something I am considering.

[JeffreyG]

It's rare that a recruiter can make much in the way of a commitment that is so specific on a job, especially a job that is uncommon.

If you wanted to be infantry.....sure.

The best they can usually do is promise you certain technical job classifications provided that you do your part in various training and aptitude tests.

[SOK]

I'm debating joining the military, and if I could do this, and photography, that would be pretty amazing.

Not sure which military you are talking about (your location isn't listed)...but based on the ADF (Australian Defence Force), I think your chances are slim; unless you were a service photographer by mustering.

It's obviously something that has become exceedingly difficult to police (due to phone cameras etc), but I'm fairly sure that service personnel touting cameras whilst on duty is generally considered a no-no, regardless of the service.

I think the majority of 'combat photography' we see in the media is produced by free lance photographers....but I could be wrong

[Spacemunkie]

Police photographer? Seems to be quite a few milling about at 'problem' events in the UK:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_burge/2600834707/in/set-72157605018663467/

(This event could well have been a problem, so we'll let 'em off....)

Ironically, taking that photo today would be a criminal offense!

[Odie23]

The USAF has a combat camera section that operates out of the public affairs office. Join the Air Force, get into PA, then get into a combat camera slot. Easy as pie.

Also, I had the best recruiter in the world. (TSgt Michael Kilpatrick) Never lied to me once, and even burt his leave days to show me around Egland AFB when he found out we both were on vacation in the same area. Great guy who I talk up any chance I can.

Odie

[ciannacone]

+1 to recruiter comments! i enlisted as a signal corps transmissions operator and was told by my recruiter you would be in the field (ie the woods lol) maybe 3 or 4 weeks out of the year (big plus, hate the outdoors haha)... well lets just say my job entailed being outside about 2-3 weeks out of each MONTH... as for photography, its been about 10 years since ive been in, but at the time there were journalist photographers assigned to my unit, so its a possibility its still around :D

[Lightworks Imaging]

My recruiter never lied to me. But I ENLISTED for the Infantry, on a Ranger contract. Seemed like a good idea until we got to Ft. Benning. But that was years ago. Your best bet would be Air Force, but the competition in grueling and the Army did have an equivalent. Why be a "combat" photographer? How about a photographer? Good luck.

[Karl Johnston]

What does a combat photographer do? I've never heard of or seen one before..

[JWright]

A while back the US Navy combined the specialties of Lithographer, Illustrator/Draftsman, Journalist and Photographer into the rating of Mass Communications Specialist. These personnel handle all photographic duties throughout the Navy, including SEAL teams and Explosive Ordinance Disposal.

To give you an idea of what they do, check out the US Navy's website...

http://www.navy.mil/view_photos_top.asp

[lgunnz]

Might want to get to the recruiter soon, I heard the Air Force has been turning people away because to many trying to join now that economy is in the pits....

[Matthew.Samos]

If you're willing, you can typically embed with US military units in combat zones like Iraq or Afghanistan. As I understand it, there are heaps of paperwork and background checks and a massive amount of time involved just to get authorized for it--but it can be done, and people do. There is certainly a lack of combat photographers out there. I'd guess that at least some of that fact is related to the likelihood of being shot at. If you embed, you can NOT have a weapon at any time, at least with US military embeds.

The other option would be to enlist and take photos during your service.

[JeffreyG]

If you're willing, you can typically embed with US military units in combat zones like Iraq or Afghanistan. As I understand it, there are heaps of paperwork and background checks and a massive amount of time involved just to get authorized for it--but it can be done, and people do. There is certainly a lack of combat photographers out there. I'd guess that at least some of that fact is related to the likelihood of being shot at. If you embed, you can NOT have a weapon at any time, at least with US military embeds.

You have to be a working journalist first, and your boss has to pick you to be an embedded journalist.

Also, from the standpoint of a working PJ there are some ethical issues with the partiality of an embedded journalist in accurately describing a situation from the viewpoint of the troops he is embedded with. One feels some comraderie with the soldiers that are protecting you.

But since the OP wants to work for a military publication this may not be a problem. Any such publication is going to mostly support the viewpoint of the military force it belongs to.

The other option would be to enlist and take photos during your service.

Most of the time that something interesting is going on you are limited in the gear you can have with you and you are likely too busy to be taking photographs. Your comrades will doubtless be less than appreciative of you taking pictures instead of your job.

[Coppatop85]

The marines have a specific job, Combat Photojournalist. Airforce and Navy have this bundled into their Public Affairs, but it is essentially the same thing. Looking for more info about this job while enlisted, rather than doing it for a paper or outside source.

Thanks for the replies so far.

[scot079]

The USAF photogs I know love their job. They don't do any combat stuff, and I don't know that they ever will. They mostly shoot shake, take, salute stuff, traffic accidents, etc.

May have a better chance in the Army if you want to shoot combat. I CAN tell you that DINFOS is here w/ yours truly @ Fort Meade, MD. So that's where you'd go to school. Bring a jacket.:-)

[Coppatop85]

Yeah, that's where the school is for all branches. Is that what you do? I live in New England, and I love the cold, so I am used to it.

[scot079]

No I'm not paid to be a photographer in the Air Force, I volunteer to take photos at my unit's functions because I noticed that most (most) military photogs have lost the passion for photography because it's be repetitive for them. Most photos they have to take are VERY boring and I can see how they might not love it after a while.

[Deec77]

DefenseLink.mil - Military Photographers (http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/military_photographers/) You might be able to get some info from here.

~Dee~

[USMCWayne]

The odds of you, or anyone, actually getting a chance to be a combat photographer is about the same odds as being struck by lightning.

As mentioned a few times above, I'd also doubt any guarantee given by any recruiter.

After getting out of the Corps, I spent four years majoring in still photography/television production at Montana State in Bozeman, and also spent a good portion of my time at MSU working as a student photographer/journalist.

I approached a Marine recruiter and asked if there was a possibility of me rejoining the Marines, possibly in a Reserve unit as a combat photog, and basically was told thanks but no thanks. As a Marine, I had exceptional ratings, made Sergeant in about 2 1/2 years, and had been offered another stripe and a $10,000 bonus (quite a bit in 1974) to re-enlist so I don't think it was me, but the fact those kind of jobs were highly desired and hard to come by.

Steve Lively, who was a combat photographer with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines in 1972, passed away about a year ago. When Steve and I were with 1/9, Steven tagged along when the two helicopter squadrons attached to our MAB carried a reserve battalion of South Vietnamese Marines into battle near Quang Tri.

The CH-53 Steve was in was shot down by a SAM while coming into an LZ. The co-pilot auto-rotated the chopper down in a "controlled" crash and burn. 43 SVN Marines died in the crash and fire, as well as three Marine crewmen (one who died a couple months after the fact from his injuries). The pilot, co-pilot, Steve, another crewman, and seven Vietnamese Marines escaped.

The helicopter was, obviously, severely overloaded.

The Vietnamese Marines made their own way to friendly lines and the Americans waited until dusk, when they were rescued by a SAR team.

Steve received a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart that day. He suffered various 2nd and 3rd degree burns, a broken shoulder, and shrapnel injuries. Steve often joked about how he won his Silver Star.

After the crash, the CH-53 was on its side and the survivors had to exit through a window. The pilot, while exiting, accidently inflated his Mae West and got stuck in the window. Steve grabbed hold of a seat and, swinging like Tarzan, booted the pilot in the ass and out the window.

The only weapons anyone had was their sidearms, but Steve did still have his camera, and he ended up with a few great "I was there" shots from the shell hole they were hiding in.

Steve, as our battalion's designated combat photographer, had possibly one of the choicest military occupations you could ask for, and I'm unsure how in the world he lucked into such a job. Most of the time, it was pretty boring, grip and grin stuff, but I believe he was attached to the Headquarters staff and, if not on some other assignment, had free reign to go and do what he wanted.

Good luck to anyone seeking such a gig, but be aware the chances of success are miniscule.

[USMCWayne]

I'm currently on the road (shooting a girl's basketball state tournament) so don't have ready access to all of my at home sources, but it's a well-known fact the Marine Corps gets the lion's share of any publicity in the media.

The Corps goes out of their way to cultivate good relations with the press, and also have their own dedicated group of combat correspondents, photographers, and videographers.

Other services complain the Corps sends a photographer into combat with every grunt, and I've got some great quotes (again, at home) detailing how they cover Marines in combat.

Marine Corps combat correspondents go back a long way. Marine Corps combat photographers won an Oscar for the short movie they produced after the invasion of Tarawa. We all know about Joe Rosenthal's Pulitzer Prize-winning "flag raising on Iwo Jima" photo, but did you know a Marine Corps combat photog went along on the first patrol up Suribachi, when the first flag was raised? And a Marine Corps photographer took movie footage that mirrors Rosenthal's photo?

As recently as the first Desert Shield/Desert Storm invasion, the Marines got the bulk of the press coverage, for a feint, while the Army got sidebar coverage for the actual invasion.

As is typical, a lot of grunt units are not at full complement. When a combat photog tags along on an operation these days, they're often pressed into duty as a member of a fireteam and are told to put their camera away. No matter what your MOS in the Marine Corps, your first job is always infantry.

[YORCHI]

the Marines have a pretty good public affairs job as well as a combat photographer/correspondant

if you're assigned to a deployable unit you will be tagging along taking pictures of everythign and then writing stories about it...

you have to talk to the recruit and qualify for the job. they will put it in your contract

with any service, if you don't see it in writing, don't believe them...they have signs all over their offices telling you that...verbal promises aren't legal...make sure you see it in writing before you sign anything

[USMCWayne]

Not specifically about Public Relations or combat correspondents, the following is an excerpt from Making the Corps, by Thomas E Ricks.

"In The Short-Timers, the painful little Vietnam War novel by Gustav Hasford on which Full Metal Jacket is based, a Marine captain unabashedly links the Marine knack for publicity with its fighting prowess. 'The lesser services like to joke about how every Marine platoon goes into battle accompanied by a platoon of Marine Corps photographers,' he says. 'That's affirmative. Marines fight harder because Marines have bigger legends to live up to.'

Today's Marines maintain that aggressive posture. In 1996, the Corps virtually ran away with the hit movie Independence Day, in which the Air Force is nowhere in sight, while the hero is a black Marine aviator and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs is also a Marine.

Envious Army public relations officers sometimes joke that it takes three Marines to screw in a lightbulb--one to do it and two to issue the press release. But the joke misses the lesson the Corps conveys to all its officers and to most of its enlisted personnel, that every single one of them must promote the institution."

...and, from the prologue of the same book...

"Because of their culture, the Marines tend to be an enjoyable service for a reporter to cover. Because they are so proud of their story, and because the Marines existence has always been threatened, they are happy to have a journalist write about them--even if in their political conservatism they don't particularily like the media. They are more open than the Army tends to be; the average Marine lance corporal speaks with more confidence to a reporter than does the average Army captain."

[armycoug]

I have been in PA for both the Air Force and the Army. We do combat camera, and I love it. After going to basic training you go to a 12 week school at Fort Meade, MD. called the Defense Information School.

I have learned so much about being a photographer and being the best at my craft. Now that I am just National Guard, I have a HUGE portfolio of shots that I have gotten over the last few years, that makes mine stand out from many others when it comes to getting a job. I have newspapers that want to hire me, as well as many other commercial companies.

If you are interested, Talk to other Combat Camera guys, or Public Affairs guys (we are all one in the same) they will give you the full story about our job, and how great it is.

[Coppatop85]

Thanks for the responses.

[xMClass]

I have been in PA for both the Air Force and the Army. We do combat camera, and I love it. After going to basic training you go to a 12 week school at Fort Meade, MD. called the Defense Information School.

I have learned so much about being a photographer and being the best at my craft. Now that I am just National Guard, I have a HUGE portfolio of shots that I have gotten over the last few years, that makes mine stand out from many others when it comes to getting a job. I have newspapers that want to hire me, as well as many other commercial companies.

If you are interested, Talk to other Combat Camera guys, or Public Affairs guys (we are all one in the same) they will give you the full story about our job, and how great it is.

How was it in the Army? I ask because my MOS is 46Q which is Public Affairs as well. If all goes as planned I leave for Basic in June to Fort Jackson.

[Derweissehai]

I am in the military as well. But on the Navy side. I agree go thru the AF and into PA. Stacy Pearsal just retired from the Af and actually won the Military Photographer of the year. Unheard of in a male dominated feild. So the Af is your best bet.

[jmorales]

What does a combat photographer do? I've never heard of or seen one before..

I imagine he shoots the enemy with his camera instead of a rifle. LOL:)

[Bumgardnern]

I know two combat photographers. One of them was a combat photographer in Vietnam and the other was a combat photographer during the first part of the current Iraq war.

My friend that was a combat photographer in Vietnam went over as a Sgt. First Class in an infantry division. His first day in Vietnam the Information Officer released a photo to the press that incriminated a high ranking USAF officer and the Information Officer was releved of his duty. The Air Force then asked pretty much everyone even remotely qualified at the base to do the job and my friend was the only one that wanted it.

My other friend that was a combat photographer in the current Iraq war went over as a photographer for a media outlet. She was trained by the Army to know what to do in combat situations and then was stationed with a supply company to photograph them in Iraq for the news organization.

[Likwit]

I just got off the phone with a AF recruiter about joining the reserves for combat photography . Im a prior AF cop, and have been thinking about rejoining as a reservist. Ive recently gained a passion for learning photography. So why not take the chance to do both!. He is making some phone calls to set up an appointment to speak with the commander of the reserve unit. Just hope all goes well and I get accepted into the unit.

[Flashstudio]

Lot of pretty good information here. I am a retired Combat Photographer. Not going to comment on those who think they know and don't. The MOS for the Army when I was in was 84B. Still photographer. It then changed in the 90s to 25S Still and Video. It's now a 25V. I spent 4 years behind the camera and back then techincally trained at Lowery AFB which was a join training school.

Army, Navy, Marine, Coast Guard and Air Force 19 months learning 4x5, med and 35mm cameras, flash units, studio lighting, Black and White, Color, Color Printing and Slide. Of course now all Digital and Computers. All of which I have used in my 24 years of service as a COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHER. I later attended training at the Defense Information School to learn Jouralism (writing) DINFOS. My first few years was spent working with the Infantry and other units shooting everything from daily training, to producing slide briefings, to shooting tons of what are known as Grip and Grins photos, awards and news type photos. I spend most my day in a darkroom processing film, b&w, color and tons of Slides. We also ran a studio, the studio is where, you photograph soldiers for their career file. Use to be a full length in dress uniform, it’s now a ¾ length. I also would help many non-photographers learn to operate cameras in the field. We could not go on every mission.

In 1982, I then saw a 12 man team come to our unit which was known as the Special Forces (SF). I reenlisted and went to Airborne school. I then went to SF training and later to Medic school. I mention this because once you can shoot a camera you will never put it down. On every team there is the need for a photographer. I later went to what is known as O&I Information and Operations School and even became an instructor for the Special Forces Photography part of this school a few years later.

While on active duty, I learned to skydive in the Army known as Military Freefall "HALO," High Altitude Low Opening I attached a camera to my helmet and took Military HALO photos. I turned my photography knowledge into a full time position at the HALO Committee. Flying a still camera then a Nikon F3 and sony video on my helmet. After I had shot a few 100 freefall jumps and got my flying with a camera and under a parachute down, I tried out for the Army’s Parachute Team, “The Golden Knights” I share this not to toot my horn but reading most of these post it seems to me, people don’t believe there is a mission… know to civilians as a JOB in the Military for a young man or woman with a passion for art. I spent 5 years with the Golden Knights. I have been published in most of America’s Major News Papers and a large number of TV Stations and Magazines. I made close to 6000 skydives, with at least 1 in all 50 states and 38 Foreign countries. All as a Army Combat Photographer. I have been in combat 3 times, which are public and on many a mission which are not public information, most the time behind the camera.

I spent my last 3 years as a forensic photographer with the POW/MIA Mission station in Hawaii spending close to 300 days a year in Southeast Asia looking for and recovering remains of soldiers killed in combat. Most rewarding mission I have ever served as a Combat Photographer.

I retired as a Master Sergeant and later was recalled to military and served as a combat photographer SF medic 2nd with the National Guard SF Unit(s). I was in Afghanistan in 2004 and in Iraq in 2007 I have now retired as a Sergeant Major. However most if not all my time was behind, or under cameras.

My point… There are Military Combat Photographers. Army has them, Air Force and Navy as well as the Marines and Coast Guard. Each branch are different in their requirements to get behind the camera. The Army has a special unit which is known as the Combat Pictorial Detachment. They embed themselves with combat units to include Airborne Units. When we went into Panama, two of their Photogs jumped into combat with us! If you want to be a combat photographer you can be just that a Combat Photographer. Be Ready, to shot move and communicate. You better be in great shape and ready to say yes to anything . Attitude is everything. On my Teams when I was a leader I spelled Attitude as Altitude becasue I am always at 15000 feet. I live life!

Please contact me… I will direct you and your LAME ASS Recruiter as to what to do and look for. As many have stated on this site. Recruiters are just that RECRUTIER… All they want are numbers… It’s the SALES of the military.. Nothing more nothing less. Even the Golden Knights our job was to be the front men and women for the Army recruiting command. Recruiter could give a hoot less about your as a person. I would go to Airborne, Ranger and Pathfinder School and find/work my way to Fort Bragg, NC. That is where you can get into many of special units. The Army has a unit just to test parachutes… Great photographer’s slot. Delta Force has photographers. Even the White House has photographer slots. What is important to learn in life, if you can think it, your can dream it, if you can dream it, you can do it.

Don’t ask someone who has never done something how it’s done. I would not take my Harley to a Powersport tech... Sure they know motorcycles. It's a Harley and requires a Harley tech!. Good luck my friend, if the military is a desire and being a combat photographer is a dream you can do it. It's a buyers market. You tell them what you want. You can get it. Good luck. As a side note:... No service is better than any other. You will learn, SF could not make a jump without the Air Force to fly us there and many times the Navy or AF on the Ground to control the LZ... And no war has ever been fought or won without the Marines. The Coast Guard has one of the best missions in the world in today's service and combat againts drugs and terriorsit daily so you and our families can sleep at night. All of these missions to include the 3 Seals which killed the pirates have been recorded by Combat Photographers. Just like the Grip and Grin of the Capatin of the Ship and the Commander of the Navy Ship, taken the minute he was saved. Best of luck
Airborne

[matthew1371]

As a former Marine and recruiter of future Marines, I'll throw this out for consideration.

EVERYONE joining the Marine Corps signs a document as part of their enlistment contract which details their potential MOS assignment, even if the individual is signing "open contract" (ie- the needs of the Marine Corps assigns you where you are needed based on your ASVAB test scores). If you are joining the USMC as active duty, you will not be give an opportunity to select one specific occupational specialty. Everything is broken down by job fields into what are known as programs and all you are guaranteed is that someone at a desk in HQMC will assign you to one of the occupational specialties within that program.

For example, if you sign a guaranteed enlistment contract for the "Combat Camera" program you could end up with any range of specialties such as combat lithographer, combat photographer or combat videographer.

Now also realize that just because you want a specific program, there is no guarantee you'll get it. As a recruiter I dealt with kids who were bound and determined to get into a specific MOS via a guaranteed program, but who didn't meet the pre-requisites. If your ASVAB scores don't meet the minimum requirements for a certain job, you're not getting it. The recruiting command can normally waiver one point or two in order for an otherwise qualified individual to get a specific program.

Then there is the issue of program availability. Looking at the manpower numbers, the USMC needs way more basic infantrymen per year than they do combat photographers. Therefore, the Marines have a limited number of seats at the MOS school for producing combat photographers, which means only a limited number of applicants can sign for that program in the first place. This also influences when you will go to boot camp, because there is a pre-determined timeline for getting the applicant through recruit training and then onwards to Marine combat training (for non-infantry MOS holders) then to the specific MOS school.

Now here's a bit of inside scoop to pay attention to. If you show up late in the gov't fiscal year, odds are good that all the "good" enlistment programs are going to be already closed out. Show up right at the start of the gov't fiscal year and chances are the program you want may not be available yet.

Bottom line is that YOU are a hot commodity to the recruiters of all the services.

Get your ASVAB testing done, which will establish just what you are qualified for as well as what you are NOT qualified for. Just because you do your ASVAB testing for one branch of the miitary, you are NOT obligated to sign for that service. Do NOT let the recruiter BS you with that one, the ASVAB scores are available for enlistment into any branch of the military. The Army can sponsor your ASVAB test and when the results come back you can walk out their door and go join the Marines. Or the Navy. Or the Air Force. Don't let any recruiter lock you in by saying your ASVAB scores belong to them.

Things may vary a bit from one branch to another, but make sure you get what you want when you sign the contract.

Any additional questions, feel free to contact me.

[Flashstudio]

As a former Marine and recruiter of future Marines, I'll throw this out for consideration.

EVERYONE joining the Marine Corps signs a document as part of their enlistment contract which details their potential MOS assignment, even if the individual is signing "open contract" (ie- the needs of the Marine Corps assigns you where you are needed based on your ASVAB test scores). If you are joining the USMC as active duty, you will not be give an opportunity to select one specific occupational specialty. Everything is broken down by job fields into what are known as programs and all you are guaranteed is that someone at a desk in HQMC will assign you to one of the occupational specialties within that program.

For example, if you sign a guaranteed enlistment contract for the "Combat Camera" program you could end up with any range of specialties such as combat lithographer, combat photographer or combat videographer.

Now also realize that just because you want a specific program, there is no guarantee you'll get it. As a recruiter I dealt with kids who were bound and determined to get into a specific MOS via a guaranteed program, but who didn't meet the pre-requisites. If your ASVAB scores don't meet the minimum requirements for a certain job, you're not getting it. The recruiting command can normally waiver one point or two in order for an otherwise qualified individual to get a specific program.

Then there is the issue of program availability. Looking at the manpower numbers, the USMC needs way more basic infantrymen per year than they do combat photographers. Therefore, the Marines have a limited number of seats at the MOS school for producing combat photographers, which means only a limited number of applicants can sign for that program in the first place. This also influences when you will go to boot camp, because there is a pre-determined timeline for getting the applicant through recruit training and then onwards to Marine combat training (for non-infantry MOS holders) then to the specific MOS school.

Now here's a bit of inside scoop to pay attention to. If you show up late in the gov't fiscal year, odds are good that all the "good" enlistment programs are going to be already closed out. Show up right at the start of the gov't fiscal year and chances are the program you want may not be available yet.

Bottom line is that YOU are a hot commodity to the recruiters of all the services.

Get your ASVAB testing done, which will establish just what you are qualified for as well as what you are NOT qualified for. Just because you do your ASVAB testing for one branch of the miitary, you are NOT obligated to sign for that service. Do NOT let the recruiter BS you with that one, the ASVAB scores are available for enlistment into any branch of the military. The Army can sponsor your ASVAB test and when the results come back you can walk out their door and go join the Marines. Or the Navy. Or the Air Force. Don't let any recruiter lock you in by saying your ASVAB scores belong to them.

Things may vary a bit from one branch to another, but make sure you get what you want when you sign the contract.

Any additional questions, feel free to contact me.

Great advise Marine!

[Mturnbo]

Listen to these guys that have been there. With the military it's not about photography or any other career, it's about the mission!

[Coppatop85]

Thanks for the advice so far, it has all been great!

[Chad0321]

I am in Afghanistan now and taking plenty of pics. If you want combat photos you will have to risk getting your ass blown up! Not funny at all when on the recieving end. Take a trip to Helmand Province or go to Kornegal Valley and you will surely see plenty. I wouldnt join the military just to be a photographer.