The Media Professional

Newbies left DINFOS as productive team members within a few short weeks from a standing start. I saw Infantrymen and Marines become working Journalists, Airmen and Seamen become functional Broadcasters in the concentrated courses offered. Many graduates of four-year schools would be expected to work as interns before real employment offers could be made. DINFOS graduates were expected to be productive immediately upon graduation.

DINFOS on an applicant’s resumé impresses those of us who attended the school.

We Reservists spent a fair amount of time pitching reporters on the merits of covering what our Citizen Soldiers were doing. We then spent more time trying to get those reporters to cover the events without showing their anti-military biases. Public Relations or Public Affairs? Who cares? We were trying to put forth a positive message about our client, the Army.

The Public Information Office provided very good training for media people, for public relations people, for advertising people, for news people. I’m glad I had the opportunity to serve in the 372nd Public Information Detachment, USAR.

I learned much and use what I learned every day.

J.David Knepper

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