There are a variety of paths to take if you wish to become a military journalist. For some it’s finding someone who inspires them and taking the right courses, while for others it’s finding an internship or writing position at a local paper or magazine. There really is no specific path you should follow; instead, each person has their own unique journey that will take them through various management positions and other opportunities along the way. The possibilities are endless and entirely up to what you can make happen for yourself. No matter how you get into the field though, there are positive things about your journey and negative things about your journey. The most important thing really is just to get yourself in the door and start working on your new career.
Positive things:
-Military journalism provides you with a more stable income than some other areas of journalism like sports and entertainment, where jobs can be quite scarce and even non-existent. Military journalists also receive benefits while deployed that many other writers don’t receive, such as free lodging and food; others time it’s access to events that may not otherwise be available to them (like spending the night at the White House or on Air Force One). Other opportunities like these can make military journalism something worth looking into if you want to become a writer without having too much worry about paying the bills each month.
-Job stability also means that you will see yourself working longer with one company rather than bouncing around from paper to paper. This will not only allow you more time to learn the trade, but it’ll give you valuable management experience as well. As someone who has worked in both fields (military and civilian) this is an invaluable asset when looking for other jobs down the road.
-You will have access to places most people can’t go, either because they don’t want to or simply aren’t allowed. Being close with your supervisor may be able to get you into places that are off limits to others; varying levels of clearance are required at times but there’s always a way if you ask nicely enough. The Pentagon press pool is closed off for all but a select few, but it is possible to get in if you’re relevant and important enough.
-Being a military journalist can be an exciting career choice for many people. You’ll see things that only the most elite military personnel will ever get to experience and having that captured on camera or documented in an article is truly extraordinary. Many other journalists simply read about events while others take part in them firsthand; becoming a writer of warfare is definitely not something everyone gets to do so hold onto your seat because taking part in history isn’t something you get very often.
Negative things:
-You may never become famous because there aren’t many avenues out there where you can showcase your work like there are with sports and entertainment; we simply don’t see many movies about the struggles of military journalists. Even if you do become famous, your audience will likely be very small, so being recognized for your work is not something that happens very often.
-It can be difficult to get into this career field because it doesn’t have as many entry points as other jobs do. If you aren’t already in the military then writing for them may not really be an option unless you want to spend years working your way up through lower positions. Working with veterans is another possibility; there are plenty of war stories out there and people who want to hear what they went through during their time but it’s hard to find someone who wants to keep track of these experiences after they’ve moved on from their past life.
-Access can make or break your career; unlike other careers where access is typically given to everyone, you’ll find that this sort of thing isn’t always the case with military journalism. Accessing certain areas and events requires clearance, which can be difficult if you aren’t already in the know. Military personnel also take notice very quickly when someone asks too many questions; they’re trained to spot potential threats and your job security can hang in the balance if they don’t like what they see. After all, we live in a time when war is still going on so its not something many people want to talk about right away because it’s still very fresh in their minds.
-Stability may actually work against you while you’re still working. When things are going well nobody ever wants to leave, but if things start going south then your job is the first thing at risk because you have no outside experience. You may also find that your pay stagnates or even declines as time goes by until you eventually just retire from the work entirely.
-Working with veterans can be a very difficult task for some people who don’t know how to handle their former patients. Many have experienced horrible things and often need someone they can trust to help them cope with it so they aren’t likely to open up right away. Getting a serious interview out of a patient requires time to develop their trust; it’s like letting someone into your life when dating, you wouldn’t let them in right away if you didn’t already know them.
Even though it’s not easy to get into, there are many people who still want to become a part of the military press corps; just remember that it takes time and patience to be successful so don’t give up right away if things seem too difficult. Sometimes you have to start from the bottom and work your way up through lower positions before you can get a good feel for what it’s really like.
Steps:
-Education – You aren’t going to be able to do this without a good education so make sure you go to a very reputable school that teaches military journalism or look for other options in terms of getting certified. For instance, some schools offer courses designed for veterans who want to learn about the press so they can transition back into society with ease; these courses may not lead directly to jobs but they teach skills that are invaluable in the long run because they give veterans their much needed confidence back when they’re looking for employment.
-Work Your Way Up – Just like any job, you may start out in a lower position that doesn’t involve much press work; this is because it helps the military determine who has what it takes to be successful and who needs to leave for their own good. The military might also teach you special skills related to combat, public outreach and other areas so they can encourage you to move up faster.
-Master Your Craft – You won’t be able to work your way up if there isn’t anyone to recognize how much potential you really have. Remember that when people see something special in someone else’s work it gives them more incentive to help them succeed by offering advice, assistance and even assistance into new roles that will benefit both parties in the long run.
-Patience is Key – Some people get bitter when they don’t get the job because it seems like other people are getting ahead too quickly; this is normal and something you should expect but you can help yourself by trying to make connections with others in the press corps so they can see your potential. You might also find mentors along the way who can help give you a better perspective of what you’re going through.
-Keep Learning – When you work in a place that demands a lot from its employees, then there’s always going to be more for them to learn until their dying day. Military personnel have been fighting wars for thousands of years and every new generation has something different to offer so it’s important not to stop learning if you want your voice heard. The military has a lot of veterans who have stories to share with the world, just remember not everyone has your same mindset.
-Security – If you want to keep working for the military then it’s important that they know how dependable you are so they can quickly call on you during emergencies or other things that might come up at any time. You don’t have to be perfect but your employer should see your potential if they are going to trust you with work relevant to national security so try being responsible even when others aren’t because this will cause people in higher positions to notice what you’re doing and promote you accordingly.
-Explore Other Opportunities – It’s possible that there isn’t an opening for military journalism right now; however that doesn’t mean you have to stop doing what you love. Perhaps there are other ways for you to explore your skills and if they’re good enough then it won’t be long before the people in charge start giving you paid work. If anything, perhaps look into working as a freelance writer if that’s something that has caught your eye because even small publications need content weekly or monthly so this could help you pay some bills while looking for an opening with someone who wants more of your writing.
-Remember Why You Work Here – Before you complain about how hard everything is, keep in mind that those who serve alongside you would give their lives if necessary; showing gratitude goes a long way and might bring out the best in those around you. Whether it’s on duty or away from work, you should be constantly reminding yourself that you’re a part of something major and people don’t have to tell you how important your role is.
-Keep Your Morale High – Sometimes it can feel like those around you just want to complain because they have the same complaints every time; try to make things different by coming up with new topics and ways of looking at problems so it doesn’t seem like hard work isn’t necessary. Although there might be some bitter feelings towards those who criticize the military more than others, remember that your colleagues love their country as much as you do and what’s best for it is ultimately what needs doing.
-Learn About Others’ Roles – The strength of team comes from each person having their own specific role that they know how to handle; this makes it so you don’t have to worry about whether or not your coworkers will come through because the whole squad is generally optimistic. Once you learn more about what others do, try doing some of their work yourself so you’re better able to relate with them and offer possible solutions for how things can run more smoothly.
-Be Prepared – You never know when an emergency might pop up so it’s important for everyone to be ready at all times; there are people who do nothing but prepare for these kinds of situations so they can ensure continuity no matter what happens. If someone needs something from you then it’s required that you have the tools necessary for completing a task so being prepared in your own right can enable you to get things done while also helping your teammates.
-Don’t Expect Others To Do Everything For You – The military is all about being self-sufficient so it’s better if you learn to take care of yourself before depending on others to hold your hand the whole way through. There are times when people might be busy themselves or won’t have time to assist with something you’re doing but this isn’t an excuse for not trying harder because that could lead to problems later on. Although not everyone will always do everything that they are capable of, it’s important that you at least try asking for help instead of acting like nothing needs doing.
-Learn As Much As Possible – It doesn’t matter whether you enjoy learning or not; there is always more to be done and the only way you’re going to find things is if you look for them. The military might seem like a complicated piece of machinery but keep in mind that it has one purpose which can sometimes get lost behind all of the rules and regulations so be sure to take every opportunity you have at learning new things.
-See The Bigger Picture – Some people spend their whole deployment or work period focused on short term results while others are able to see everything as part of something bigger; try looking at what needs doing with this mindset instead of just focusing on yourself because it could be easier. Sometimes you need to put your personal affairs on hold while working through some basics before becoming overwhelmed by everything else that needs doing so learning to prioritize is an important part of being a successful soldier or military reporter.
-Be Optimistic – There are going to be times when you’ll feel down because everything seems to have gone wrong but try not to give up just yet. No matter what’s going on around you, always stay optimistic and treat your job as a challenge that can be overcome with time and effort; this way it won’t seem like such a big deal if there are those who don’t understand how much your work means. Sometimes people will try bringing you down with them but don’t let it get under your skin because they’re most likely suffering from an unhealthy attitude. In these kinds of situations, consider yourself lucky for not feeling the same way as them and encourage others to work with you on making things better.
-Be Kind To Yourself – It’s easy to want to give up and take shortcuts when everything seems like it’s falling apart but you need to make sure that your own wellbeing stays a priority; nobody else will do this for you so you can’t expect them to pick up where you left off. Take care of yourself as much as possible because the only way people are going to see your worth is if they know what kind of person you are behind closed doors; this will allow them to trust in your abilities even when times get tough. The more resilient you prove yourself, the easier it’ll be for others to believe in who you are and how hard you’re willing and able to work.
-Participate In Group Activities – You might not always want to socialize with people but it’s important that you make an effort to spend some time getting along with others. There are times when these kinds of activities are planned for specific reasons so be sure to take part because it could benefit your career or at least something else in the future. Even if you don’t know everyone, try asking questions and listening closely to what others have to say because they might help fill in any gaps you have about areas outside your specialty.
-Seek Out Different Responsibilities – Not every job is going to be fun or enjoyable but look for chances where you can gain skills that will prove useful later on; this way there won’t be any doubt about your abilities to take on different kinds of work. Even if you don’t like doing the same thing over and over again, there are always new things to learn or old things that can be improved upon so finding ways to make everything seem fresh will help make certain jobs more bearable.
-Find Ways To Organize Your Work – When you feel just as lost as everyone else it’s important that you find some way to organize yourself because nobody is going to do it for you. With enough persistence, even just asking friends for help will set you well on your way to becoming better organized with time. Look for different methods online or in books but remember that only trial and error will lead to success so start now!