Job: Public Affairs Broadcast Specialist (46R)

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To be a U.S. Army Soldier is to be a part of the strongest fighting force in the world. You'll spend your days training, working and serving together to protect America's freedoms. But you'll also have time after work for family, friends and personal interests. From recruitment to retirement, the U.S. Army provides a unique and diverse lifestyle for Soldiers.


Broadcast television and radio programs are an important source of general information about people and events in the Army. Army Public Affairs Broadcast Specialists are involved in creating, filming, reporting, hosting and editing news and entertainment radio and television programs. Public Affair Broadcast Specialists are primarily responsible for participating in and supervising the operation of audio or video news for Army units or Armed Forces Radio Television Service (AFRTS). Some of your duties as a Broadcast Specialist may include:

* Research, prepare and disseminate information through news releases, radio and television products
* Perform as writer, reporter, editor, videographer, producer, and program host in radio and television productions
* Perform operator level maintenance on assigned equipment and maintenance on assigned vehicles and generators

Job training for Public Affairs Broadcast Specialists requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 12 weeks of Advanced Individual Training. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part learning hands-on how to operate a video camera and program a 30 minute disc jockey show. You'll also participate in a live-to-tape television newscast where you'll work as anchor, control room operator, director and cameraperson. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

* Videography and video editing
* Voice skills for anchoring television news and performing as a disc jockey
* Writing news, feature and sports copy for radio and television
* Radio and television programming and production
* Public speaking
* Media relations

Helpful attributes include:

* An interest in English, journalism, speech and communications
* An interest in video, television and radio
* An ability to meet deadlines
* An ability to speak clearly in front of audiences
* An interest in researching facts and issues for news stories
* An ability to write clearly and concisely

Advanced level Public Affairs Broadcast Specialist provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Public Affairs Broadcast Specialist, you may also be involved in:

* Provide technical guidance to subordinates
* Serve as first-line supervisor in broadcast operations and preparation of information products through radio, web-based media and television

The skills you learn as a Public Affairs Broadcast Specialist will help prepare you for a future with wire services, radio and television stations, and other visual information opportunities. You'll be qualified to pursue a career as a newscaster, disc jockey, writer, director, producer, editor or correspondent.

* Public Affairs Specialist (46Q)
* Combat Documentation/Production Specialist (25V)
* Civil Affairs Specialist (38B)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.