Also called: Navy MC rating, Army 46S Public Affairs Specialist, Air Force 3N0
Military journalist, photographer, and videographer who covers stories about service members.
MCs shoot photos of jets launching from carriers, write news stories, produce videos and podcasts, and run social media. They might film a rescue at sea or a hospital ship mission. Afterward: photojournalist, video producer, social media manager.
Regular military compensation (RMC = base pay + housing and food allowances + their tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-6 ranks, 2026 estimate. Cash in hand is lower early on because junior troops often live in free barracks and eat in dining halls. Enlistment bonuses can add thousands.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.4 years after high school. High school diploma, then ~4 months at the Defense Information School. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Journalism, Photography, Film & Video Production.
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI writes and edits more stories and graphics; shooting real photos and video of operations stays human.
Classes: Photography, Journalism, Video production.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.