Photographers Mate
| Mass Communication Specialist | |
|---|---|
Rating insignia
|
|
| Issued by | United States Navy |
| Type | Enlisted rating |
| Abbreviation | MC |
| Specialty | Public Affairs and Visual Communication |
Mass Communication Specialist (abbreviated as MC) was a United States Navy occupational rating. MCs serve aboard ships, in expeditionary units and at shore commands in the United States and overseas. They serve as Navy storytellers to support public affairs and provide operational support to unit commanders. Mass Communication Specialists are the Navy’s content producers. They are content writers, photographers, multimedia storytellers, and graphic designers. They are trained to produce content to support Public Affairs and operational support missions. Navy MCs also serve as enlisted public affairs officers, advisors, and support Operational Commanders' visual information and content production requirements.
The Navy MC rating was established on July 1, 2006 when the Illustrator Draftsman, Journalist, Lithographer and Photographers Mate ratings merged. The merge of the four legacy ratings was announced by the Chief of Naval Operations in NAVADMIN 339/05. The legacy ratings were merged to improve efficiency, support optimal manning, and better align the rating with commercial industry practices.
Illustrator Draftsman (DM). The Draftsman rating was established in 1948 from the ratings of Carpenter’s Mate (CB) (Draftsman), Electrician’s Mate (CB) (Draftsman), Shipfitter (CS) (Mechanical Draftsmen), Specialist (X) (Engineering Draftsman), Specialist (X) (Topographic Draftsman), Specialist (X) (Cartographers), and Specialist (P) (Photogrammetry). The Draftsman rating was changed to Illustrator Draftsman in 1959.
Journalist (JO). The Journalist rating was established in 1948 from the ratings of Specialist (X) (Journalists), Specialist (X) (Naval Correspondents), and Specialist (X) (Public Information).
Lithographer (LI). The Lithographer rating was established in 1948 from the ratings of Specialist (P) (Photographic Specialists), Printer, Printer (L) (Lithographers), and Printer (M) (Offset Process).
Photographer’s Mate (PH). The Photographer rating was established in 1921 and was changed to Photographer’s Mate in 1942. Photographer’s Mate split into Photographer’s Mate and Aviation Photographer’s Mate in 1948 and then combined as Photographer’s Mate in 1952.
Most Navy MCs are recruited into the rating; attend boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois; and report to the Defense Information School at Ft. Meade, Maryland for the six-month Basic Mass Communication Specialist Course.
Depending on MC manning throughout the Fleet, Professional Apprentice Career Track (PACT) Sailors may have limited opportunities to become an MC through on-the-job training, submission of a well-rounded MC portfolio and a published rating entry designation quota.
...
Wikipedia