One of the Marine Corps careers that keep a soldier in the thick of things is the job of Marine Corps Combat Correspondent. The combat correspondent is involved in the preparing, gathering, and relating of military feature and news information. This is for both external, and internal purposes, and involves showcasing the Marine Corps Programs, policies, plans, changes, regulations, exercises, and operations.
The Marine Correspondent gives this information out in both broadcast and print form for military and civilian media outlets. The Marine Corps Combat Correspondent gathers feature and news materials for publications in magazines, command newspapers and newsletters, and for television and radio release to both external, and internal Marine usage. The Combat Correspondent is tasked to respond to inquiries and queries of various nature from military and civilian media sources. They work to provide liaison media functions during exercises/military operations, to work to produce photo and print materials, and to help conduct military community relations programs.
If a combat Correspondent reaches the rank of Staff Sergeant, then they can be possibly tasked as a public affairs officer by the virtue of their senior enlisted rank in their Public Affairs office. Serving as a PA chief, the Staff sergeant Combat correspondent is responsible for the activities, training, and performance of all the enlisted Marines assigned to the Public Affairs office. Some of the duties that a PA chief Staff Sergeant Combat Correspondent can be responsible for include:
-Internal and external informational and television programs.
-Advisor to the Public Affairs officers in all materials pertaining to Marine Public Affairs.
-Publication and supervision of publishing of a Command magazine or newspaper/newsletter.
-Conducting and directing Marine Corps On the Job training for Junior Marine Enlisted.
-Maintaining and managing a command community relations program.
Training for Combat Correspondent includes attending Marine Basic Combat Training. Following boot camp, the Marine Combat Correspondent will attend and complete the Marine Basic Journalism course. They must also score on certain areas of the ASVAB high enough, and have their Command Public Affairs officer approval. Following graduation from Basic Journalism course, some Marines will be selected for Basic Broadcasting following the mandatory voice audition given to all Basic Journalism students.
After completion of one or both schools, the Combat Marine Correspondent will transfer to their assigned command and report to the public Affairs officer for assignment. There are various billets for Marine Combat Correspondent at all different locales in the Marine Corps including at Headquarters Units, Field Units, and Marine Corps bases worldwide.
