Defense Information School The Defense Information School , or DINFOS , is a United States Department of Defense ( DoD ) school located at Fort George G . Meade , Maryland . Members from all branches of the U . S . military , DoD civilians and international military personnel attend DINFOS for training in public affairs , print journalism , photojournalism , photography , television and radio broadcasting , lithography , equipment maintenance and various forms of multimedia . DINFOS fulfills the Department of Defense ' s need for an internal corps of professional journalists , broadcasters , and public affairs professionals . The American Council on Education recommends college credit for most DINFOS courses . History . The Army Information School was founded in 1946 at Carlisle Barracks . The other U . S . armed services also conducted public affairs and journalism training , and merged with the Army Information School in 1948 to form the Armed Forces Information School in New York . Due to poor enrollment , the joint service venture disbanded until 1964 when Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Arthur Sylvester chartered DINFOS . DINFOS moved to Fort Benjamin Harrison , just outside Indianapolis , Indiana , in 1965 where it remained until its 1995 move to Fort George G . Meade , Maryland . Training . Leadership Courses . The Public Affairs Leadership Department is one of four departments in DINFOS . The Public Affairs Leadership Department offers the Qualification Course ( PAQC ) , the Joint Expeditionary Course ( JEPAC ) , the Joint Intermediate Course ( JIPAC ) , and the Joint Senior Course ( JSPAC ) . Courses are offered to military officers , senior enlisted personnel , Department of Defense civilians , and members of coalition partners from around the world who are preparing for or already in billets of public affairs leadership . The Public Affairs Qualification Course ( PAQC ) provides those who are new to the public affairs field , the fundamentals of public affairs to include military - media relations , the different medium ( s ) used to facilitate the flow of accurate and timely information , and how to conduct public affairs operations in support of the command ' s mission . In addition , the students are taught the fundamentals of news , journalism , and how to write and copy - edit in accordance with the Associated Press ( AP ) Styleguide . The Public Affairs Expeditionary Course is a ten - day , intensive follow - on course to PAQC . Students are expected to have a basic working knowledge and experience in PA as the course is focused more on the application of PA skills in a field environment . Journalism Courses . Journalism classes feature basic writing skills and include a headline style known at the school as " headline - ese , " a total style for writing and developing headlines . Students are taught a variety of writing styles and formats such as news , sports and feature writing . Photojournalism courses focus on composition , exposure , and general camera operation skills . Flash photography is introduced in the basic photography course . Students learn advanced photo - editing , composition and other techniques not taught in basic photojournalism classes . For military print journalists , DINFOS offers the 12 - week Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course ( BPASC ) , a 26 - week online BPASC and three - week Editors ' Course . U . S . Army students are awarded the Military Occupational Specialty ( MOS ) designator of " 46Q . " U . S . Marine Corps students are awarded the MOS 4341 Combat Correspondent . For military Broadcast journalists , DINFOS offers the Combat Correspondent Course . Broadcasters begin by attending several weeks of BWAS - Basic Writing and Announcing Skills . If the class requirements are met , students may continue into Radio and Television broadcasting classes . U . S . Army students are awarded the MOS designator of " 46R . " Students in all courses hail from all branches of the U . S . military and reserve as well as International military students . Equipment Maintenance Courses . The Basic Television Equipment Maintenance ( BTVEM ) course includes apprentice level instruction in the repair of all types of studio and transmission equipment . Students also learn how to maintain the AVID non - linear digital editing systems . The related U . S . Army MOS is " 25R , " and the Air Force AFSC awarded upon completion is " 2E134 . " Since December 2006 Air Force class graduated , DINFOS no longer trains Air Force personnel in the BTVEM course . The Broadcast Radio and Television Systems Maintenance course is an advanced level course where students learn the ins and outs of American Forces Radio and Television Service ( AFRTS ) engineering standards and practices . Both maintenance courses are nationally accredited by the Society of Broadcast Engineers ( SBE ) . Upon completion of either course with an average GPA of at least 85 % , students are certified by the SBE as broadcast technologists ( CBT ) .