Photo By Roland Balik | Army Pvt. Enrique Mata, a Video Production and Documentation (VPD) student from the...... read more read more
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DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. – Video Production and Documentation students from the Defense Information School on Fort Meade, Md., traveled here to complete video assignments as a graduation requirement Feb. 22-25, 2017.
“Every class we try to have a military base mission,” said Army Staff Sgt. William Adams, VPD lead instructor. “We’ve been everywhere from [Fort] A.P. Hill, [Virginia,] to Fort Lee, [Virginia,] and Dover was somewhere we haven’t been. It is something new for us.”
During their time here, each student was responsible for creating a video product using the skillsets and techniques learned and developed through the duration of the 72-day VPD course. The video will account for 60 percent of their final course grade.
DINFOS is a component of the DOD’s Defense Media Activity. Its primary purpose is to train members of all branches of the U.S. military in the fields of broadcasting, journalism, public affairs, and visual information.
The group of 13 Army soldiers and three Marines divided into four teams. Each team was assigned to a different unit: the 512th Airlift Wing, the 436th Aerial Port, the 436th Security Forces Squadron’s Phoenix Ravens, and the 436th Maintenance Squadron’s Isochronal (ISO) Maintenance Dock.
“The first day was stressful,” said Army Pfc. Anthony Zendejas IV, VPD student. “I was like, goodness, what am I doing? But after I had some time to think about, it turned into a good kind of stress, because this is the type of environment we are going to be in throughout our careers.”
Upon graduation, Zendejas and the other students will work as Army and Marine Corps combat camera troops.
“I’m thankful that I received the chance to experience the stress now in a training environment, where as I could have experienced it for the first time on a real-world job,” said Zendejas. “It’s going to prepare me for more difficult tasks in the future.”
Most of the students never thought they would set foot on an Air Force base during their career. Standing on top of a C-5M Super Galaxy airlifter inside the ISO dock, Marine Pfc. Scarlet Sharp, VPD student, was especially enthusiastic about the experience.
“I knew I would be doing crazy stuff out of my comfort zone, but never anything like this,” Sharp said.
Army Pfc. Keely Key, Spc. Jonathan Paris and Pvt. Derek Hernandez, VPD students spent three days with Dover’s Phoenix Ravens, a specialized security forces unit that provides close-in security for Air Mobility Command aircraft transiting airfields where security is unknown or additional security is needed to counter local threats.
“The Ravens training is pretty exciting to watch,” said Key. “It’s unique.”
Paris explained that working with the Ravens was like meeting another part of the family.
“They interact with us, while we interact with them,” said Paris. “We’re interested in what they’re doing, and they’re interested in what we’re doing. It’s mutual.”
Hernandez elaborated by stating that he was overall overwhelmed with the base, its facilities and personnel.
“I would totally tell future students that if they had the opportunity, if they were given the chance to pick a location or base to go to, to come to Dover Air Force Base,” said Hernandez. “There’s a lot interesting stories to be had here, and a lot of nice people to work with. Go Air Force!”
After weeks in the classroom, they were given the opportunity to put their skills to the test.
“I want to create a good product; one that soldiers after me can watch and get advice from, or see what to do or not to do,” Key said. “I want something that they can show at graduation or at DINFOS overall, so that I just wasn’t a student passing through, I was actually a legacy maybe.”
Marine Pfc. Kristiana Gehly, VPD student, was motivated by this mindset.
“They want us to be able to come back and give you guys (Dover AFB) a product that you guys can use in the future,” said Gehly. “That’s what the main goal is.”
Adams and the other members thought the trip was well worth the time.
“Overall, it was an outstanding experience,” said Adams. “I would just like to say thank you for everything that was put together for us, and we look forward to working with you again in the future.”
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2017 14:45 |
| Story ID: | 225365 |
| Location: | DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, US |
| Web Views: | 76 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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