"The Dirt Path is for Dirt Bags" -- Stephen Doyle

Story and photos by MCSN Glenn Brooks Slaughter

This…is…the dirt trail. A seemingly innocent and boring stretch of dirt amid brick
and grass. It’s totally off limits to Navy students. Long ago, it was carved by members
of the other branches as they pioneered a shortcut to the DIFAC, or dining facility.
Why is it off limits? It’s not really productive to wonder such questions.
Someone at some point decided that Sailors don’t use dirt shortcuts. So be it.
This rule is representative of life here at Fort Meade.
The Army students can’t roll their sleeves up, the Air Force has to march everywhere
they go, the Marines can’t ride in POVs, or personally owned vehicles, the entire time
they’re students here. The only exception to this rule is if the POV is owned by family.
Many rules overlap, like no cell phones at the school. Either way, it’s in a Soldier/Sailor/
Marine/Airman’s best interest to learn the rules fast and stick to them. Otherwise he or
she may draw some unwanted attention!

The Ultimate Frisbee Championship: Instructors vs Students

The gruesome ultimate frisbee scene in front of the Marine Detachment. Navy instructors front the Defense Information School face off against the pipeline navy students. Usually a few games are held every Friday at 1700 between students.


MCC Jason Carter whips a frisbee down the field. Too bad no one's ready to catch it.


SN Ryan McLearnon aka MC Learnon gracefully leaps into the air for the steal of the day, showing that even frisbee athletes have a heart.


MC1 Adam Vernon has experienced more than a day's worth of an ultimate workout.

Photo stories, what a joy!

The second half of the Basic Mass Communication Specialist Course at the Defense Information School starts with photography. Photography covers rudimentary components such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, framing, multiple flash, focus and exposure. Other subjects covered are MDR photography and advanced photography exercises such as writing a thesis paper and presenting a renowned photographer and their photography. Various class trips are made to Baltimore and D.C. to help sailors become comfortable as photographers. The culmination of this course results in photo stories. Students submit ideas, which are approved by instructors, then venture off to shoot, edit and layout the final product. The instructors give ample feedback and mentorship to students throughout the BMCSC course.


SN Luke Meineke works on one of the Noritsu printers in the DINFOS print lab making any final adjustments necessary. The process at which these printers create the pictures is incredibly amazing.


SN Corey Hensley explains the process of selecting and editing photos to MC2 Sabino Cruz. We're all shipmates so we help each other to understand the material as much as training allows. "One team, one fight" is as common as Hooyah in the Navy.


SN Jennifer Lobao and SN Ian Carver admire Lobao's finished print. SN Peter Melkus is patiently waiting in the back.


Using gels to check the finished print to make any last minutes changes is a must to obtain a pristine product.


SN Ian Carver and SR Kevin Harbach rejoice at Carver's masterpiece. There's Mr. Melkus again!

Preparation is the Key!

Towards the end of A school, Mass Communication Specialist sailors receive verbal orders from the MC detailer through the detachment Leading Chief Petty Officer, currently Chief Jason Carter. Those sailors must prepare for their next duty station by out processing from medical, dental, the detachment and Defense Information School. Sailors must also have a point of contact from their next duty station called a sponsor who'll share what they'll need to bring as well as any other insight into the upcoming transition. SN Hensley took a practical approach and has been expecting to receive orders to a ship. In preparing for ship life, Hensley has been converting his DVD's to his external hard drive while showing various marathons of Supernatural and Chuck. Being self proclaimed "movie enthusiast" Hensley wants to make his adventure with the Navy less cluttered with discs and full of readily available movies and series at his hands.


Supernatural is playing on the computer monitor while Hensley has the DVDs converted to his external hard drive.


SN Hensley explains to SN Hwang how the files are burned and converted through the lap top and on to the external hard drive.


SN Hwang is among many to enjoy the side benefits of Hensley's endeavor.

The funny thing is that Hensley received orders to Guam.

The One Time We're a Team

Chief Shavers forms up BMCSC 010-10 at the start and end of everyday during their electronic journalism course portion of their "A" school. Although the students are doing their individual assignments during the school day, they gather to recite the "Sailor's Creed" in the morning and sing "Anchors Aweigh" at the end of the day.
"This is the one time we're all a team." -- MCC Sam Shavers


Both the creed and the song are done while at attention in respect to those who've served before us.


"Hooyah Navy" is declared pridefully by BMCSC 010-10. The doors are held open by students of the class for everyone in Defense Information School to hear.

The Coast Guard Welcomes a New PA Chief

Being at Defense Information School is a great opportunity to represent the Navy, but sailors here also receive the opportunity to mingle with the other services. A Coast Guard Public Affairs Petty Officer First Class was promoted to Chief and many sailors took the opportunity to witness it.


CWO (Chief Warrant Officer 2) Rhynard reads Chief Niemi's achievements as everyone in attendance stands at attention.


Chief Niemi has his anchors pinned by two CWO2s.


Chief Niemi is given his old PA1 collar devices by the CWO2s.


Chief Niemi is congratulated by CWO2 Rhynard.

Chief Shavers Reenlists

Chief Sam Shavers thanks everyone in attendance to his reenlistment ceremony in Defense Information School's Hall of Heroes.


The Navy Detachment and their instructors sing "Anchors Aweigh".


LCDR Colkitt presents Chief Shavers and Mrs. Shavers with the reenlistment contract.


MC2 Vernon congratulates Chief Shavers after the reenlistment ceremony.

Changing it up

Story and photos by SN Carey

Students from the Navy Detachment, Fort Meade, Md. participated in a dress whites inspection. The inspection was to ensure that all Sailors have the proper uniform ready to wear as the summer dress uniform, beginning April 26.

Shiny shoes, creased trousers, correct ribbons and good haircuts are a few of the items that Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jason Carter, the Detachment Leading Chief Petty Officer, meticulously looked over during the inspection. Overall we had an outstanding passing rate, with only a few minor discrepancies that were quickly brought up to par.

It’s now time to hang up the dress blue uniform and change it up to the dress whites for the summer time. Great job Shipmates!



The Navy Detachment stands ready for inspection.


Long hours are put into shining each shoe.


MCC Carter, the leading chief petty officer at the detachment shares a few words before performing the dress white inspection.


SR Harbach keeps the "E" on his Expert ribbon polished just for this inspection.


MCC Carter inspects SN McLearnon. No hits, good job!


MCC Carter also inspect neckerchiefs. SR Riley always keeps his prim and proper.

Navy Grill

SN Hazel (left) and SN Carey (right) set up horse shoes.


SN Lobao throws a baseball through a hoop as a pass time in front of the Navy Detachment.


CS2 Preston, the barracks manager, works the grill. The whole Navy Detachment and some instructors gathered on the grinder to share a day under the Sun.


MCSN Jackson is the first to dig in.


SN Carey is a notorious student leader, targeted by all.


SR Feddersen cools off with the help of MCSN Cotter.


SN Carey gets his revenge on MC1 Farr, the Navy Detachment's leading petty officer.

Field Training Exercise ... the highlight of DINFOS

The Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course (BPASC) Field Training Exercise (FTX) is the culmination of the course news writing and public affairs functional areas. [Editor: It's the first of two FTXs students go through, the second occuring near graduation.] The students are put into a simulated war zone in Afghanistan and must use the skills they have learned in those areas. I felt like everything I learned finally made perfect sense.

Story by Seaman Recruit Zachary D. Allan


The BPASC class, the first half of BMCSC which is integrated with the other services, begins the day by meeting up to discuss the day's events and to give everyone tasks. The site is on the other side of the base from DINFOS to give the feeling of a Forward Operating Base.


SN Briscoe gauges the time she has left to complete her task. There are set deadlines since FOBs need to push out information ASAP.


SN Meineke works on writing an external news release. The class is divided into four cells, spread over two tents with two work stations in each.


This is many of the sailors' first times eating Meals Ready to Eat. Everyone is warned by NCOs attending the class to watch out for the cheese omelette MRE.


SN Wakefield enjoys a chicken salsa MRE. Each MRE is equipped with a self heating device.


SN Carey puts forth an earnest effort to gnaw his way through a cookie from an MRE.
Eventually, he succeeded.


After a day of hard work, the class retires to the duty vans. Unlike the BMCSC FTX, the first one in BPASC is not overnight.

We march to the ends of the earth...at least to DINFOS.

The Navy Detachment forms up on the grinder before marching to DINFOS. We march every Tuesday and Thursday.


SR Bramham posts as a road guard while the detachment marches on the road. Safety is of utmost importance in the Navy.


The formation performs a column left march around the Marine Detachment. Some sailors carry two bags (one in front and in back) to help the sailors who take on road guard and other duties in the formation.


Everyone drops their bags before sounding off in front of DINFOS.


SA King, who leads the formation, sounds off to the formation. This is extremely motivating and a great way to start the day.


The detachment sounds off back to SA King for all the other services to hear.


Here's a marching video shot and edited by MCSN Perreault.