Public Affairs

The Air Force’s public affairs career field puts Airmen in front of cameras, behind microphones, and on assignment at installations and deployed locations around the world. Their job is straightforward: tell the Air Force story accurately to the public, the press, and the force itself. That means writing news releases, producing broadcast segments, shooting still and video content, and managing relationships with journalists.

All of that work falls under a single enlisted AFSC today. The 3N0X6 Public Affairs specialty consolidated what were once three separate codes, writing-focused public affairs (3N0X1), broadcast journalism (3N0X2), and photojournalism (3N0X5), into one career field. Airmen in this field are trained across all three disciplines at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, the same schoolhouse that trains journalists and public affairs specialists across all military branches.

The field suits people who are drawn to storytelling, media production, and high-visibility work. You might be writing a story about a deployment one week and shooting photos at a congressional visit the next. Public affairs units are small, so Airmen carry real responsibility early in their careers.

At a Glance

Note: The 3N0X6 AFSC encompasses writing, broadcasting, and photojournalism tracks. Airmen receive training across all three disciplines at DINFOS before specializing at their unit.

Which Role Fits You?

The 3N0X6 career field covers three functional areas. While all 3N0X6 Airmen receive foundation training in each, most develop a deeper specialty based on unit needs and personal aptitude.

If you want to write and work with media, the journalism and media relations track is your lane. You’ll draft news releases, pitch stories to civilian outlets, coordinate press events, and brief commanders on media coverage. This track demands strong writing under deadline pressure and a comfortable relationship with journalists who don’t always ask easy questions.

If you’re drawn to broadcast production, the radio and television track puts you behind a camera or at an anchor desk. AFRTS (American Forces Radio and Television Service) installations and deployed broadcast detachments run 24-hour programming, and they need Airmen who can produce, edit, and present on air. The voice audition requirement exists for a reason. Not everyone who wants to broadcast should broadcast, and recruiters will tell you that early.

If photography and video are your strengths, the visual information track focuses on still and motion media: documenting operations, producing feature content, and supporting commanders with imagery for both internal communication and public release. Combat camera Airmen in this track deploy frequently and work in high-tempo environments.

All three tracks share the same entry path and AFSC code. Your eventual specialty depends on the needs of your first unit, your Tech School performance, and where you volunteer to go.

Common Entry Requirements

All 3N0X6 candidates must be U.S. citizens, hold a high school diploma, and score at least 72 on the General (GEND) ASVAB composite. Candidates must also pass a voice audition and an English language diagnostic administered during the application process, and they must have normal color vision. A National Agency Check with Local Agency Checks and Credit (NACLC) is required for access to Secret material. Tech School runs 108 days at DINFOS, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, following 7.5 weeks of Basic Military Training at JBSA-Lackland, TX. See each role’s profile below for specific duties, career progression, and additional requirements.

Career Field Directory

• 3N0X6 Public Affairs, multimedia journalism, broadcast production, and photojournalism across writing, radio/TV, and visual information tracks
• 3N1X1 Regional Band, professional musician AFSC performing concerts, ceremonies, and overseas engagement tours as part of one of 11 active-duty Air Force bands

Related Resources

Explore all Air Force enlisted career paths to compare public affairs against other fields. Preparing for the ASVAB General composite is the first concrete step toward qualifying for this field, Air Force ASVAB test prep covers the Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge, and Arithmetic Reasoning subtests that drive your General score. For an overview of the schoolhouse where all 3N0X6 Airmen train, the Defense Information School publishes course schedules and program details on its official site.