What is a Navy MC?
 

Well I just found this site, and so far I must say I am quite impressed. If I had known there was a resource like this while I was in DEP, I would have been MUCH better prepared for everything going on. But enough about that - let's talk about the MC rate.

It really doesn't surprise me that there is no information about the MC rate on here - no one in the Navy or anywhere else seems to know much about it. I never got a straight answer, and most of the people I ran into in boot camp didn't even know that MC was a rate. I will do my best to enlighten any undecided deppers reading this post, because I honestly believe I have the coolest rate in the Navy and it's kind of a shame that no one hears about it.

MCs are Mass Communication specialists, and simply put, we are here to tell the story of the armed forces in general and of the Navy in particular. We write news stories, take pictures, appear on broadcast television, produce broadcast television, do radio broadcasts, design and publish magazines, newspapers and websites. We also act as liaisons for non-military media outlets, effectively making us public affairs specialists ....... Basically we do everything having anything to do with media.

MC is a relatively new rate, made up of the now obsolete rates of JO (Journalist,) PH (Photographer's Mate,) LI (Lithographer,) and DM (Illustrator/Draftsman.)

As a navy MC, there are many places in the Navy where you can end up. Writing for military publications like "Stars and Stripes" is a major one, as is handling media and public affairs for carrier groups and amphibious transports. More specialized jobs are endless. You could produce the recruiting videos that perhaps got you here (I'm here because I thought they were cheesy and I wanted to make them better.) You could be the personal photographer for the CNO, the MCPON, several dozen admirals and other important people, or even the Navy press representative for the president. One small branch of MCs is based in Los Angeles and all they do is coordinate the use of Navy assets when Hollywood wants to make a movie with them. The possibilities are incredible, and the job, while challenging, is a lot of fun.

One of the coolest things about being an MC is that you get to go everywhere. Other rates just sit in their corner of the ship and do their job. As an MC, you go to all of them and tell their story. The average MM doesn’t know much about what a DC does, and the average DC doesn’t know a whole lot about being an AO. They all work together to accomplish the same mission, but they often only see their little part of the world. As an MC, you get to find out what everyone does, to explore every nook and cranny on a carrier and bring all kinds of amazing things to your shipmates who wouldn’t otherwise know about them. Taking pictures of the captain on the bridge one moment and an F/A-18 coming in to land the next before going to an interview on the things HT’s do everyday to keep your ship afloat is standard fare for an MC. We go everywhere and see everything – and we have a blast doing it.

That’s about all for my schpiel on being an MC – if you have any particular questions, feel free to ask them – I’ll answer the best that I can.

Your rating sounds really interesting. I enlisted under the AE/CF program and I want to be an FC.

I read a little bit about MC when I was going through the enlistment process, but only on those little xerox copies that the recruiter gives you that explain what each rate is. So I didn't know a whole lot about it. But I definetely dig what you're talking about. It sounds like a lot of fun.

Did you have to score high on the ASVAB, I scored a 92, but all I was offered was AE/CF or Nuke. I have no desire to do Nuke. The detailer said there were other billets available, but didn't go into detail or offer to buy any of the others.

If I don't go STA-21, or finish my bachelors (3 semesters) on my own accord and go OCS, I wouldn't mind looking into MC. Or do they have something comparable if you do get commisioned? If I stay enlisted do they accept cross-rating? What does advancement look like in the MC rating?

There are definately people who cross rate, but it's tricky. There is a shortage of MCs right now, but the bottleneck is at "A" school - they can only accomodate 24 students every 2 - 3 months.

As for going officer, the last equivalent ended when the four rates merged. There are public affairs officer spots that deal with us somewhat, but that's the closest it gets.

Advancement..... kind of a mixed bag. Because there aren't very many of us, making chief is pretty difficult, but right now because of the rate merge, a whole bunch of senior enlisted aren't very good at their jobs any more and are retiring or moving on. This creates a bit of an advancement bubble for the next couple of years, but its never a sure thing.

Im going into basic in october and i wanted MC from day one I got BM though.So this is cool that you put this up

About 1 out of 2 MCs that I have talked to (including me) were told by the classifier that it wasn't an option and only got it when we refused to take anything else. It's a competitive rate because there are so few "A" school seats and because the Navy is looking specificaly for people who are serious about the rate. (And because it is just that insanely awesome) It wouldn't hurt to check one more time to see if a seat "magically" opened up. It happens more often than one would think.

The MC's here in Sasebo have lots of fun. All they do is make commercials, take pictures and do interviews. And the building they work in is really nice. We have one MC who is ASF(Auxiliary Security Force).

Sweet, sounds like a dream job to me. A vacation more than work:applause:

I originally went to my recruiter with this job in mind. After they told me that it's aessentially a phantom job, that they've never seen assigned, I decided to go CTI. Unfortunately I missed the test score by 6 points for that job. In small talk with the navy liaison at MEPS, he asked what I'd do if I couldn't be a CTI. I explained the whole MC thing, and all he said was "anything is possible." Next thing I know, the job counselor (whom I've neer talked to) tells me they had 3 MC spots open up a few minutes earlier. In short, I was just rated for my dream job as an MC. I have never been happier.

Congrats!

I had a similar story and didn't think MC was an option due to the small amount of MC's in the Navy. Everything worked out for me and i couldn't be happier.

I ship 20120926.

So i will be in Maryland for our A school when you get out of boot (looked at your shipdate in the other thread) , but i will see you then!

If you want a great blog about MC check this out

http://usnavymc.blogspot.com/

Go back to the start of his blog when he was at A school then you can follow what he did when he joined the fleet, it was a great read.

I know you wrote this a few years ago, and I know you aren't there anymore, but man, the Sasebo AFN commercials are SOOO much better than the Yokota ones! Yokosuka was pretty darn happy to get Sasebo's commercials - they crack us up!

I totally didn't realize how old this post was. Regardless, I'm glad someone else has this rate! Maybe we'll run into way other in Maryland!

I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to join the Navy, and I am really interested in this rate, and I've heard a lot of good things, but is there anything that you guys don't like about it..?

I want to join the Navy and have already taken the ASVAB. I can't remember my score but, I've spoken to my recruiter and he said I am ok for this rate. I've wanted to go into communications for quite sometime now but never found a relilable job to pursue it. I stumbled upon this rate surfing the web after tossing inbetween HT and AIRR. I asked my recruiter about it, he told me the same thing. Its far a few between with the MC job openings. He told me I could do the apprenticeship program and I would be guarenteed a job.. Is that true?

I originally wanted to enlist as an IS or CTR but I was told those rates were currently unavailable. However, they offered me this rate since my ASVAB scores were pretty good. I was skeptical at first but after doing some research and learning more about from you guys, this seems like I rate I could really enjoy. I've was an English major in college and I had always wanted to go into communications. This just seems to fit perfectly. Plus, the A school for this rate is only 30mins from my home!

As this rate is still relatively new and there aren't many people to talk to that are currently enlisted in the rate, I do have a few questions. I am enlisting as an E-3 since I am practically finished with college, and I want to become an officer. I was told I could apply for the STA-21 or another program similar to it. However, with the current "advancement bubble" would I still be able to enter that program and would I be an officer in the MC rate or a public relations officer?

I know they train you in a number of different specialties in A school, but let's say I wanted to do something in public relations or broadcasting. Would that be something I would request, or would they just stick me where they needed me?

good question! I would like to know that as well

I am MC as well and hit boot camp 25092012. See you on block.

2 weeks :) , last name is Melone, if you don't see each other at bootcamp because of different divisions, we will for sure be in the same A-School class :) See you there!

Last name is Brewer look forward to meeting you.

I enlisted, they tried to give me this rate bacause I spent 2 years in college doing studying that exact stuff. But after I took the Asvab they were talking to me about nuc and aecf, so I took aecf instead. MC Still sounds like a sweet rate though!

I'm really excited about this rate. Only thing I see as a possible negative is the fact that I live in Maryland and the A-School is right here in MD. Ship out 11Feb2013 can't wait!

I am so thrilled after reading the posts. I have signed on as a MC and I did not specifically ask for the job. My scores must have really pushed them towards giving me this rate. I'm excited!

If you all have questions about this rating...the new navy recuiter coming to my area...and is an MC and has been in for 13 years...he said he will join here and be happy to answer your questions...He should be here sometime tonight, but probably wont get on here til Wednesday...

Nice to see other future sailor MCs. DINFOS!

Glad I Picked an awesome Rate :)
 

I went to MEPS thinking I wanted HM, but they offered me MC. My recruiter always told me totally awesome things about his rate (MC) and I just had to say yes to it! I couldn't be happier. I am soooo excited to see what it'll be like. I can't ever find much info about it, and I am curious about advancement, so I guess I'll have to wait and see. I ship out 20140218! 65 Days and counting :)

I know this is an old post, but I'm sure glad to see it! It appears we are a small community, but it's great :) I'm learning a lot from these posts and I'm thinking of making a blog of my experience as an MC for other Future Sailors with questions in regards to this rate!

I know this is an old post, but I was wondering if anyone knew if MC's are still in demand.

I know that things are kind of calming down, but I really would like to be a combat photographer. Anyone know anything about that? I'd like to get as much information as early as possible to help me make my decision.

I haven't yet taken the ASVAB or gone to MEPs yet, but I've already decided this is what I want to do. And I think it would be great if I could do the thing I want to do and have a passion for (photography), while I'm in the Navy.

Please start a new thread rather than bumping an old one.