“Who else gets paid to go ziplining?”

An intriguing pitch, and one that’s caught the eye of many a Murray State student. This summer, two Murray State students joined a legacy of journalism mass communication majors who spent their summer break living and working on the Fort Knox Army base.

Korey Knight, senior television production major, attended the summer internship. 

“You can scroll on LinkedIn for hours and hours, but you’re never going to find an internship like this one,” Knight said. 

The Cadet Command Public Affairs Internship Program attracts students from across the country to build their skills in a hands-on environment where they spend two and a half months working side-by-side with Basic and Advanced Camp Cadets, using photography, writing and videography to share their stories.

Amy Turner, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Army Cadet Command, is a Murray State alumna who interned for the program in 2019. She said the hands-on work is what makes this internship unique. 

“What sets our internship apart is that we are very hands-on,” Turner said. “You’re not going to be watching other people do the work. You’re not going to be grabbing coffee. You’re not going to be listening to meetings. You are quite literally going to be in the field. You’re the one pitching the stories, getting the B-roll, getting the interviews, putting a package together, doing the voiceovers, doing the stand-ups, taking the photos and writing the articles. You’re out five days a week, producing a product that day. So it’s just a very real world experience.”

The fast-paced speed of production stays exciting with events to cover ranging from shooting ranges and gas chambers to rappel towers and obstacle courses. And at the heart of it all, the stories of young men and women who are dedicating their lives to serving their country.

“There are so many stories out here and you have total freedom to tell the story,” Turner said. “When I was an intern, every day was different and exciting, and the stories felt like they were bigger than myself; these are people that are doing big things, that have big things going on in their lives and have sacrificed a lot. So that was just a really awesome experience.”

Like any good internship, this one focuses on growth; noncommissioned officers are brought in from bases across the country to teach interns new skills and help them hone the ones they’ve learned at their universities.

“Your professors at Murray State are going to teach you the technical skills, but they can’t convince you (that) you’re good at this,” Turner said. “This internship was my first chance to really sink or swim in the field. It made me realize that I am good at this and I can do this in a real world setting where it’s fast paced and there’s a lot going on. For me, this internship was a confidence builder.”

Students begin the internship showcasing their strengths; they can apply for their preference of videography, photojournalism or social media. But halfway through the summer, interns engage in cross training where they learn an entirely new skill set and switch to a new job. Turner spent the second half of her intern summer learning photography.

“At the time I was a student, Murray State didn’t have a photography program or anything, so it felt a little bit like a trial by fire, but I learned to adapt,” Turner said. “I got a lot of one-on-one help with photography–quite literally from the ground up. I’d never touched a camera before. But  they taught me how all the settings worked and I got practical exercises to try. I just learned and I grew so much.”

While the expectations at this internship might seem intimidating, interns will end the summer with an immense amount of pride in their work. The photos, videos and articles they produce become valuable additions to their portfolios that will help them land future opportunities.

“I learned so many helpful things that actually were the main reason I was able to get my current job in news,” said Jodi Moffet, photographer and editor at WLKY News in Louisville, KY. Moffett was a Television Production major at MSU and completed this internship in 2019. “All of the video work I produced really caught the eye of my employer. Like, ‘Wow, she really knows what she’s doing. She’s already ready. She’s been doing it all at the internship.’ So I was prepared just based on the stuff I was doing here.”

Students enter internships with the goal of bettering themselves to prepare for jobs after graduation. This PAO internship was essential for Turner, who, despite admittedly knowing nothing about the Army coming into her intern year, now works as a civilian for the Army full-time.

“This internship opened my eyes to just how many opportunities there are and how far you can take journalism and PR,” Turner said. “I always thought that if you get a journalism degree, you work in a newsroom. I just didn’t know how many other opportunities there were in the Department of Defence (DOD), so just knowing what I could do for the DOD was super exciting. This internship just really set me up for my job now because I didn’t know I could do these things.”

An employer to almost a million civilians across the world, the DOD offers over 650 occupations open to civilians of all backgrounds. From education and health to logistics and engineering, any MSU student could find a job of interest with the DOD after graduation. For students with the JMC department, Public Affairs is a perfect fit, and this internship is the perfect first step.

“News is never boring. News is different every day,” Moffett said. “I never knew I wanted a career in news until I tried it, and it’s exhilarating. It can be hard, but it’s something where you’re meeting new people every day, you’re getting experiences that you never thought you would. So news may not be for everyone, but for the people who really enjoy telling stories, telling people’s stories, and communicating with those in the community, it’s a really good job to have.”

Whether you’re interested in military or civilian work, this competitive internship offers invaluable resources to students.

“No matter what field you’re going into, this internship is a fantastic way to network with people across the nation who will not only be your friends, but be great resources and partners for you as you’re starting your career, as you’re building contacts, as you’re making life work somewhere,” Turner said. “So apply– I think you’re gonna love it. We don’t have people go home–everyone wants to stay. People have a good time and learn so much. So I think just try it, especially if it’s outside of your comfort zone because that’s where we grow.”

For Murray State students interested in applying, there’s a strong legacy of Murray State PAO interns waiting to welcome them into the fold.

“This is literally going to be the best two months that you have ever had,” Knight said. “Never have I ever had so much fun and so much confirmation that this is what I want to do with my life than this internship right here.”

To learn more about the Cadet Command PAO internship, visit the PAO internship website.