Changes within the 181st Public Affairs Published July 24, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Chris Jennings 181st Intelligence Wing Public Affairs HULMAN FIELD, TERRE HAUTE, Indiana -- Over the last few years, Public Affairs has continued to report on all the changes being made to personnel and base activities. The new missions have brought in exciting new schools and base renovations, but most importantly for those who enjoy reading the Racer Flyer, the Public Affairs Career Field is gaining some expertise - the Photographer, Videographers and Graphics Career fields have merged into Public Affairs becoming one large mass-media information team. "The merger has brought together the Visual Information shop and the Public Affairs Office," said Capt. Jim Jensen, 181st Fighter Wing Public Affairs Officer. "We have always worked closely together, it was only a matter of time before the career fields merged." The photographer and videographer career fields have now became 3N, and the Graphics AFSC has just gone away completely. The personnel within the Graphics career field have been given the choice to retrain into a Public Affairs AFSCs, which includes either print or broadcast journalism training at Ft. Meade, Bethesda, Md. 181st Fighter Wing Public Affairs members traveled to Anchorage, Alaska, to gain perspective on the merger and also receive recognition for last year's Racer Flyer at the National Guard Public Affairs Conference. The Racer Flyer received an award for being the second best publication, in the magazine category, in the entire Air National Guard. "This award means quite a bit for all of us who work on the Flyer," said SMSgt John Chapman, Racer Flyer layout and design coordinator. "It's good for our Airmen to see their work has been recognized and it will help us focus on maintaining a high level of excellence as we move toward our new mission as PA specialists." The award was given to 181st members at the National Conference, but was also presented to the team at State Headquarters, by Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger on Jan. 6, 2008. "This is a very prestigious award and reflects the hard work SMSgt John Chapman and others put into the Flyer," Jensen said. "While in Alaska, we learned a lot about the merger, and also how other PA teams handle various challenges and situations." Along with the merger of AFSCs, the Public Affairs Office has also moved buildings. Once located in building 18, Jensen and his PA team are now located in building 62, which used to be the Visual Information shop. To contact the 181st Public Affairs Office, dial ext 471.