The Intermediate Public Affairs Specialist Course is a two-week resident course conducted at 6500 Mapes Road, Ft. Meade, Md. 20755.

This course operates on a fiscal year schedule from October 1st to September 30th. All courses offered after October 1st of a particular year are considered part of the next fiscal year. For example, if a course begins Oct 1, 2025, it is listed under FY 2026.

For registration, please visit the Army Training Requirements and Resource System (ATRRS) at https://www.atrrs.army.mil **Please note that ATTRS requires an NIPR computer and CAC card.**

For assistance, please email: registrar@dinfos.edu 

Course Description

The Intermediate Public Affairs Specialist Course provides continuing public affairs training. Throughout the 10-day course students are immersed in a scenario to learn to solve a communication problem. Students will continuously apply the research, planning,  implementation and evaluation (RPIE) process to determine the relevant audience, the appropriate platform for engagement, and the appropriate command messages. Students learn how to counsel commanders on information and communication matters by advising subject matter experts (SMEs) on how to engage the public, preparing them for the engagement and providing a post engagement analysis of the SME’s performance.

Prerequisites

DINFOS courses have specific requirements that define who can attend and what background or experience they need. Prerequisites are updated each fiscal year, and the most current details are listed below and on the ATRRS course pages.

FY 26 Course Information

IPASC FY 26 Course Prerequisites: 


BCC or BCC-60, BMCSC, BMIC, BMRC, BPASC, BPASC-ADL-R, BPAS-W, BPJC, BSP, BCS, BCS-USAF, MCF, VPD


IPASC FY 26 Service Prerequisites: 
 

• United States Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard -  Enlisted: E-5 to E-6 (46V and 46S). Must have graduated MCF and a minimum of 18 months CMF 46 MOS on the job experience. Army students who have not graduated from one of the prerequisites courses requires an exception to policy (ETP) approval by Army Public Affairs School (APAS). POC: publicaffairseducation@army.mil
  
  Army Civilians GS-11 to GS-13 (series 1001, 1035, 1082, 1084) with less than three years of Army service and more than seven years of professional experience in public affairs or a related field, incl. visual information management. Approved by Army Civilian Career Management Activity (ACCMA).
   
• United States Marine Corps - Enlisted: E-5 - E-6 (detachment-level rank waivers authorized. Civilian: GS-07 - GS-13 (Series 1035); approved by Director of PA. 12 months time in fleet, waiverable at the detachment level.
   
• United States Navy - Enlisted: E-3 - E-6 (MC rating; minimum 1 year PA experience). Civilian: GS-07 - GS-11 assigned to a PA billet (series 1035, 1082, 1084); approved by CHINFO.
   
• United States Air Force -  Enlisted: E-4 - E-7 3NXXX. Civilian: GS-09 - GS-11 assigned to a PA billet (1001,1020,1035,1060, 1071, 1082, 1083, 1084); (Optimal for Developmental Special Duty returnees, individuals transitioning into wing or delta or serving in band assignment).
   
• United States Coast Guard -  Enlisted: E-4 - E-6 (PA). Civilian: GS-07 to GS-09 assigned to a PA billet (series 1035); approved by USCG Public Affairs Program Manager.
   
• International Students - Strongly encouraged to comply with the course prerequisites as listed above. International students attending this course must have an English Comprehension Level (ECL) of 85 and must be a graduate of the DINFOS- BPASC. BPASC-W, BJC, BCC, BCS or MCF. 
   
• Interagency Students - Not eligible to attend this course.

FY 27 Course Information

IPASC FY 27 Course Prerequisites: 


BCC or BCC-60, BMCSC, BMIC, BMRC, BPASC, BPASC-ADL-R, BPAS-W, BPJC, BSP, BCS, BCS-USAF, MCF, VPD


IPASC FY 27 Service Prerequisites: 
 

• United States Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard -  Enlisted: E-5 to E-6 (46V and 46S). Must have graduated MCF and a minimum of 18 months CMF 46 MOS on the job experience. Army students who have not graduated from one of the prerequisites courses requires an exception to policy (ETP) approval by Army Public Affairs School (APAS). POC: publicaffairseducation@army.mil
  Army Civilians GS-11 to GS-13 (series 1001, 1035, 1082, 1084) with less than three years of Army service and more than seven years of professional experience in public affairs or a related field, incl. visual information management. Approved by Army Civilian Career Management Activity (ACCMA)
   
• United States Marine Corps -Enlisted: E-5 - E-6 (detachment-level rank waivers authorized. Civilian: GS-07 - GS-13 (Series 1035); approved by Director of PA. 12 months time in fleet, waiverable at the detachment level.USCG: Enlisted: E-4 - E-6 (PA). Civilian: GS-07 to GS-09 assigned to a PA billet (series 1035) approved by USCG Public Affairs Program Manager. 
   
• United States Navy - Enlisted: E-3 - E-6 (MC rating; minimum 1 year PA experience). Civilian: GS-07 - GS-11 assigned to a PA billet (series 1035, 1082, 1084) approved by CHINFO.
   
• United States Air Force -  Enlisted: E-4 - E-7 3NXXX. Civilian: GS-09 - GS-11 assigned to a PA billet (1001,1020,1035,1060, 1071, 1082, 1083, 1084); (Optimal for Developmental Special Duty returnees, individuals transitioning into wing or delta or serving in band assignment).
   
• United States Coast Guard -  Enlisted: E-4 - E-6 (PA). Civilian: GS-07 to GS-09 assigned to a PA billet (series 1035) approved by USCG Public Affairs Program Manager.
   
• International Students - Strongly encouraged to comply with the course prerequisites as listed above. International students attending this course must have an English Comprehension Level (ECL) of 85 and must be a graduate of the DINFOS- BPASC. BPASC-W, BJC, BCC, BCS or MCF. 
   
• Interagency Students - Not eligible to attend this course.