The Joint Contingency Public Affairs 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 purpose of this course is to provide students the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of a public affairs/communication strategy practitioner at the operational level. Students will receive training in communication analysis and plans in support of the commander’s objectives: Provide Public Affairs in Theater & Provide Public Affairs in the Joint Operational Area.

The graduate will study and practice planning and execution of public affairs operations unique to a contingency environment, with an emphasis on operational planning and integration on a joint staff.

*Note: Reporting students should bring a copy of their current cyber awareness certificate.

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

JCPAC FY 26 Course Prerequisites: 

BCC or BCC-60, BCS, BMCSC-USN, BMIC, BMRC-USMC, BPAS-W, BPASC, BPJC-USAF, BSP, IPASC, JSEPAC, JSPAC, MCF, MCF-87, PACS-Q, PACS-Q-DL-R, PAOQC, PAQC, PAQC-ADL-R, VPD

JCPAC FY 26 Service Prerequisites:

• United States Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard -  Enlisted: PA-46S, 46Z; VI- 46V, 46Y. Must have graduated MCF and a minimum of 18 months CMF 46MOS 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 email: publicaffairseducation@army.mil 
  
  Officer: FA46 O-3 - O-5. Must have graduated from PACS-Q.
  
  Army Civilian: GS-11 through GS-15 (1035, 0301, 1001, 1084 Series) with at least three years of Army Service who may serve in a contingency environment, including the Army Expeditionary Civilian workforce. POC: Program Manager susan.a.hand.civ@army.mil 
   
• United States Marine Corps - Enlisted: E6 - E8. Warrant: W1-W4. Officer: O1 - O4. Civilian: GS-11 and above (Series 1035). Must have completed IPASC or PACS-Q.
   
• United States Navy - Enlisted: E7 - E9. Officer: O3 - O5. Civilian: GS-11 - GS-15. Students must be in the 1035 series and have a minimum of 5 years of public affairs experience.
   
• United States Air Force - Enlisted: E7 - E8 (AFSC 3NXXX). Officer: O2 - O4. Civilian: GS-12 - GS-13.
   
• United States Coast Guard -  Enlisted: E6 - E7. Warrant Officer/Officer: W2 - O5. Civilian: Not Eligible.
   
• International Students - Must have a solid understanding of English language usage, grammar and syntax. Students attending this course must have an English Comprehensive Level (ECL) of 85, obtain a 2+/2+ on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), and have basic keyboard skills. Students requesting enrollment must be O-4's or senior O-3's and graduates of the DINFOS-PAQC, with a minimum of one year experience as a Public Affairs Officer (PAO).
   
• Interagency Students - Must be a U.S. Government employee working in the PA career field (GS-1035).

FY 27 Course Information

JCPAC FY 27 Course Prerequisites: 

BCC or BCC-60, BCS, BMCSC-USN, BMIC, BMRC-USMC, BPAS-W, BPASC, BPJC-USAF, BSP, IPASC, JSEPAC, JSPAC, MCF, MCF-87, PACS-Q, PACS-Q-DL-R, PAOQC, PAQC, PAQC-ADL-R, VPD

JCPAC FY 27 Service Prerequisites:
 

• United States Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard -  Enlisted: PA-46S, 46Z; VI- 46V, 46Y. Must have graduated MCF and a minimum of 18 months CMF 46MOS 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 email: publicaffairseducation@army.mil 
  
  Officer: FA46 O-3 - O-5. Must have graduated from PACS-Q.
  
  Army Civilian: GS-11 through GS-15 (1035, 0301, 1001, 1084 Series) with at least three years of Army Service who may serve in a contingency environment, including the Army Expeditionary Civilian workforce. POC: Program Manager susan.a.hand.civ@army.mil 
   
• United States Marine Corps - Enlisted: E6 - E8. Warrant: W1-W4. Officer: O1 - O4. Civilian: GS-11 and above (Series 1035). Must have completed IPASC or PACS-Q.
   
• United States Navy - Enlisted: E7 - E9. Officer: O3 - O5. Civilian: GS-11 - GS-15. Students must be in the 1035 series and have a minimum of 5 years of public affairs experience.
   
• United States Air Force - Enlisted: E7 - E8. (AFSC 3NXXX). Officer: O2 - O4. Civilian: GS-12 - GS-13.
   
• United States Coast Guard -  Enlisted: E6 - E7. Warrant Officer/Officer: W2 - O5. Civilian: Not Eligible.
   
• International Students - Must have a solid understanding of English language usage, grammar and syntax. Students attending this course must have an English Comprehensive Level (ECL) of 85, obtain a 2+/2+ on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), and have basic keyboard skills. Students requesting enrollment must be O-4's or senior O-3's and graduates of the DINFOS-PAQC, with a minimum of one year experience as a Public Affairs Officer (PAO).
   
• Interagency Students - Must be a U.S. Government employee working in the PA career field (GS-1035).
   

  FY 27 Dates

  School: 212  Course: DINFOS-JCPAC Course Length: 2 Weeks 0.0 Days Course Title: Joint Contingency Public Affairs Course
  Class	Start Date	End Date
  010	30-Nov-2026	11-Dec-2026
  020	25-Jan-2027	5-Feb-2027
  030	10-May-2027	21-May-2027
  040	21-Jun-2027	2-Jul-2027
  050	13-Sep-2027	24-Sep-2027