Defense Information School (DINFOS) Training and Instructional Support Services

Client

War Media Activity (WMA), Defense Information School (DINFOS)

Location

Fort Meade, Maryland, with support to CONUS and OCONUS training locations

Project Overview

Since 2021, Oneida has served as the prime contractor supporting the Defense Information School (DINFOS), the Department of Defense’s premier institution for training military and civilian communicators. DINFOS prepares public affairs professionals, journalists, broadcasters, photographers, videographers, visual information specialists, and communication strategists to support Department of War missions worldwide. Under this effort, Oneida provides comprehensive instructional, instructional systems design, program management, and administrative support services that enable DINFOS to deliver mission-critical communication training to approximately 2,600 students annually. The program supports more than 22 accredited courses delivered through resident, distance learning, hybrid, and mobile-training formats.

Oneida supplies experienced instructors, instructional systems designers (ISDs), guest instructors, senior mentors, role players, and program management personnel who support the full lifecycle of training delivery and curriculum development. These professionals help DINFOS maintain and modernize training programs across public affairs, journalism, photojournalism, broadcasting, multimedia production, visual information, communication strategy, and emerging communications technologies. By integrating instructional excellence with modern curriculum development practices, Oneida helps ensure DINFOS remains the Department of War’s center of excellence for organizational communications training.

Services Provided

  • Classroom and distance-learning instruction
  • Instructional Systems Design (ISD)
  • Curriculum development and lifecycle maintenance
  • ADDIE-based course analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation
  • Public affairs and communication strategy instruction
  • Journalism and writing instruction
  • Photography and photojournalism training
  • Video production and visual documentation instruction
  • Broadcast journalism and broadcast systems maintenance training
  • Multimedia production training
  • Faculty training and development
  • Mobile training support
  • Guest instructor and senior mentor support
  • Role-player support for scenario-based exercises
  • Program management and contract administration
  • Quality control and performance reporting
  • Accreditation and curriculum validation support

Key Highlights

  • Delivers the full catalog of more than 22 accredited DINFOS courses.
  • Supports approximately 2,600 military, civilian, interagency, and international students annually.
  • Provides instructional support across public affairs, broadcast journalism, visual information, photography, multimedia production, and communication strategy disciplines.
  • Maintained 100% instructional continuity during the COVID-19 transition to virtual and hybrid learning environments.
  • Developed the Federal Government’s first Digital Provenance training course focused on verifying digital media authenticity.
  • Achieved Excellent ratings from the DINFOS COR across Quality, Personnel, Timeliness, Management, and Customer Satisfaction performance areas.

Approach

Oneida delivers an integrated training-support model that combines highly qualified instructors with experienced instructional systems designers and program management professionals. Instructors provide classroom and distance-learning instruction, student mentoring, performance assessment, coaching, and curriculum feedback while ensuring adherence to DINFOS instructional standards and policies. Simultaneously, ISDs execute all phases of the ADDIE methodology, conduct training-needs analyses, design competency-based assessments, develop instructional content, evaluate learning outcomes, and maintain course materials within DINFOS learning management systems.

The team works closely with DINFOS leadership, subject matter experts, and military stakeholders to conduct Training Task Selection Boards, curriculum reviews, accreditation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives. Oneida personnel also support emerging technology integration, including artificial intelligence applications, digital media innovation, mobile learning, and faculty development programs. Through proactive workforce management, quality assurance processes, and comprehensive performance reporting, Oneida ensures uninterrupted instructional delivery and sustained curriculum modernization across the DINFOS enterprise.

Results and Impact

Oneida’s support enables DINFOS to train and sustain the next generation of Department of War communicators responsible for informing service members, leaders, allies, partners, and the public. The company’s instructors and ISDs have strengthened curriculum quality, modernized training delivery methods, supported accreditation efforts, and ensured continuity of instruction across resident, virtual, and hybrid environments. Oneida’s leadership in introducing Digital Provenance training and integrating emerging communication technologies has helped position DINFOS at the forefront of modern military communications education. The Government has repeatedly recognized Oneida’s professionalism, responsiveness, instructional quality, and commitment to mission success, describing the company as a trusted partner supporting the future of military public affairs and visual information training.