Completing a Proper Caption

• Use present tense in the first sentence to give the readers a sense of immediacy, as though they were witnessing the event
• Include a date
• Always use active voice and never passive voice
  • Active example: U.S. Soldiers destroy a weapons cache
  • Passive example: A weapons cache is destroyed by U.S. Soldiers

ALL acronyms must be spelled out for the first reference. The second reference does not need to be spelled out. DO NOT put the acronym in parentheses after the word.

FOR EXAMPLE - FIRST REFERENCE
 

Students train with the Fire Arms Training Simulator.

FOR EXAMPLE - SECOND REFERENCE
 

After completing their course work in FATS, students move to the field.

1. Action - The best method. The subject is identified by the activity they are doing. In this example, Airman Snuffy is the one adjusting the bolt.

FOR EXAMPLE
 

U.S. Air Force Airman Joe Snuffy adjusts the tension of a bolt on the landing gear of a C-130.

2. Obvious Contrast - This method is usually easier to use when there is a public figure involved. The reader already knows the public figure, which makes it easier to identify the other individual by obvious contrast. In this example, there are two people shaking hands, but we know which one is President Obama.

FOR EXAMPLE
 

President Barack Obama shakes hands with U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Jane Snuffy during a ceremony at… 

3. Process of Elimination - Although this method can be complex, it is effective and works with all methods. In the caption below, the reader knows that Gen. Bear Lipton is the one presenting, while the Master Sgt is the recipient.

FOR EXAMPLE
 

Gen. Bear Lipton presents Master Sgt. Snapshot Jones with…

4. From Left - This method is not commonly used, but it works well with groups. When using this method, IT IS NOT left to right, instead, it is simply “from left.”

CORRECT EXAMPLE
 

From left, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Johnny Blue, Cpl. Jane Doe, and…

INCORRECT EXAMPLE
 

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Johnny Blue, left, and Cpl. Jane Doe…
 

FOR EXAMPLE
 

Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron X. Saldana takes a photograph of an MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162, aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Feb. 22, 2020. Iwo Jima is underway conducting a flight deck certification in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jessica Kibena/ Released)

"Iwo Jima is underway conducting a flight deck certification in the Atlantic Ocean," is considered relevant background.

FOR EXAMPLE
 

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jimmy Snuffy)

If unclassified imagery is released to the public, the release status will be either: "Released" OR "For Official Use Only (FOUO)."