No, I didn't spend the afternoon in Iraq, but I did spend the day at Fort Stewart, and yes, the above scenario really happened.
Soldiers at Fort Stewart were on a training mission for their next deployment to Iraq. Other soldiers acted out the roles of Iraqi civilians, police and even insurgents.
This was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had.
Set up in a military issue kevlar vest and helmet, I joined about five other journalists to shoot video and still pictures and interview the soldiers. After a 45-minute Humvee ride (those things are freakin' huge - yet amazingly cramped with four people and equiptment in them) we arrived on scene where we were briefed and finally released to wander about as we wanted.
I was given a video camera and told to shoot the mission. I don't have a ton of experience shooting video, but hey I'm an intern and I gotta learn all this stuff, right? I'll tell you what though - when that explosion went off I must have jumped 12 feet in the air!
Not only was this an amazing experience, but it really brought to life what our soldiers are going through overseas. I already had a ton of respect for the men and women who serve our country, but let me just tell you guys - I talked to a number of soldiers today who have been deployed to Iraq, and they told me that as good as these practice missions are, you still just can't fathom how it is over there.
So, I spent most of the day at the base. I got to talk to Pam, who is the military reporter a lot which was really cool. When I got back to the office I wrote a little blurb that will go with Pam's story. So that's about it.
Tomorrow I have an early assignment, and then whatever may come up the rest of the day!
Hope you enjoy the pics - Let me tell ya, the Kevlar is heavy, and frickin' hot. The tanks are way cooler in person then you can imagine.
This is Corey, signing off.
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