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    Byram, Miss., native deploys to Afghanistan

    Byram native deploys to Afghanistan

    Photo By Sgt. Lacey Hunt | Spc. Jason Morgan prepares for a field training exercise at Fort Dix, N.J., Dec. 15,...... read more read more

    JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, UNITED STATES

    12.21.2012

    Story by Sgt. Lacey Hunt 

    102d Public Affairs Detachment

    JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Spc. Jason Morgan may be a recent graduate of Mississippi State University, but he is not your typical college student.

    Morgan is transitioning from full-time student to active duty soldier as he prepares for his first combat deployment to Afghanistan with the 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment of Jackson, Miss. The unit’s mission to tell the story of Army operations to the public merges his civilian education with his military career goals.

    A native of Byram, Miss., Morgan graduated from Terry High School in 2007. After completing his associate’s degree in general studies from Hinds Community College in 2009, he attended MSU where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in broadcast and film in August 2012.

    Morgan said he knew as early as high school that he had a passion for storytelling. He enjoyed reading and watching movies. His biggest decision was whether to write or work with film, which led him to broadcasting in college. He described broadcast as a hybrid between writing and filmmaking.

    “I get to write a story and then tell it through video,” said Morgan. “I picked broadcast because I knew I could influence a lot of people through broadcast in a good way because I am telling their story.”

    Morgan said he was strongly influenced in his educational experience by Teresa Gawrych, a communication instructor at MSU. She taught a class called T.V. Practicum, which prepared him for this upcoming deployment. He experienced the freedom of going out and attaining his own stories, combined with the stresses that come along with weekly deadlines.

    His military career started a little over three years ago when he enlisted with an urge for adventure.

    Morgan said he chose the military to satisfy his passion for writing.

    “I wanted to tell a story worth telling,” he said.

    He was awarded his military occupational specialty as a print journalist after completing training from the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Md. His civilian education fine tuned the skills he learned from his military training.

    His supervisor, Staff Sgt. Scott Tynes, said he is pleased to have him on his team as a print journalist and Morgan will play a vital role in the success of his unit’s mission.

    “Morgan is well trained, intuitive and eager to do any mission that is passed down to him,” said Tynes. “We will be taking advantage of his versatility to conduct public affairs missions in both print and broadcast mediums.”

    One of his goals for his first deployment is to gain experience in his career field and to add products to his resume. Morgan said when applying for a broadcasting position, formal education is a very small part, the most important element is what you’ve produced.

    “If I have video I shot in Afghanistan and I am applying for National Geographic, which is a dream job, I can say I have been in a combat position with a camera,” he said. “I am used to stressful hours. I have what it takes to get the job done.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.21.2012
    Date Posted: 12.21.2012 17:24
    Story ID: 99669
    Location: JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, US

    Web Views: 392
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN