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BUTLERVILLE, Ind.— Steady, aim, breathe, fire - a mental checklist that echoes through a Soldier’s mind during basic combat training as he or she learns the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship and eventually becomes confident when shooting a weapon. Army Reserve Soldiers a part of the 205th Press Camp Headquarters have demonstrated that they are equally as confident when shooting with something a little different - a camera.
A mixture of public affairs Soldiers from the 205th and its subordinate commands participated in the fifth rotation of Exercise News Day, a training exercise designed to sharpen the skills of Army Reserve photo and broadcast journalists as part of their annual training July 15 through 29, 2016.
“A motto you always hear is ‘train as you fight’,” said Maj. Jennifer Mack, END rotation five mission commander. “Exercise News Day has been the first opportunity for public affairs Soldiers to do just that.”
During the exercise, the Soldiers were exposed to real-world missions in order to develop and reinforce proficiency in their public affairs skills, ensuring that they are equipped and ready to meet America’s requirements at home and abroad.
“As Reserve Soldiers, we don't ever get the opportunity to conduct sustained, real-world missions on battle assembly weekends,” said Capt. Patrick Cook, a team leader for rotation five and 211th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment commander. “That’s why this training is so imperative to the unit’s overall readiness.”
While the fifth rotation was headquartered at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center near Butlerville, Indiana, five teams of Army Reserve Soldiers participating in END traveled to Minnesota, Indiana, Arkansas, Wisconsin, South Carolina, South Dakota and Montana to cover ten versatile training events in order to tell the Army Reserve story. There are six END rotations total this year.
One of the teams sent to Hugo, Minnesota covered Soldiers from a local Army Reserve unit volunteering and competing in the 2016 Twin Cities Tough Mudder. Both print and video products by the Soldiers highlighted the Army Reserve’s role in the event and how the Army Reserve Soldiers involved were able to interact with their community in a unique way.
“Tough Mudder was a really great opportunity,” said Cook. “We got to see the Army Reserve engaging with the community in a way they don't get to do every day, and the response from the public was very encouraging.”
Soldiers participating in END also covered Warrior Exercise 86-16-03 at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. During WAREX, 92 different Army units developed their tactical and combat skills to reinforce Army Warrior Training. Teaming up with both Active Army and National Guard units, the Army Reserve was able to simulate a realistic combat theater for the exercise.
Other Army Reserve events included Trans Warrior, a port operations and transportation exercise, River Assault, bridging operations across the Arkansas River and Innovation Readiness Training, an exercise designed to enhance unit training while supporting America’s underserved communities.
When not providing public affairs coverage, team members could be found working diligently on their print, video and radio packages at the Muscatatuck radio station and museum.
As MUTC’s public affairs liaison and radio operations instructor, Master Sgt. Brad Staggs, Atterbury-Muscatatuck public affairs, provided critical professional guidance to rotation five Soldiers as they labored to both perfect their individual occupational skills as well as enhance their public affairs knowledge by cross training at Muscatatuck.
“When we have people in one part of the job [print journalism] volunteering to do the other part of the job [broadcast journalism], with no prompting and turning in quality product, that’s amazing to me,” said Staggs. “Rotation five of Exercise News Day has amazed me, really. From beginning to end.”
The growth, both as individuals and as a unit, is clear and with an experience as unique as END there is no wonder why.
“Previously, there was no opportunity for public affairs units to get the full experience,” said Mack. “I hope to see the exercise continue because it has been the best opportunity for public affairs Soldiers to understand the full-spectrum of operations while giving them the chance to hone their talents in broadcast and print journalism.”
Armed with the knowledge and lessons learned at END, these public affairs Soldiers are better prepared to steady, aim, breathe and shoot. Army public affairs units communicate Soldiers’ stories through a variety of media, bringing the nation closer to the Soldiers who serve them. This establishes conditions that lead to confidence in America’s Army and its readiness to conduct operations in peacetime, conflict and war.
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| Date Taken: | 07.29.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2016 23:15 |
| Story ID: | 205758 |
| Location: | BUTLERVILLE, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 136 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Bringing the Nation Closer to the Army Reserve Soldier, by SPC Claudia Rocha, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
