– The 1st Combat Camera Squadron led a ruck for all Combat Camera personnel, to include members from the 4th Combat Camera Squadron, an Air Force Reserve unit from the 315th Airlift Wing.
The ruck took place on McCombs Way, a trail on base that is roughly three miles in length.
“We’re doing a ruck march to help our members prepare for an annual field training exercise, Scorpion Lens,” said the 1 CTCS training superintendent, Master Sgt. Russ Scalf. “There's going to be at least two events with rucking requirements. It was decided that it would be a good idea to help them prepare.”
Exercise Scorpion Lens is a simulated deployed environment where Airmen test their camera skills and receive tactical training. Preparing for the exercise offers a unique opportunity for active duty Combat Camera Airmen and their Air Force Reserve counterparts.
“It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Senior Master Sgt. John Herrick, flight superintendent for the 4 CTCS. “It’s a chance for everyone to prepare for an upcoming exercise, and it’s a chance to build on the associate-unit-construct we have with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron.”
The 1 CTCS squadron started preparing for Scorpion Lens last month when they required Airmen to ruck in civilian clothes with weighted backpacks. This allowed newer members to get a feel for rucking before experiencing the real thing.
“It’s one of those things you don’t want to overdo,” said Scalf. “So, that was the idea of doing a crawl phase. And this is the walk phase.”
Combat Camera Airmen deploy every six months to support various missions and combatant commanders globally. As a result, some agencies request Combat Camera members to document teams or embed within units that ruck from location-to-location.
“Not everyone is going to have that experience when they deploy,” said Scalf. “But, it’s definitely possible. It’s one of the skills you need to learn.”
Members of the 1 CTCS and the 4 CTCS support senior Department of Defense and joint leaders through the acquisition of photography, video and other multimedia content. Both squadrons are trained to delivery imagery in a wide range of scenarios, such as wartime operations, humanitarian operations, and joint exercises.