Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Carden | Spc. Hannah Selinsky (left) and Pfc. Christine Lorenz, both members of the 196th...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Andrew Kuhn 196th Mobile Public Affairs
POPTUN, Guatemala - CLICK, CLICK, CLICK ... The photographer pulls the camera from his face and continues alongside the special operations competitors as they make a mad dash to the next obstacle. The lush, jungle canopy locks in the humidity and causes sweat to pour from his face onto his already soaked shirt. Determination pushes him ahead, feet pounding along the narrow path, daring to slide into position for the perfect photo. A smile splits his face. Success!
Members of the 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (MPAD), an Ohio Army National Guard unit from Columbus, Ohio, performed their annual training July 11-24, 2015, in Poptun, Guatemala, assisting U.S. Special Operations Command South in providing coverage of Fuerzas Comando 2015, an international special operations skills competition that promotes military-to-military relationships, increases training knowledge and improves regional security.
MPAD Soldiers highlighted competitions such as assault and sniper ranges, ruck marches, stress tests, an obstacle course and a shoot house. They wrote stories, directed interviews, escorted media and provided media outlets around the world with coverage of each event.
After each mission, MPAD Soldiers returned to their work spaces and worked to transform their raw footage and photos into works of journalistic art. For international publication and distribution, they edited video, applied the proper touches to their images and created captions.
“I have become more acquainted with my camera, and I’m learning some Spanish,” said Pfc. Christine Lorenz, a photojournalist with the unit. “We are working extremely long days, but it’s doing fun stuff I enjoy.”
The aquatic event tapped into the creative side of the MPAD. The competitors towed their gear as they swam down a tranquil blue creek. Once the creek breaks from the dense wood line, it opens up into a small pond, with reeds surrounding the edges. At this point, the swimmers stagger up the shoreline alongside a short dock. Eager to get the shot, journalists braved the jungle waters and waded in to try and get the best one possible.
“I got a first-hand experience of what the environment was like,” said Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Fitzgerald, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 196th MPAD broadcast section. “I even jumped in the water to get a shot.”
The competition not only challenged the competitors’ strength, but also that of the MPAD. During the obstacle course, MPAD Soldiers had to keep ahead of the competitors who climbed ropes, crawled through tire tunnels, and ran up and down the steep, rocky mountainside at the Guatemalan army base.
“Just going down the hill was so difficult,” Lorenz said, “trying to carry my camera gear and hold onto the rope, but the view from the top was amazing.”
Prior to the competition kickoff, participating teams from 19 North, Central and South American countries and support staff took a day to tour Tikal National Park, a major historical site of the Mayan civilization, nestled deep in lush vegetation. They explored the jungle, photographing the scattered temples and public squares. Climbing to the top of the tall, gray stone masses, they looked out over the ruins, cameras capturing all they surveyed.
“I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” Lorenz said, “It was something I would never expect to see.”
Fuerzas Comando dedicated one night to a Kaibil night-of-fire ceremony, which lit the night sky with blazing fires, while loud cheers, simulated explosions and gunfire shattered the silence of evening. Teams and support staff gathered at the base of the hill, while Guatemalan army Kaibil special operations soldiers illuminated their path to the top of a steep hill with torches and bonfires. Once they reached the peak a grand sign, proudly displaying the word “KAIBIL,” glowed in the firelight.
“I almost dropped my (camera) phone on the first cannon boom,” said Spc. Hannah Selinsky, a broadcast journalist with the 196th. “It was probably the coolest ceremony I’ve ever seen.”
Training like this is crucial to a young Soldier’s career, where the early experience can shape their entire military outlook.
“As an NCO, I think it is important for young Soldiers to get these experiences early on in their careers because it helps keep them from getting stagnant in the training phase,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m glad to see the Ohio Army National Guard giving this opportunity to these individuals.”
Real-world missions, such as this one, help Soldiers sharpen and maintain their job skills.
“I think it is important for our Soldiers to have the experience of being out of their comfort zones, “Fitzgerald said. “Getting out there and getting familiar with their equipment, knowing each other — so you know how you can rely on your fellow Soldiers while you’re on missions — and the cultural experiences are priceless.”
During long work days and limited down time, the 196th Soldiers spent most of their time together, enjoying one another’s company, even eating most of their meals together.
“It’s been an incredible bonding experience,” Lorenz said. “Every meal feels like a family meal; it’s just so much fun.”
Added Selinsky: “I feel closer to everybody. One weekend a month at drill doesn’t provide the time it takes to form these types of relationships.”
At the end of the day, the unit leadership was very pleased with the performance of their junior Soldiers.
“I think they are firing at high levels; they have an eye for the camera and a complete understanding of what we are trying to do as far as capturing audiences and pushing messages,” Fitzgerald said. “We have long days, long nights, (but) we have been able to meet our goals each day.”
The Soldiers have many fond recollections about the mission and said they hope to get the opportunity to support missions like this one in the future.
“I think the real memories will come from the personal relationships with the unit, as well as my memories of the country itself,” Selinsky said. “Getting to go to Tikal and see the Mayan ruins, I’ll hold onto those memories for forever.”
These types of missions “keep people in,” Lorenz said. “It’s a retention booster.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: The196th MPAD’s work during Fuerzas Comando ‘15 can be viewed online on https://www.dvidshub.net/ (keyword: Fuerzas Comando 15), https://www.flickr.com/photos/fuerzascomando15/ and on the Special Operations Command South Facebook page (search for SOCSOUTH).
| Date Taken: | 07.25.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2015 21:23 |
| Story ID: | 172288 |
| Location: | POPTUN, GT |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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