"Runnin' with the Devil"

The sun just on the rise, AC/DC blaring from the PA system, and the "White Devil" Paratroopers of the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (2/504 PIR) drawn up for a 4.6 mile run. They got under way as Limp Bizkit's "Break Shit" filled the muggy morning air........great way to start a morning!
Lt. Col. Mark Stock led his men up and down Ardennes Ave. as cadence were sung by each company, and the speakers along the route sounded with the 82nd Airborne Chorus's own version of old stand-by running songs. I went along with them for a while, gear and all, looking for a suitable back-drop to frame a good shot.
The Battalion finished the run, pulling into formation to the sounds of "Born in the USA" rolling across the field and echoing off the barracks.
LTC Stock then addressed his men about their upcoming mission and what was expected of them. He is all business as he reminds his men that no man gets left behind.

The "White Devils" are ready.

What do you bring to a War?

Packing for a war in today's hi-tech world can be very cumbersome, and pretty damn expensive!
Lets start with the "mission essentials", my laptop, portable hard-drive, 3 camera bodies, 6 lenses, 1 video camera, cell phone, and a tangle of various cords and chargers. Add to these all of the bags and cases needed to transport and protect them.
Next we move onto clothing, for footwear one pair each of boots and running shoes should suffice. Good and plentiful supply of socks and mole-skin are a grunts best friend! As for daily clothing, light-weight long sleeve shirts and old dessert camouflage pants work well. Underwear....no need, only adds weight and laundry. Protective items that are required by the military are, Kevlar Helmet, Body armor, and ballistic eye protection.
Personal items include toiletries, yes Frankie, an MP3 player, and possibly the greatest piece of military gear ever invented.....the poncho liner!
There are a lot of odds and ends not listed here, so maybe I'll compile a detailed list for any photog's that are looking to embed, but that'll have to wait a while.
Less than a week!

Whats it take to get to an Embed Slot??

If anyone is curious about how you go about getting an embed slot with the U.S. Military in Iraq, here is a little primer......
Be prepared to send a lot of e-mails, and make more than a few phone calls. My personal quest began in November of '06 when I set out to find a stateside unit that I could deploy with. My reasons were two-fold, first was to get to know the troops prior to their being in combat, and observe their training. Secondly was financial reasons, flights to Kuwait can really hamper your budget.
Once you find a unit that is willing to let you tag along, you have to get permission from MNF-I (Multi-National Force-Iraq) in Baghdad for the embed. Among other things, you must work for an agency or publication, have been published, agree to their ground rules, have insurance, Kevlar helmet and body armor. MNF-I also has several forms to fill out with general info, such as what you will cover while embedded, and your next of kin.
After being approved to embed, and to travel with a unit, you have to make arrangements to get to that unit. That's where I am right now, I have my flight booked, car and hotel reserved and packing my bags as this gets typed! What do you pack for a war? We'll go into that tomorrow.