Journalism Boot Camp

Journalists enter the battlefield knowing full well the consequences and the safety risks involved, all for a better and more accurate picture of the War in Iraq. However, before they embark on this remarkable journey, they make all the preparations necessary for someone who could potentially be caught in the crossfire, targeted by a terrorist organization, or interrogated through hostile force. In preparing for their experience among soldiers and citizens alike, they must attend specialized war training courses - it is in essence, a kind of journalism boot camp, a precautionary measure to ensure that journalists enter the war zone safely and leave in the same state they entered. According to the article, "Intense Training Prepares Journalists for War," major media organizations send their staffs to war zone training programs that involve First Aid Training, simulations of a number of life-threatening situations including the potential of being taken hostage, enduring captivity, and crossing border checkpoints, and psychological preparation for the war zone and making practical decisions during times of crisis. ABC News correspondent Miguel Marquez, who spent a month in Iraq, comments on the necessity of re-creating dangerous scenarios because, "While there, one is always aware of the danger, and it's very easy to get on edge about whether you're going to get caught up in something that you can't control." Two of the best-known private firms that specialize in war training are Centurion Risk Assessment Services and AKE Integrated Risk Solutions, both of which offer the context for situations that could potentially be harmful or dangerous, and the skills to handle any kind of situation. The mission statement of Centurion Risk Assessment Services reads, "Danger knows no frontier, and press cards do not stop bullets. Even with the best of training, journalists can become casualties." While this is the unfortunate reality, there are clearly measures being taken to prevent further deaths of innocent Americans. Taking such precautions is merely a formality and a necessity, because once you're out there, that feeling of uncertainty won't go away and your own conscience and mind is all you have to stay sane. No situation is the same and danger knows no boundary, so therefore, it is only logical to prepare soldiers for the worst.