Combat Camera Pacific Sailors cross-train for combat ops
by MC1 Brandon Raile
NORTH ISLAND, Calif. (NNS) -- Mass communication specialists (MCs) of Navy Fleet Combat Camera Group Pacific are participating in an extensive pre-deployment work-up cycle to increase their readiness and individual professional skills.

Since the beginning of the war on terrorism, Combat Camera Sailors have been, and currently are, deployed to hot spots throughout the world supporting non-Navy and joint service units. The change from their traditional mission of documenting Navy-specific activities has led to new requirements for the unit's nearly 35 deployable MCs and in turn, a new way of training.

"In the past we deployed or went out on missions in pairs, one photographer and one videographer," said Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Parker, leading petty officer (LPO) in charge of training. "In many situations we find ourselves in these days, we are deployed independently, attached to Army infantry or Special Forces units. In those situations, we don't have the option to have separate photographers and videographers. Often times, we are the only media person around and therefore have to be able to do it all."

The requirement to act independently has led to the command's goal of having every deployable operator skilled in both video and still imagery. In order to accomplish this, the command has developed an intensive training program that ensures all MCs in the command have the opportunity to become proficient and confident enough to take on either role.

The training department developed a four-month schedule encompassing classroom training, practical application assignments and a field exercise to test the skill levels of each person prior to deploying. After developing the timeline, the training department's leading petty officer worked with the video and photojournalism departments' LPOs to implement the training.

"We're using the most experienced and skilled people in those sections to pass knowledge on to the junior or less experienced people," said Parker. "All of our videographers have received C-School level training in videography, and many of our photographers and videographers are graduates of advanced DoD programs hosted at Syracuse University, the highest level of training available through the Navy for people in our rate."

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Summer Anderson, who just returned from Iraq in December 2007, said she was eager to pass on what she had learned during her eight years in the Navy. Anderson, a Syracuse program graduate and veteran of multiple deployments with the command, also earned the Military Videographer of the Year award for 2007.

She took on the job of cross-training the still photographers in the entirely different skill of motion imagery with a passion.

"It is great to see and be a part of helping others develop and become proficient in new skills. The ability of our people to adapt so effectively to changing requirements makes me feel confident in Combat Camera's future and in our relevance to current military operations," Anderson said. "This is a completely unique job within the MC rating, and everyone here is here by choice.

"It takes people with a lot of drive to want to cover the mission for the mission's sake. You can have all the training in the world but in the end, success comes down to the people."