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Media 'circus' arrives at Task Force Tarawa

USMC News

Story Identification Number: 200331431940
Story by Cpl. Matthew Orr

CAMP RYAN, Kuwait(March 12, 2003) -- Twenty-one media representatives from television and newspapers around the world arrived at Camp Ryan recently and received their welcome aboard brief. The brief was held to let the media know what was expected of them, the rules and regulations regarding camp life, journalism ground rules and they also heard from various commanding officers.

The media representatives have been imbedded into the various units that comprise the task force and will report on that unit's role as well as special interest pieces.

Brig. Gen. Richard F. Natonski, commanding general, Task Force Tarawa, opened up the brief by welcoming the media to the camp. Following him were various other specialists in different fields such as a nuclear, biological and chemical specialist and a Navy corpsman to reinforce training they had already received before setting foot in Kuwait.

Natonski told everyone present that his first memories of media in a combat environment was when he was a young Marine Corps lieutenant fighting in Vietnam and his unit was responsible for evacuating media on two separate occasions.

"First, I would like to welcome you all to Camp Ryan," he said. Natonski then went on to praise the young service members that were so far away from home and that 'they' were the real story here.

"The real story here is the young Marines and Sailors, thousands of miles from home living in spartan conditions away from their families. They are ready, proud to be serving their country and willing to follow through with whatever the president's intent may be," he said.

Natonski then said how proud he was of the fact that it took only nine days to mobilize the task force.

"Thousands of Marines on seven ships, in nine days, bring them half way around the world and being prepared for combat operations, is a real testament to the professionalism of the young service members," said Natonski.

The media, overall, were impressed with the information that was passed to them from the various speakers.

It was a good introduction to the units way of life, said Andrew North, British Broadcasting Corporation, London, England. "Although a few of the military acronyms were a bit hard to understand," he said with a small smile spreading across his face.