Meanwhile in Australia

It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

I’m currently at the Puckapunyal Combined Arms Training Center in Victoria, Australia. It’s in the middle of nowhere and even the Aussies agree that we’re in a bit of a shithole. I’m not staying in a fancy hotel, but I’m not living in a tent. The living conditions are adequate, open squad bays. The water is hot and the washers/dryers work just fine. Aussie food isn’t half bad and I’m embedded with a squad-sized element of Marines for the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting 2012. It’s not a bad gig.

There are a lot of political pitfalls for writing for a military newspaper, while being a photojournalist on a bigger defense media stage. I’m restricted from being as creative as I’d like to be. For example, the photo above would never see the light of day on a military stage. Military editors and public affairs officers would assume that the military condones smoking and breaking the rules. Yes, it’s really that ridiculous. On the other side of things, working with foreign media is a pain in the ass entirely. I don’t particularly enjoy dealing with the condescending tone of someone to whom I do not report. It’s a passive aggressive chess match.

Beyond all of that jazz, we’re shooting a lot of rounds. Whether it’s your typical M4 and M16A4 to the M249 SAW, M240B, Steyr A1, M27 IAR (H&K 416) or anything else, this is a damn good time. I haven’t had the opportunity to party it up in Melbourne because we’re limited to the training area, but I do spend time at our local “boozer” aboard the camp. I’ve met people from different walks of life. There are 16 countries here and the language barrier goes out of the window when alcohol is involved. Ironically, I spend most of my time drinking with the Japanese shooting team.

Internet is limited so my time online will be sparse. I am alive and I am well. I’ll be back at the end of the month. Don’t forget about fameONE, kids.

Peace.