Capturing the action: combat camera teams are everywhere, providing valuable photographic documentation of the Navy's efforts

All Hands, March, 2003 by Craig Strawser

It's a known fact that when world events turn ugly, one of the first questions asked is, "Where's the nearest aircraft carrier?" The next question is usually, "Where's the nearest combat camera team?"

These teams, made up of highly-trained, combat-ready photographers, journalists and Sailors in other ratings, are ready to deploy at a moment's notice. Their primary mission is to take photos and produce videos supporting operational and planning requirements during world crises, contingencies, exercises and wartime operations.

Combat camera's still and video photography covers various aspects of military operations, deployments and activities, before, during and after military engagements, operations and emergency actions.

Each branch of the military has combat camera assets trained to work in a joint environment. Often a deployed team is comprised of photographers from several services, giving a view of the entire operation.

Because a "picture tells a thousand words" the imagery provides senior military officials a better view of what is actually taking place in a specific area.

The following photographs represent a wide variety of the operations, training exercises and other events as seen through the eyes of combat camera Sailors.

PHC Johnny Wilson braces his camera for a steady shot of paratroopers in Bahrain.

A U.S. Marine wears a scarf to protect himself from harsh winds sand dusty conditions while standing guard at a check point at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

Philippine soldiers from 18th Infantry Battalion put on camouflage before a reconnaissance exercise.

Aboard USS Tarawa (LHA 3) Army National Guard members from Texas get ready for, a training exercise as part of joint Shipboard Integration Program. J-SHIP

U.S. Navy SEALs search for al-Qaeda and Taliban while conducting a Sensitive Site Exploitation mission in the Jaji Mountains, Afghanistan.

Members of Fleet Combat Camera Group Pacific document troop movement using night vision equipment during Exercise Fast Focus.

A Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4. Little Creek, Va., makes her way back to USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) after training in the Arabian Gulf.

PHC Dave Kosling documents destruction at ground zero.

PH2 Aaron Peterson photographs Bahrain military during a joint exercise in Bahrain.

CE1(SCWS/DV) Todd Horne of Underwater Construction Team (UCT)1, Little Creek, Va., teaches underwater emergency procedures to a Baltic States navy diver, at the Baltic Sea Diving Training Center, Latvia.

AB3(AW) Tara Fernando helps AN Carlos Oquendo study for his Aviation Warfare Specialist Qualification while at sea aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6).

Aircrew are lifted from the flight deck during a Special Purpose Insertion/Extraction (SPIE) exercise aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67).

A Sailor mans a.50 caliber machine gun in response to possible intruders swimming up to USS Rushmore (LSD 47) during the nighttime portion of the force protection training held at Pier 8, Naval Station San Diego.

Marine Corps Cpl. Enrique

Escobedo from Riverside, Calif, brushes his teeth in a clay dwelling near Camp Rhino, Afghanistan.

PH2 (SW/DV) Eric Lippmann of Fleet Combat Camera Atlantic, captures video imagery of a U.S. Marine firing an M-16 during a training exercise in Djibouti.

PH1 Sonya Moore documents ships departing Norfolk Naval Station to assist with harbor defense after the attacks of September 11th.

PH1 John Luckenbugh photographs Combat Camera Atlantic weapons training held on Fort AP Hill, Va.

A Platte County volunteer fire fighter provides stability to his partner as he battles flames at a simulated motor vehicle accident site during Exercise Diligent Warrior, Camp Guernsey, Wyom.

Bmd Michael I Rivera, LPO of Deck Department watches from behind the hangar door as an SH-60B Sea Hawk of HSL-48 lands on USS San Jacinto's (CG 56) flight deck in support of Operation

Enduring Freedom.

Marines of Task Force India, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade Anti-terrorism (4th MEB AT) relax on an Air Force C-130 aircraft.

PH1 (DSW) Chadwick Vann shoots video of the inside of Monitor's turret after a section of armor belt was removed to facilitate lifting the turret during the raising of the ship, July 6, 2002.

PHC Johnny Wilson photographs an aircrewman from Helicopter Mine Counter-measures Squadron (HM) 14.

U.S. Marines on-board USS Wasp (LHD 1) conduct small arms fire training.

USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) receive fuel and supplies during an early morning underway replenishment with USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196)

Strawser is a photographer and assistant editor assigned to All Hands