What would i be allowed to send home when im in a war area?

Question

will i be allowed to personally purchase a helmet camera and record everything and will i be allowed to keep like a journal. the guys at base send me around asking everyone but not answering my question. if i can take pictures what are the things i cant. all my records im going to put in like a safety box for my daughter to access when shes 18 if i die so just curious of the things id be allowed to include in it

Answer 1

You can take pictures, you can keep a journal and you can do just about what you please as long as you don't violate federal law by sending illegal items through the mail.  But I gotta tell ya pardner, saving video footage of a fire fight so your daughter can view them when she's 18 is a really bad idea.  I wouldn't want either of my daughter's or even my son for that matter viewing something like that and they all grew up in the Army.  You might want to re think your plans, you sound young yet so you have plenty of time to come up with a good idea.  And besides wearing that brain bucket around 24/7 gets old fast, they're heavy.  Good luck to you.

Answer 2

From personal experience, unless it's your job to document what's going on, the importance will be on your job, not doing video or taking pics.  Of course periodically you'll be able to do both, depending on the situation.  But if you're in a tactical situation and you're not focusing what's going on, you could get hurt, both from the bad guys or your NCOs smacking you upside the head.

Answer 3

Your allowed a camera and they will tell you when you are allowed to take pictures and when you are not. Basically anything that you wouldn;t be allowed to tell people about, or any place with a sign of a camera with an x through it.

Answer 4

First, you need to worry about doing your job while your in combat and paying attention to your surroundings rather than taking pictures.  That will prevent your daughter having to receive a video of her daddy rather than having the man stand beside her.

Two, you will be able to take some pictures and videos while you are in combat, and will be given the specifics of when you can't.  Also I would write letters and make phone calls home to your family.  If you are going to bring anything else back maybe think about picking up something unique to the culture.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU:

Bring home foreign weapons

Bring home anything related to projectiles of foreign weapons

Attempt to conceal items that are on the prohibited list

Answer 5

Get the cam and film only when your in a relaxed state meaning around the others in your unit.Make a documentary of your life with the others in your unit not just for her but there family as well incase something happens to them and or you. this way your childrens children will know not only what you look like but what kind of a person you were what you were looking at when talking. But do you really want them to see an explosion or the one that kills you!! Turn it off while on patroll unless you met some cool people who are willing to let you turn it on. But please if you do film something not suited for others to view first make sure it is on a disc by it's self them show your cammander and let him view it incase it is inapropiate. face it if your killed could some one in the family cousin etc, get there hands on it and sell it to NBC wouldn't want that eather would you. Army Ranger PS some of the things I have done you wouldn't want to make a movie out of it,but some low life would. Luck...  

Answer 6

FIRST..... While you can keep a dairy.....even a tape diary..... when you start photographing other people.... combat activities..... you are infringing on the rights of others..... Kerry not only took a lot of film in Vietnam.....he even re-created combat scenarios..... to the rest of us he was an egotistical @ss..... who made a spectacle for his personal enjoyment out of a situation that was "life and death" to the rest of us

I would recommend you NOT film anything.....maybe take some "buddy" pictures but leave the combat photograph to those with that MOS.... concentrate on keeping your troops alive.....accomplishing the mission.....and being there to tell your daughter about "the war" yourself

The military does not allow photography of atrocities..... either ours or theirs..... often certain equipment can not be filmed.....BTW..... how do you know when your life is on the line.....I am a two time combat Vet....take it from me......your life is on the line ALL the time..... ask the 243 sleeping Marines in Beirut

Personally I would NOT want my daughter to experience war.....first or second hand.....