NJ at WAR; Training for Iraq

I spent some time recently with New Jersey National Guardsmen training for an upcoming deployment to Iraq slated for this summer -the largest deployment of NJ National Guardsmen since WWII.

For many of these part-time soldiers, this is the second or third deployment, and many are past the typical age of a soldier, giving the whole operation the feel of the place like a bunch of weekend warriors. However, I saw plenty of camaraderie and dedication.

The training camp is a three week session, before they head to Texas for more intense training this summer. Here's a look at a typical day of training at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. They call the place FIG.