STAY IN TOUCH; STAY INSURED; FILE THE PAPERWORK
Contact with editor/producer
Stay in regular contact with your editor or producers. I do that routinely by cellphone, satphone or e-mail at least once a day, letting them know my coverage plans.
One should not, however, discuss specific details of upcoming operations, such as locations, dates, times or any other information that could be monitored and leaked to the enemy, compromising the security of the unit with which you are embedded, as well as your personal security.
Some US cellular phones, such as AT&T’s Blackberry, work in Afghanistan.
Thuraya
And in some places, I can even send and receive email over it. But if I’m outside coverage areas, I have my BGAN (satellite broadband) and laptop for e-mail and either a Motorola or Thuraya satellite phone for voice. I prefer the Thuraya because it is easy to use to access the Internet and also can be used as a cellphone if you have a local chip.
You also can send email from the Internet centers that are provided for the troops at most U.S. bases.
Insurance
Several firms provide insurance, including AKE, a British security and risk assessment company that also provides hostile enviroment training.
Documents & ground rules
All of the forms that ISAF requires journalists seeking embeds to fill out can be found here. (ISAF’s media checklist).
Below are ISAF’s official “ground rules” for the media in Afghanistan.
