National Security Reporters Embed with Army brigade in large-scale war game

FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Ten Medill National Security Specialization students donned bullet-proof vests and helmets, hoisted backpacks and sleeping bags on their bags and climbed aboard Black Hawk helicopters the morning of Oct. 26 to start a two-day embed at the National Training Center with Army units from Fort Stewart in Georgia.

Students paired up to embed in units raining from forward scouts to artillery to command units. They interviewed soldiers who were learning how to fight in a multi-dimensional conflict between nation-states.  The “simulation” included influxes of refugees, insurgent operations, drone spying, stability operations and tank battles, among other exercises in the Mojave Desert.