They’re out there in the danger zone, not quite in the line of fire, but a heck of a lot closer to the bullets than most of us. How does it feel to earn a living in the killing fields? We asked Nic Robertson, Sr. International War Correspondent, CNN, for some answers.
What protective gear do you wear? What about training?
We’re always given a flak jacket and helmet. In Afghanistan, we also travel with a first aid kit, medical kit, trauma kit, and battle field dressing. A good amount of water. GPS equipment. We accumulate it over the years. In a riot situation in Kenya, I took my flak jacket but not my helmet because you don’t want to give away that you’re wearing protective clothing. CNN gives us a week-long training on battle field assessment, first aid, situational awareness. Those help a lot, but by the time I took it, it was almost second nature.
(This story appears in the 14 August, 2009 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)