Closing of the 20th War Correspondents Conference of the Army

Delivery of diplomas to the students of the course

The 20th War Correspondents Conference was closed, on September 20th, in a ceremony held at the School of Warfare and Leadership (EGLET) in Madrid, presided over by the Second Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Alejandro Escámez, and attended by 27 communication professionals who in the course of the event have received the diplomas accrediting their participation in this edition.

Inaugurated by the head of the EGLET, General Carlos J. Frías, on September 16th, during this week the journalists have attended conferences and have carried out various practical exercises in which they have learned basic aspects to guarantee their safety while developing their informative work in highly dangerous environments.

One of the most outstanding activities took place at the base "El Goloso," headquarters of the "Guadarrama" XII Brigade, in Madrid, where participants carried out a series of theoretical and practical workshops of topography, as well as the embedding with units of the Regiment "Asturias" n 31, performing some tactical exercises at night. Embarked in Armoured Caterpillar Transport vehicles, the participants in the conference were able to know first-hand the needs of coordination between journalists and Army units in operational environments, in addition to experiencing and feeling in first person the fatigue, cold and sleep typical of the development of this type of actions.

They also attended a flight safety session, which was completed with a helicopter transport to Brunete (Madrid), where the company "Ilunion" was in charge of carrying out several driving and vehicle recovery classes, as well as practices in simulators.

At the Engineers Academy of the Spanish Army and the International Demining Center in Hoyo de Manzanares (Madrid), the journalists developed practices related to mines and improvised explosive devices, as well as in the nuclear, biological and chemical environment.

First aid sessions, first aid kit, stress control, adverse weather, religious conflicts or information in areas of operations are other subjects in which these professionals who have entered the military and operations world have been able to deepen, expanding their knowledge and experience in this area.