Welcome to the blog site of the Army Reserve’s 314th Public Affairs Operation Center while it is in Iraq during 2009. This site offers insight into the thoughts of warrior-citizens who have left behind their civilian lives in the United States to serve the nation. The unit, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is comprised of mostly print and broadcast military journalists, with some administrative, logistical and technical support specialists.

The unit’s primary mission is to work directly with members of the international media who visit Iraq to get “the real story” for audiences around the world. During their deployment, each unit member will be posting blog entries on their personal pages on this site, and submitting photos, video and stories to a Department of Defense site.

The soldiers of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center at Ground Zero, days before their departure for their mission in Baghdad. During their deployment, 314th Soldiers will work with U.S. and international media, U.S. and Iraqi officials, and other specific types of visitors to Iraq. Their unit motto is "Maximum Effort, Minimum Delay."

 You are invited to browse through each Soldier’s page, check out their submissions to the Department of Defense site, and submit questions or comments. There are also pages with useful links for family members, other loved ones, and friends, hometown media, local schools, and the general public.   We invite you to interact with the 314th Soldiers and learn more. The easiest way to do so is to post comments to blog entries.

Finally, this is an “unofficial” blog site, which means that although it is moderated by the unit, the thoughts and opinions posted on the site do not represent those of the Department of the Army. The site moderator follows the guidance provided in Army Regulation 530-1 and related documents to ensure operational security. As this site may be subject to review by the Army Web Risk Assessment Cell, the contents do not reference, disseminate or publish critical or sensitive information. Furthermore, each unit member follows the Department of Defense Information School’s guidelines related to security, accuracy, policy and propriety.

السلام عليكم