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Spc. Jason Morgan of the 102nd Mobile
Public Affairs Detachment of Jackson, Miss., trained at Camp Shelby
Joint Forces Training Center, Miss., on September 22, 2012 for an
upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Lacey
J. Hunt)
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FORT DIX, N.J. (12/21/2012) - Spc. Jason Morgan may be a recent
graduate of Mississippi State University, but he is not your typical
college student.
Morgan is transitioning from full-time
student to active duty soldier as he prepares for his first combat
deployment to Afghanistan with the 102nd Mobile Public Affairs
Detachment of Jackson, Miss. The unit's mission to tell the story of
Army operations to the public merges his civilian education with his
military career goals.
A native of Byram, Miss., Morgan
graduated from Terry High School in 2007. After completing his
associate's degree in general studies from Hinds Community College
in 2009, he attended MSU where he earned a bachelor's degree in
communication with an emphasis in broadcast and film in August 2012.
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Morgan said he knew as early as high school that he had a
passion for storytelling. He enjoyed reading and watching movies.
His biggest decision was whether to write or work with film, which
led him to broadcasting in college. He described broadcast as a
hybrid between writing and filmmaking.
“I get to write a
story and then tell it through video,” said Morgan. “I picked
broadcast because I knew I could influence a lot of people through
broadcast in a good way because I am telling their story.”
Morgan said he was strongly influenced in his educational experience
by Teresa Gawrych, a communication instructor at MSU. She taught a
class called T.V. Practicum, which prepared him for this upcoming
deployment. He experienced the freedom of going out and attaining
his own stories, combined with the stresses that come along with
weekly deadlines.
His military career started a little over
three years ago when he enlisted with an urge for adventure.
Morgan said he chose the military to satisfy his passion for
writing.
“I wanted to tell a story worth telling,” he said.
He was awarded his military occupational specialty as a print
journalist after completing training from the Defense Information
School at Fort Meade, Md. His civilian education fine tuned the
skills he learned from his military training.
His
supervisor, Staff Sgt. Scott Tynes, said he is pleased to have him
on his team as a print journalist and Morgan will play a vital role
in the success of his unit's mission.
“Morgan is well
trained, intuitive and eager to do any mission that is passed down
to him,” said Tynes. “We will be taking advantage of his versatility
to conduct public affairs missions in both print and broadcast
mediums.”
One of his goals for his first deployment is to
gain experience in his career field and to add products to his
resume. Morgan said when applying for a broadcasting position,
formal education is a very small part, the most important element is
what you've produced.
“If I have video I shot in Afghanistan
and I am applying for National Geographic, which is a dream job, I
can say I have been in a combat position with a camera,” he said. “I
am used to stressful hours. I have what it takes to get the job
done.”
By Army Sgt. Lacey Hunt
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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