Russell Klika - Military Career

Military Career

At age 17, Klika joined the U.S. Marine Corps and eventually became a combat photographer and trainer, serving 12 years. Staff Sgt. Klika served three tours of duty in Iraq, the latest in 2006 with the 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment of the Tennessee Army National Guard. and, 2008, one tour of duty in Afghanistan, where United Press International regularly picked up and ran his photos on the wire. He remained deployed on full duty as a combat photographer in Afghanistan until late 2009. His photos from the frontline have been featured on Tennessee's Volunteer State Guard online publication in a column titled "Klika's Korner."