AFSOC showcases mission during commercial filming role

Released: 2 Jun 2000

A production company films an MH-53 Pave Low as it hovers over the flightline at Field 6, while special tactics teams prepare to "seize the airfield." The Air Force Special Operations Command team's mission was captured on film by the production company to be used in new Air Force recruiting and retention commercials. (Photo by Greg Murry)

Special tactics team members "fast rope" from an MH-53 Pave Low during the simulated airfield seizure at Field 6. Images such as these may be incorporated into one of the series of new Air Force recruiting and retention commercials set to begin airing in July. (Photo by Greg Murry)

by Tech. Sgt. Ginger Schreitmueller
Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) -- Keeping true to their motto of being "quiet professionals," Air Force Special Operations Command air commandos are more likely to shy away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. But, recently Hurlburt Field put aside the silent warrior image to take the action and capture it on film.

An entourage of producers and production crews invaded the local area May 21-27 to film sequences depicting combat-ready forces for use in a series of new Air Force recruiting and retention commercials.

According to Air Force officials, the commercials will begin running on television and in theaters sometime in July. The commercials are one means the Air Force is using to help with recruiting and retention numbers. When the service fell short of its recruiting goals last year for the first time in more than two decades, it contracted a production company to shoot the new commercials. Each spot lasts about 30 seconds and shows different Air Force specialties and environments.

To keep the commercials as realistic as possible, the production team aimed its cameras at Air Force blue suiters. The majority of action-packed scenes were shot at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. A major scene was a remote airfield operation involving AFSOC aircraft and more than 100 AFSOC and RED HORSE -- an acronym for rapid engineer deployable heavy operations repair squadron engineers -- people and equipment at Army Ranger Camp Field 6. Additional footage spotlighting other Air Force people was shot earlier in May at Edwards AFB, Calif.

While the film crew was here the AFSOC team got a chance to show the Hollywood crew a variety of special ops scenarios involving nearly every aspect of the command's missions.

During the commercials, viewers should catch glimpses of AC-130 Gunships from the 4th Special Operations Squadron, MC-130E Combat Talons from the 15th SOS, UH-1N Hueys from the 6th SOS, and MH-53 Pave Lows from the 20th SOS. Along with shots of the command's airframes, viewers will also see images of quiet professionals in action. Viewers also will likely see aircrew members, including loadmasters and gunners; support teams, such as honor guard members and RED HORSE crews; and special tactics teams, wearing the combat control, pararescue and combat weather berets. The special tactics teams came from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron here, and from Detachment 4, 10th Combat Weather Squadron, Fort Benning, Ga.

Taking on a role in a high-budget production may be a bit out of character for AFSOC people, but air commandos understand why Hollywood stars spend a lifetime preparing for a big role, said the 23rd STS director of operations.

"Whether it's a contingency airfield operation in South America, a daring rescue in Kosovo, or a Hollywood film crew directing an Air Force recruiting commercial, the 720th Special Tactics Group is U. S. Special Operations Command's and AFSOC's air-to-ground interface expert," said Maj. Michael Sneeder. "Such expertise is critical to managing airfield chaos and ensuring mission success on austere assault zones."

According to the major, 36 members from the 23rd STS and 10th CWS took part in the filming at Field 6.

"A combination of combat controllers, pararescuemen, combat weathermen, and mission support people controlled C-130 and helicopter air operations, drove 2-wheel dirt bikes and established a medical/survivor triage station using the RATT (rapid all-terrain transport) vehicle for the camera," said Sneeder. "Realizing the priority placed upon this operation we were proud to refocus our training missions and maximum efforts on placing America's best airmen out front to represent AFSOC in what it does best. Joined with many other Air Force resources, we hope the commercials will energize and excite today's youth into striving for a rewarding Air Force career."

The 16th Operations Group coordinator for the filming said the biggest challenge was working out all the details of the scenarios in an extremely compressed time line.

"There were a lot of grueling hours and loads of coordination involved in making this happen," said Capt. Guyan Mandich, a pilot with the 20th SOS. "Everyone -- including group current ops, the flying units, STS and the 823d RED HORSE squadron -- readily participated and should be applauded for putting together such outstanding flight profiles and ground movements in a relatively short time frame."

The captain said filming May 23 and 24 were dawn to midnight productions.

Talon II's from the 15th SOS kicked the AFSOC film sequences off with a tight, four-ship flare-dispensing demo.

"We started the day with a pre-dawn call for a fire scenario using three MH-53M helicopters," said Mandich. "Later that morning, crews shot the airfield takedown at Field 6. There were troops, combat vehicles and weapons off-loading from an MC-130E, while three helicopters circled the area, providing simulated aerial cover. Keeping it all together from the ground was a combat controller separating all aircraft on a mobile field radio. Following that, they filmed a simulated humanitarian evacuation," said the captain. Gunships closed out the day with a show of their unique firepower.

Though the majority of filming with Hurlburt Field assets focused on showing combat readiness, the series of commercials will also highlight areas such as formal ceremonies, families and quality of life.

While the production crew returns to Hollywood to piece together the 30-second spots, the AFSOC team won't let their film credits get in the way of their behind-the-scenes role as America's specialized air power. (Capt. Carol Kanode, 16th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs contributed to this article.)

Back to Articles