News>American Idol meets American Military at 301st FW
Photos
While a cameraman films a public service announcement, Maj. Mike Barron, left, shows off an F-16 Fighting Falcon to the 2011 winner of the American Idol television show, Scotty McCreery, at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, July 20, 2011. Barron is an Air Force Reserve F-16 pilot in the 457th Fighter Squadron, part of the 301st Fighter Wing, based at NAS Fort Worth JRB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. David Kurle)
Master Sgt. Scott McLain, left, and Staff Sgt. Brad Holbrook, right, demonstrate the maintenance required on an F-16C Fighting Falcon to the 2011 American Idol runner-up, Lauren Alaina, July 20, 2011, at the 301st Fighter Wing, based at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. McLain and Holbrook are both members of the 301st Maintenance Squadron. The three are being filmed for an Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service commercial, which featured all 11 finalists from the 2011 season of the hit show “American Idol.” (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. David Kurle)
A videographer films an Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service advertisement while Tech. Sgt. William Warwick, center, shows American Idol finalist Jacob Lusk how to operate an F-6A bomb disposal robot July 20, 2011, at the 301st Fighter Wing, based at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. Three other finalists from the 2011 season of the show, Paul McDonald, Thia Megia and Maima Adedapo, look on. Sergeant Warwick is an Air Force Reserve explosive ordnance disposal expert in the 301st Civil Engineer Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. David Kurle)
A video-production crew films Maj. Mike Barron and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery in an F-16C Fighting Falcon at the 301st Fighter Wing, based at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, July 20, 2011. Barron is an Air Force Reserve F-16 pilot in the 457th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. David Kurle)
Brig. Gen. Bruce Miller, left, and Lt. Col. Max Stitzer, center, chat with 2011 American Idol winner Scotty McCreery during a break in filming an advertisement for Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service at the 301st Fighter Wing, based at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, July 20, 2011. Miller is the 301st Fighter Wing commander and Stitzer is the commander of the 301st Maintenance Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. David Kurle)
by Lt. Col. David Kurle
301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
7/28/2011 - NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- The 301st Fighter Wing's main hangar was turned into something akin to a Hollywood movie set July 20 as the 11 contestants from last season's "American Idol" television show arrived here to film a public-service announcement for Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service.
The recruiting service hired a production crew, which set up lights, cameras and directed the action as the 11 "American Idols" learned about the wing's F-16C Fighting Falcons and explosive ordnance disposal mission from 301st FW Air Force reservists.
"(The American Idol contestants) are just as interested in what we do in the military as we are in them," said Chief Master Sgt. Glen Barnes, the chief of the AFRC Recruiting Service's advertising branch.
AFRC Recruiting Service is one of the sponsors of the current American Idol national tour, which includes performances by show-winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. After the season ended May 25, the 11 finalists started their tour of the country, performing concerts in major cities. Their stop in the Dallas-Fort Worth area included shooting the PSA and a meet and greet with joint-military members and their families here.
"It was a great visit," Barnes said. "It was nice to make this available to the other services on the joint base."
Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base is home to units from all branches of the U.S. military and the base host is the U.S. Navy.
The Air Force Reserve's recruiting service decided to sponsor the tour to help market the Reserve to young men and women, as well as increase awareness and participation in one of its key initiatives - the Get One Now program. The Get One Now program is designed to encourage current Air Force reservists to recruit people they know for the Air Force Reserve.
"American Idol actually reaches our target demographic: 17 to 34 year olds," Barnes said. "We are reaching a large portion of our target audience."
Barnes said that working with the finalists from American Idol is "actually a lot of fun."
"They're very supportive of the military and what we do," he said.
The chief said to expect the new video, shot at the 301st FW, to be released in the next 30 days.
