Airmen show 'cool careers' in new ad campaign Published June 3, 2013 By Michela Greco 711th Human Performance Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- The Air Force Recruiting Service is currently developing an ad campaign to teach young adults about cool career opportunities in the Air Force community, with the goal to inspire young people to join the Air Force. They also plan to demonstrate that the Air Force offers the same science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) opportunities as the private sector. Much of the ad campaign will be housed on an interactive website where users can walk through a scenario about a current industry and Air Force-wide issue and attack the problem using creative thinking and problem solving skills. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will moderate both the submissions and the participation on the site. To prepare for the website's launch this summer, the Air Force Recruiting Service visited Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in May to take video footage of a few AFRL programs, including the 711th Human Performance Wing's Human Effectiveness Directorate's Calamityville program. Located in Fairborn at an abandoned cement factory, Calamityville is operated in conjunction with Wright State Research Institute and serves as a venue for training, rehearsal, and exercise for a variety of military and civilian responders. The team accompanied the Air Force Recruiting Service on a site visit. While on location, the videographers captured an Air Force Combat Rescue Officer and a Pararescueman rappelling to a crashed airplane, simulating a current industry and Air Force-wide issue that will be used on the website for users to problem solve. The team also demonstrated its Battlefield Air Targeting Man-Aided kNowledge (BATMAN) capabilities, which outfit warfighters with everything from chest-mounted computers to helmet-mounted displays to heated boot insoles. All video footage and photos will be added to the Air Force Recruiting Service website for use with their collaborative scenarios. The ad campaign is a great opportunity for AFRL to demonstrate its unique capabilities and, more importantly, to participate in an outlet that reaches young adults. When executed, the campaign will encourage teenagers and students to pursue Air Force STEM careers, an area in which AFRL could greatly benefit. More news will follow when the site launches this summer. Until then, AFRL and 711 HPW look forward to the new opportunities this venture will present.