American Idol meets American Military at 301st FW

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. David Kurle
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
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.