Air Force officials debut first 3-D commercial Published Dec. 21, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Chris Powell Defense Media Activity-San Antonio SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- The Air Force became the first military branch with a 3-D commercial when it premiered its new "Space" spot before the movie "Avatar" Dec. 18 here. The Palladium IMAX theater in San Antonio hosted a special screening of the movie and commercial for Randolph Air Force Base, Texas members. "The futuristic feel of the commercial is perfect for the caliber of Airmen the service is looking for," said Col. Michel Tillema, the chief of the Strategic Marketing and Communications Division at the Air Force Recruiting Service located at Randolph AFB. "The Air Force recruits to retain, so we recruit the brightest candidates possible and provide them with highly technical training that will give them the skills to sustain our superior combat capability," the colonel said. The commercial is being played on more than 950 screens nationwide. In the commercial, two pieces of space junk collide, sending debris on a potentially cataclysmic collision course with a vital communication satellite. At the end of the spot, it's revealed these missions aren't science fiction, but what Airmen in the Air Force do every day. "It's a great commercial, and there's no comparison when seeing it in 3-D on the big screen," said Maj. Andras Szucs, the advertising branch chief at AFRS. "It helps spotlight the high-tech jobs and opportunities available in the Air Force." The Air Force's 2009 cinema buy, which includes the commercial, brand spots and posters, marks the service's largest advertising purchase in a cinema in three years. "For some kids who are ready to graduate, it's going to be an eye catcher to see what the Air Force is doing every day," said Tech. Sgt. Barbara Ritson, the chaplain accession program manager at the Air Force Recruiting Service.