History Channel features Predator on ‘Mail Call’

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shane Sharp
  • Air Warfare Center Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) --  The History Channel show “Mail Call” will feature a segment on the MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle on May 9.

“Mail Call” is a weekly series that answers viewer’s questions about technology, weapons and equipment used throughout history by the armed forces.

A production crew visited nearby Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field in March for filming and interviews with 11th Reconnaissance Squadron Airmen. They answered a “Mail Call” viewer who asked, “What can you tell me about the Predator?”

The Airmen had the answers.

“The Predator (has) a one-of-a-kind capability,” said Maj. Michael Beavin, 11th RS assistant director of operations. “No other asset in the inventory can provide the coverage or the ability to feed near-real time information to decision-makers like the Predator team can.

“The ‘Mail Call’ segment is a great opportunity to tell the public about the great work our squadron and other Predator units do on a daily basis,” he said.

“We’ve gotten hundreds of e-mails about the Predator,” said “Mail Call’s” host, retired Honorary Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey. “It’s important to shed light on the equipment we have and the motivation of the young people in our armed forces.”

Mr. Ermey served 11 years in the Marine Corps and is probably best known for his role as the gunnery sergeant in the 1987 war movie “Full Metal Jacket.” He progressed to the rank of staff sergeant serving two years as a drill instructor and a tour of duty in Vietnam. In 1971, he was medically retired and was later awarded the honorary rank of gunnery sergeant. He has been hosting “Mail Call” since the show began in 2001.

“I’ve got the best job in the world,” the host said. “I have the privilege to go out and have the best [people] in the business demonstrate how the military works. And, I get to bring the U.S. military to the American people.”

Bringing the military to the American people is an important part of the Air Force mission, said Maj. Dean Bushey, 11th RS director of operations.

“The Predator (has) a capability not a lot of people know about,” Major Bushey said. “It’s important that the public knows how we are using technology to give our troops an added advantage, which ultimately saves lives.”

Staff Sgt. Holly Hess, 11th RS sensor operator, was also interviewed for the “Mail Call” piece.

“It’s not as nerve-wracking when it’s taped instead of live,” said Sergeant Hess, who was interviewed on live national news in February. “It’s still a challenge to talk about the technical side of your job and put it into terms the public will understand.”

Helping the public understand the Predator's mission is the goal of the “Mail Call” piece, Major Beavin said.

“I hope people will see the show and understand a little more how the men and women of America’s Air Force do their part every day to fight the global war on terror (using) the Predator,” he said.

People can check local listings for air times.