Three deployed airmen featured on MTV

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric M. Grill
  • 405th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Three airmen supporting war operations at a forward-deployed location have been featured on "MTV Diaries," a reality series that airs weekly on the international music TV channel.

Senior Airman Tia Schroeder, a still photographer with the 405th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, and Airman 1st Class Matt Pawlusik, a third-country-national escort here, did phone interviews with MTV host Gideon on March 20, the night of the first U.S. attacks on Baghdad. Airman 1st Class Ben Hartwick, a security forces augmentee from the 405th Civil Engineer Squadron, participated March 21 through e-mail.

The three airmen were asked questions about their jobs, how they felt the war with Iraq has affected them and what they think of the war protesters.

This is the second time Schroeder has participated in the show. In December 2001, MTV videographers followed her around Ramstein Air Base, Germany, documenting her life there.

Schroeder, deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., said that she is not a shy person and that "this opportunity allowed me to say how I actually felt, not only to my co-workers and family, but to the American people, especially the younger people watching MTV.

"Younger people might not be aware of the real facts," she said. "This allows them to see what we are going through as young people too. I'm excited to represent the Air Force. I do that anyway by wearing the uniform, but this represents the Air Force in a very public way."

Pawlusik, also deployed from Peterson AFB, said this was the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Not being in a leadership position, I saw this as an opportunity to help the Air Force be seen in a positive manner," he said. "It's not every day that you get to talk to MTV and influence people. This venue allows not only me, but the Air Force, to let the younger generation know about Air Force and military life."

Pawlusik talked about a stigma he was guilty of believing: the military is about being a "ground-pounder," a soldier or Marine carrying a backpack full of equipment, marching everywhere with a rifle.

"I was fortunate enough to have two parents who were both in the military (to) straighten me out," he said. "But that stigma is still out there, so I hope this will change the way people view the Air Force."

Hartwick, who deployed from Grand Forks AFB, N.D., in October, said he participated in the show because he wanted to show the Air Force is a great way of life.

"Hopefully, I encourage high school graduates to join what I think is the best military service out there," he said.

The episode aired March 21 on MTV.