'Something Amazing' comes to Moody

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The base looked a bit like Hollywood June 26-27 as a production team spent two days filming a recruiting commercial on and in the skies above the base.

The "Do Something Amazing" crew focused on documenting careers the Air Force is in constant need of--such as enlisted aircrew members, flightline maintainers and pararescuemen, said Capt. Richard Solorzano, Air Force Recruiting Service chief of advertising.

"Do Something Amazing" is a campaign featuring amazing jobs Air Force members perform every day around the world, he said.

"The documentary style commercials create a reality feel, making the messages true to our target audience," said Captain Solorzano. "Each commercial is voiced by an Airman in that specific career field and ends with the call to action 'Do Something Amazing.'"

The team spent a full day interviewing a number of Moody's Airmen from various career fields. These interviews will highlight the experience, diversity and positive attitude of today's combat Airmen, said Captain Solorzano.

Multiple film crews then stepped off the flightline and into the wild blue above Moody as they documented a rescue scenario, complete with a search in hostile territory, medical treatment of an injured flyer and a hoist extraction.

"This type of scenario highlights the expertise and skills necessary to successfully extract a survivor from a hostile environment; whether that hostility resides in the form of an enemy aggressor or difficult terrain are irrelevant to a committed and properly trained rescuer," said Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Negron, 38th Rescue Squadron operations superintendent. "It's exciting to be able to showcase this ability for these filmmakers."

The simulated rescue took place deep in the woods of Moody's training range. A pilot had ejected and had broken his leg. As this downed Airman called for help, he was surrounded by bad guys -- and a film crew.

In the air above him, another film crew covered a pararescue team as they performed a free-fall parachute drop from an HC-130P onto his location inside the range.
From the landing zone, the team moved into the nearby woods, secured the survivor and called in two HH-60G Pave Hawks to provide covering fire and retrieve the wounded man.

The helicopters swooped low overhead and began their gun passes with ripping roars. Expended brass clinked onto the road around the filmmakers below like hot metallic rain, with tracers providing lightning and guns the thunder.

"I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to capture the true sound of the guns as they fired," said Thomas Popp, a sound technician with the production team. "I almost came out of my skin when they opened fire over our heads. It was much louder than I had anticipated. In between the gun passes, you could hear the 'ping-ping-ping' of the shells hitting the road."

The PJ's then prepared to hoist out the injured aviator. One of the helicopters began a low hover over the wounded man in the pine forest. Weakened branches snapped from the high trees above as the air became thick with pine needles and dirt thrown up by rotor wash. The other helo circled overhead, keeping a keen eye out for further trouble.

Directly in the center of this storm were the PJ's loading the injured man into a litter. While cameras recorded the scene from all angles, the Airman was hoisted 60 feet into the hovering helicopter. The rescue team flew home moments later, its mission complete.

As peace and quiet returned to the range, the camera crew was left standing in the now empty woods with sweaty dirt-lined faces, wide eyes and most importantly of all, a lot of excellent footage, said Mike McCoy, a director with Bandito Brothers, the film company contracted to capture the images.

"That was the most incredible scene I have ever shot," said Mr. McCoy. "I can't wait to see the rest of this footage."

This is exactly the same response the Air Force is hoping to elicit from young men and women looking for a military career, said Captain Solorzano.

"Each commercial ties directly into DoSomethingAmazing.com, our interactive web site featuring Air Force videos and information," he said. "The site allows visitors to view and download video clips featuring on-the-job interviews with actual Airmen."

But the video clips feature more than an Air Force job description, said Sergeant Negron. They demonstrate the pride and dedication Moody's Airmen take in performing a difficult mission under nearly any circumstances.

"Every person involved in putting on this production showed tremendous flexibility and professionalism, he said. "I'm sure the final result will truly be something amazing."