History Channel features segment on Predator

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NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) --   The History Channel show Mail Call will feature a segment on the Predator remotely piloted aircraft 10 p.m. Sunday.

Mail Call is a weekly series that answers viewers questions about technology, weapons and equipment used throughout history by the armed forces.

A production crew visited Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field in March for filming and interviews with members of the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron to answer a Mail Call viewers question of, What can you tell me about the Predator?

The 11th RS members were ready with the answers.

The Predator is 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 added.

Mail Calls host, Retired Honorary Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey, was unable to attend the filming at Indian Springs, but is looking forward to the segment.

Weve gotten hundreds of e-mails about the Predator, said the former Marine. Its important to shed light on the equipment we have and the motivation of the young people in our armed forces.

Sergeant Ermey served 11 years in the Marine Corps and is probably best known for his role as the gunnery sergeant in the 1987 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. Hes been hosting Mail Call since the show began in 2001.

Ive got the best job in the world, said the Mail Call host. I have the privilege to go out and have the best in the business demonstrate how the military works. And, I get to bring the U.S. military to the American people.

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

The Predator is a capability not a lot of people know about, said Major Bushey. Its 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.

Its not as nerve-wracking when its taped instead of live, said Sergeant Hess, who was interviewed on live national news in February. Its 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 team mission is the goal of the Mail Call piece, according to Major Beavin.

I hope people will see the show and understand a little more how the men and women of Americas Air Force do their part everyday to fight the Global War on Terror via the Predator platform, said the Major.