916th ARW gets new mission video

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tana Stevenson
  • 4th Fighter Wing
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. --  Three videographers from the 367th Training Support Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah were here September 6 - 15 filming Team Seymour for a new 916th Air Refueling Wing DVD. 

“The updated coverage will show the new perspective of the wing since the reorganization with maintenance and the mission support groups several years ago,” said Capt. Shannon Mann, 916th ARW public affairs officer. 

The combat camera team interviewed the leadership and showed different sections of the Reserve wing, infrastructure, weapon systems, flying missions and several Airmen in their civilian environments. 

Tech. Sgt. Jorge Brewer, a 77th ARS boom operator, was filmed at the North Carolina Highway Patrol Academy. Staff Sgt. Brandy Hinton, 916th Services Flight specialist, was caught on tape at her civilian job as an auditor for Caterpillar. Tech. Sgt. William Fields with the 916th Civil Engineers Squadron welcomed the team to film him as a process engineer for Nortel and Col. Doug Holmes, 916th Aeromedical Flight commander, may have given the most exciting piece of video footage when he invited the video team to Wake Hospital to film him in the operating room. 

“We’re Citizen Airmen.” Capt. Mann said. “This shows how our civilian jobs relate to our military careers.” 

“Our team here at Nortel was pleased to assist with this project, “said Sergeant Fields. “We look forward to seeing the finished product.” 

“The civilian companies bent over backwards to help us with this project,” added Captain Mann. “I was so impressed with their willingness to help and to highlight their Citizen Airmen.” 

While one full day was spent filming the Citizen Airmen angle in Raleigh, most of the team’s time was spent filming at Seymour Johnson and capturing the various activities of reservists and the flying missions of the 916th ARW and the 4th FW. 

Tech. Sgt. Sheila Salas, chief of aerial combat camera, filmed from the backseat of an F-15E Strike Eagle to cover flying operations of the 916th ARW and 4th FW. She even deployed with the fighters and tankers on short notice during the hurricane evacuation in the wake of Hurricane Ophelia. 

“Ninety-nice percent of the footage needed was caught on the drill weekend,” said Captain Mann. “So the hurricane evacuation did not affect the project and it was another great way to show the Team Seymour connection – the fighters and refuelers.” Capt. Mann said. 

The 367th Training Support Squadron has a major production facility with the latest technology and hires actors to do voiceovers for scripts. This allows them to provide extremely high quality products. 

“I’ve heard this team is like the CNN of the Air Force,” Capt. Mann said.
“We are the only Air Force facility I know of editing and shooting with high definition technology,” said Mr. Doug Lay, lead videographer. He brings his skills as a civilian producer and director to the team. 

The final footage will be about 10-12 minutes. It will be used by the wing’s speakers’ bureau and as a leadership tool. In addition to featuring a glimpse of life in every section of the wing, it will show how the 916th fits into the total force concept. 

The DVD is set to debut for 916th members at a wing-wide commander’s call during the March or April 2006 Unit Training Assembly.