An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Jan. 15, 2009

'Do It Yourself' network show bases episode on Florida National Guard

By Jon Myatt Florida Department of Military Affairs

CAMP BLANDING - A popular prime time television series on the DIY Network visited members of the Florida National Guard this week to produce an episode highlighting the unique tools and equipment used by the military.

A crew of four, including television host Chris Grundy, visited the Florida National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility at Cecil Field on Monday and wrapped up their visit on location with the 202nd REDHORSE Squadron on Camp Blanding Thursday.

"Cool Tools," a fast-paced showcase of the most fascinating, useful, gee-whiz tools on the market, "wanted to focus an entire episode on military tools, vehicles, gadgets, and paraphernalia while shooting all the segments at a military base," according to the show's producer, John Pauley. "We wanted to shoot various tools and general cool stuff that the troops use to 'get the job done.'"

Starting with the aviation support facility, the crew interviewed and filmed work being performed on the four types of helicopters used by the Florida National Guard.

A number of Guardsmen became overnight stars: Sgt. Robert McNeil, who repairs UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters; Sgt. 1st Class Paul Heagy, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew chief; and Capt. Eric Phillips, a Chinook pilot, talked on camera about the various tools and their capabilities.

Guardmembers explained how the equipment was used, and then operated the systems with the assistance of the show's host.

"This is great exposure for our personnel," said Lt. Col. Jim Lord, the aviation unit's commander. "Our people are professionals and it is good that the American public will get to see what they can do in a format so different from what is normally presented in the news or fictional television programs."

The television crew moved to Camp Blanding on Wednesday, home of the Air National Guard's construction unit – the 202nd REDHORSE Squadron. From early morning till sundown, the crew crawled over and around various vehicles and tools used for runway repair, building construction and vehicle maintenance.

Although more than 20 Airmen appeared on camera, Senior Master Sgt. James Householder had a major speaking role as the Cool Tools crew taped the construction of a "K-Span" building from step one through completion.

"It was an interesting experience," he said. "I haven't done anything like that before."

Col. Jack Paschal, 202nd REDHORSE commander, spent two days as an advisor to the producer, explaining how the Guard works and providing operational background.

"It was a great experience ... our people had a wonderful time," he said. "We hope that the national exposure this show provides for the Air Guard will help the public understand who we are and what we do, and that we also enjoy some potential recruiting benefit."

Grundy, the show's high-energy host, said he was energized by the Soldiers and Airmen he worked with. "We worked some long hours putting the show together, but there was no sadness or whining ... no one was saying 'I don't want to go to work today.' They were excited and wanted to show me things and what they can do with them," he said. "That's what I do in my profession – I like to show people what they can do with tools, and I get excited about it too."

The Florida National Guard episode is scheduled to air on Jan. 25 at 9 p.m. and will be repeated at various times the following week.

 

 

Related Articles
Swedish Army Lt. Col. Fredrik Mansson, the chief of operations for the Swedish 1st Division Headquarters, speaks with an officer of the New York National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division during the division’s Warfighter exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 3, 2025. Mansson and other Swedish leaders were visiting the exercise to learn from the New York Guardsmen. From Sept. 16-23, 2025, New York National Guard operations experts will be in Sweden helping Mansson and their other Swedish counterparts conduct their first-ever division-level command post exercise.
New York Guard to Help Sweden With Division-Level Command Post Exercise
By Eric Durr, | Sept. 5, 2025
LATHAM, New York - Six New York Army National Guard officers and an Air Guard master sergeant are heading to Sweden to help the Swedish Army’s 1st Division conduct its first-ever division staff command post exercise.Before...

A Utah Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker refuels several Royal Thai Air Force F-16’s during an air refueling mission, while training the RTAF pilots how to perform in-air-refueling during Enduring Partners on Aug. 20, 2025 at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Enduring Partners is an exchange that builds joint readiness by integrating U.S. and Thai forces in mission areas including ground-controlled interception, cyber, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, tactical air control party, and space.
Utah Air Guard Strengthens Regional Partnerships at Enduring Partners 2025
By Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez, | Sept. 5, 2025
KORAT AIR BASE, Thailand — The Utah Air National Guard played a crucial role in Enduring Partners 2025, a multinational exchange designed to bolster readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Thai forces.Now in its third...

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard, coins U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jennifer Green, commander of the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, in Zagan, Poland, May 23, 2025. Deployed to Poland in October 2024, Soldiers of the 110th CSSB led a multi-component task force responsible for sustaining the continuous flow of critical supplies to NATO allies and partners across eight Eastern European countries.
Massachusetts Guard Soldiers Return From NATO Support Mission in Poland
By Senior Airman Julia Ahaesy, | Sept. 5, 2025
ZAGAN, Poland - Soldiers of the Massachusetts Army National Guard’s 1060th Transportation Company have returned from a deployment to Poland, where they played a critical role in supporting U.S. military logistics and NATO...