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.