KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- While the 8th Fighter Wing is dressing in chemical protective gear and responding to simulated attacks, a tennant unit here follows suit all to keep the Wolf Pack informed.
American Forces Network Kunsan broadcasters provide 24-hour-coverage for Airmen and Soldiers playing in the Peninsula-Wide Operational Readiness Exercise Beverly Bulldog 09-01. They broadcast live keeping Kunsan up to date on alarm conditions, mission oriented protective posture levels, and even quick tips from the Airman's Manual.
"The radio show is fun. I'm on the air, I'm talking to people and I'm giving them information," Said Staff Sgt. Aaron Drobnack, AFN Kunsan. "During exercise we cut back our other mission so that we can provide as much information and coverage as possible. We are on six hour shifts on the radio, and then we cover the rest of our job during the other six hours of our 12 hour shifts."
AFN Kunsan is manned by three Airmen and one Soldier. Between them they provide a live morning show Monday-Friday from 5:45 to 10 a.m., and produce three TV stories, three radio stories and a few specialty shows such as the Wolf and Wolf Chief Shows.
"Our main mission here at AFN is to provide command information to Kunsan, whether that be radio information or TV information," Said Sergeant Drobnack.
According to Sergeant Drobnack a typical news story takes roughly a day and a half from planning it, coordinating it, shooting it, conducting interviews and editing it, to the final post process, although it can take longer.
Staff Sgt. Michael Schocker AFN Kunsan said their job changes considerably during the exercise.
"During an exercise it's harder because we are dealing with all the MOPP levels and for this exercise we got cold temperatures as well," he said. "Sometimes the road conditions are red where we can't travel anywhere. If we have to shoot we have to carry all our gear to the shoot and back."
Another exercise-only change concerns the readers they produce. Readers are quick informational pieces the DJs read live between songs.
"We take stuff out of the Airman's Manual and the ATSO [Ability To Survive and Operate] Guide three times an hour to remind people to drink water, what to do during a chemical attack or of Self Aid Buddy Care," said Sergeant Schocker. "[They're] just to remind people during the exercise of what to do."
"We are keeping the morale high." concluded Sergeant Drobnack. "We're here to give you a little taste of home and it lets everyone else in the world know what you guys do here at Kunsan"
(Senior Airman Gustavo Gonzalez contributed to this story)