An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
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.

Extreme athletes "Grab Some Air" for recruiting

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  It's almost 10 a.m. at the joint service open house here. Crowds already start to gather around a skate ramp that stands over 10 feet tall. A group of skateboarders and BMX riders warm up on the ramp, giving the crowd a taste of what's to come.

After a few words from the announcer, the ramp suddenly comes alive with adrenaline-fueled performances by the extreme athletes.

Performances like this are part of the Air Force Reserve's most recent campaign, called "Grab Some Air," which focuses on attracting an active demographic of 17 to 24-year-olds into the Reserve. The campaign's tour stopped at the open house on May 15-16 to showcase the extreme athletes and gain potential recruits.

Master Sgt. Jeanette Masters, an in-service recruiter for the Pentagon and Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., said the Reserve recruiting team worked with Blaine Warren Advertising and an action sports company, ASA Entertainment, to showcase the Grab Some Air campaign at events such as the open house. She helped coordinate the extreme athlete performance for the open house by requesting it the Air Force Reserve recruiting service headquarters.

"It's a synergistic effort that we're trying to create with the extreme athletes," said Sergeant Masters. "We have one of the most diverse acts at the air show."

The open house performance was like a real-life ESPN X Games event. Professional skateboarders clear the ramp while grabbing their boards with one hand. BMX riders easily slide across the rails of the ramp with their bike pegs. It's something BMX team rider Koji Kraft hopes would make a big impact on the Reserve recruiting efforts.

"This goes hand in hand with people who like to seek a rush. We (the extreme athletes) all have that same mentality," said Mr. Kraft.

Mr. Kraft, who's been riding his BMX bike professionally for the past 12 years, joins the other riders and skateboarders in the Grab Some Air campaign tour, which is scheduled to stop at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va., and Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, this summer.

Lindsay Harris, a client relations manager with ASA Entertainment, has been working with the Reserve recruiting service and Blaine Warren Advertising in providing the extreme athletes for the Grab Some Air campaign.

"Our goal is to support the troops and help a marketing partner reach its target demographic," said Ms. Harris. "It's a great partnership."

As the extreme athletes and recruiters break down the ramp at the end of the open house, they now set their sights and talents on their next stop in Williamsburg. There, a new group of onlookers will experience the acrobatic maneuvers of the athletes and learn more about what it takes to become an Airman in the Air Force Reserve.