Wing dives into the online world of YouTube

  • Published
  • 129th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. --  Striving to spread the wing's rescue story to an audience on a global scale, the 129th Rescue Wing Public Affairs Office recently launched a 129th YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/129thRescueWing.

YouTube.com is a popular video sharing Web site where users can upload, view and share video clips for free. Videos are tagged with key words that make the videos searchable on YouTube and the Internet.

"There is a massive audience that doesn't watch television news or read the newspaper because they seek out information online where they want it, when they want it," said Capt. Alyson M. Teeter, 129th Rescue Wing Public Affairs Officer. "We're missing the boat and neglecting these audiences if we don't have a presence on new media sites like YouTube."

The public affairs office started using the service in 2008 to upload footage from the wing's participation in Operation Lightening Strike and rescue work during Hurricane Ike. The hurricane videos alone garnered more than 16,000 views and overwhelmingly positive comments from around the world. One user commented on a rescue hoist video, "Bravo! from Switzerland (Geneva)."

Mission capability videos, such as a video montage profiling the 129th Security Forces Squadron, are also posted on the channel. Unit personnel are encouraged to assist the public affairs office with formulating and storyboarding YouTube videos.

"In the past, 129th personnel never had a way to view the video captured during historical or newsworthy wing events," said Tech. Sgt. Ray Aquino, 129th Base Multimedia Manager. "YouTube gives our Airmen an opportunity to see broadcasts of themselves and the unit mission. They can also share this footage with friends and family."

While not accessible from military computers, the 129th's YouTube channel can be viewed from home at www.youtube.com/129thRescueWing. The Air Force also has a YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/afbluetube.