Talking for one year: Troop Talk marks milestone

Published April 29, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Jeff Kelly
315th Airlift Wing

CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- They say that "time flies when you are having fun." If this is the case, then the 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs office must be having a blast producing the Comcast television show Troop Talk. This month already marks the one-year anniversary of the show being broadcast around the Charleston area.

Troop Talk is a monthly, news-style military television show produced by the 315th AW Public Affairs that airs on Comcast Channel 2. However, it not only highlights the 315th AW; it also spotlights other military units across the low-country. This provides a service to Charleston residents that did not exist before the show's inception.

"There are a lot of very patriotic and very pro-military people around Charleston," said Staff Sgt. Scott Mathews, lead videographer for the show. "This television show gives these people a monthly look behind the scenes with the military members they support so unwaveringly. The response we have heard from our viewers has been 100 percent positive. That's a good feeling."

The cast of Troop Talk has highlighted the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, the Citadel and numerous other military and non-military entities from Charleston and from around the world.

The show purposely tries to be interactive with the viewer, setting it apart from some other news shows. Making the show as interesting as possible for the more than 164,000 viewing households is paramount.

"We ask our viewers at the end of every show to send us a story idea if they have one," said Captain Wayne Capps, public affairs officer for the 315th AW and Troop Talk host. "We take pride in giving the viewer what they want and have produced several segments based on viewer request. We also purposely keep the feel of the show very light, fun and energetic. The last thing we want is for the show to come off as an infomercial. First and foremost we want this show to be an educational experience for the viewer, but we want it to be very fun to watch at the same time."

Troop Talk has filled a void in the Comcast line-up as well. Before this show was created, there was not a show featured in the Charleston area that focused solely on the endeavors of local military units. Thus, Troop Talk finally offered local military member's friends and families a first glimpse of what their jobs truly entail.

"Troop Talk is a significant opportunity for Comcast to showcase the activities of our working military for the benefit of our entire community," said Charlie Thompson, Comcast program director. "It provides a very unique and behind the scenes insight into the everyday life of those who are committed to serving and protecting our nation. Troop Talk has traveled the globe to feature local military people and their work to over 164,000 homes and businesses throughout the greater Charleston area. Comcast is honored and proud to provide this valuable information to its subscribers."

Troop Talk is truly one of a kind. It is the only television show in the country produced by an Air Force Reserve unit featuring all the military units from a specific geographic region. The show was the brain-child of 315th AW Public Affairs Officer Major Bill Walsh and Captain Wayne Capps and when it was decided to proceed with pitching the show to Comcast, they both knew that there was a calculated risk involved in being the first Reserve unit to attempt something like this. The risk paid off though, and a local cable hit was born.

"We are extremely fortunate to have the ability to take advantage of the connections that we get through our PA staff, the local community and Comcast cable television," said Colonel Tim Wrighton, commander of the 315th AW. "The fact that we have such a strong program and the ability to go directly to the community to tell our story and the story of the military community in general here in Charleston is a wonderful thing. The show keeps getting better and better.