Carrier Visit

[BlkPny]

I need some help. A friend of mine is a producer with a sports network, and has been invited to visit a carrier with a small video crew and some MLB athletes. They plan to film a short documentary to be shown before or in conjunction with their games, and perhaps as a short stand-alone documentary.

His question is, what would you guys suggest they put together? Photo ops with the crew of course, but some pitching demos maybe? A quick game in the hangar bay with mixed teams, i.e. not the pros vs. the crew? Let some of the crew catch a pro pitcher?

Can anyone suggest an appropriate gift to present to the ship? To the crewmen they meet?

Also, I suggested that he watch very closely the flight deck personnel during flt ops. Incredible example of teamwork and professionalism.

Thanks for any suggestions.

BlkPny

 

[jmac12]

They should definitely do batting practice off the flight deck. I'm sure they can spare a few bp balls for some great shots of guys hitting off the deck, they just can't foul any off!

 

[fc2spyguy]

If they're members of the Cubs, bring em down to the goat locker, have a roast, and maybe that can end that little curse thing for them. Not that I care I'm a Brewers fan, but it would be funny anyways

 

[insanebikerboy]

How about they shoot a baseball off the cat, see how far it can go?

 

[JIMC5499]

How about they shoot a baseball off the cat, see how far it can go?

How about they shoot the Yankees team bus off the cat and see how far it will go.....................................with the Yankees on board.

Seriously though, if they have a high-speed camera they could try to get a shot compairing the speed of the cat shuttle with a pitched baseball.

 

[phrogpilot73]

How about they shoot the Yankees team bus off the cat and see how far it will go.....................................with the Yankees on board.

Seriously though, if they have a high-speed camera they could try to get a shot compairing the speed of the cat shuttle with a pitched baseball.

Both excellent ideas...

 

[Nose]

When an East Coast carrier is doing CQ or workups in the VACAPES, it becomes the de facto VIP tour ship. One of the stops for most tours was the LSO platform.

I used to meet the PAO (or whoever was escorting the VIPs) and the guests in Ready Room 7 or 8 and give them a brief about what they would see when we went up on the roof. I would explain the overhead marshall stack, the break and Case I pattern, and what the pilot is doing in the groove. We talk about the gear and the lens and how we can recover a jet every 45 seconds. We talk about de-arming and spotting the jets after they land.

Then I gave the the "ground rules." Take a lot of pictures, but no flash photography. Ask a lot of questions, but no talking when a jet is on the ball, etc.

Then I would tell them that they are ready to go upstairs but there is one more thing, and it is the most important thing. I'd tell them that when they get up there, it's easy to focus on the jets and the pilots but I want you to turn around and face forward and look at the people. The average age is less then 21, and they have less personal space then is guaranteed - by law -to a federal prisoner. If they work a 12 hour day, it is a slow day. If you look at how many hours they work, they work for less than minimum wage, and oh by the way, it's a bit dangerous up there. Then look at their faces. They are working hard, but they aren't complaining (well, not much). That is the reason this great ship works, not the jets, not the pilots, but the people on the roof and all those downstairs who support them.

The coolest VIP we ever had was Payne Stewart. He spent so much time with the troops, they loved him.

 

[Schnugg]

The coolest VIP we ever had was Payne Stewart. He spent so much time with the troops, they loved him.

Unfortunately, sometimes, the good die young.

 

[feddoc]

Nose has some good suggestions.

Perhaps ask them to wear a patch or wings during a game.

Or maybe they could give the crew an autographed photo of the group.

 

[HeyJoe]

Unfortunately, sometimes, the good die young.

In an aviation mishap no less, RIP!

 

[Flugelman]

If they're members of the Cubs, bring em down to the goat locker, have a roast, and maybe that can end that little curse thing for them. Not that I care I'm a Brewers fan, but it would be funny anyways

Naw, by the time they listened to all the "This ain't no shit..." stories, it'd be time to get off the ship.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Perhaps ask them to wear a patch or wings during a game.

That's a great idea, especially if they each wear one patch and they have a mix of embarked squadrons, the ship, etc...

 

[Nose]

That's a great idea, especially if they each wear one patch and they have a mix of embarked squadrons, the ship, etc...

Good idea, but I'm pretty sure that stuff (what goes on their uni's) is pretty controlled by MLB. Doubt that they would get approval - as much as I love baseball, I'm pretty sure MLB execs patriotism only goes as far as it affects their bottom line.

Nose the cynic.

 

[Harrier Dude]

I saw some teams wearing NAVY and USMC ballcaps during a game last year. I forget which teams or when it was (I was deployed and didn't see the whole game), but it must be possible.