American Forces Network is lifeline to information on Okinawa

Photo By Cpl. Paul Zellner | Air Force Staff Sgt. Joe Woolston, radio department non-commissioned officer-in-charge, American Forces Network Okinawa, checks the white balance on a video camera at AFN's studio on Camp Foster's Plaza Housing.  

10.16.2009

Story by Cpl. Jovane Holland 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

More than 60,000 pairs of eyes and ears see or hear these troops' work every day.

The Marines and Airmen of American Forces Network Okinawa are responsible for what is heard on Wave 89.1 FM and Surf 648 AM, the local AFN radio stations. These service members also produce the local news and command messages seen on the AFN-provided television channels.

AFN is a worldwide radio and television broadcast network that broadcasts command information and popular American radio and television programs from the major U.S. networks. It serves American service members, Department of Defense civilians and their families stationed overseas.

AFN Okinawa has been providing command information, military news and entertainment programming to Okinawa-based troops since, May 17, 1945, said Air Force Master Sgt. Dorlinda A. Barker, AFN Okinawa's affiliate superintendent.

The Okinawa affiliate of AFN serves an audience of about 60,000 service members, their families, civilians, contractors and retirees on 11 different military installations island-wide. The affiliate also has an audience within the local population, Barker said. The Okinawa affiliate, located on Camp Foster's Plaza Housing, is manned by 11 Marines, seven airmen and three local Japanese staff.

"Teamwork is a must with everything we do here," said Cpl. Denmark Knapik-Christensen, an AFN-Okinawa broadcaster and the news department non-commissioned officer-in-charge.

Though broadcasters and support staff are from different services, the AFN affiliate is united to fulfill one mission, said Cpl. Daniel Malta, an AFN Okinawa broadcaster.

Malta said his "primary mission is to provide access for worldwide, regional and local command information spots. Command information spots range from reminding service members to vote and promoting local command-sponsored recreation events to posting sea conditions and providing the yen [to dollar] rate and other important information." AFN Okinawa broadcasters said providing news and entertainment via radio and television can be extremely challenging at times.

"Trying to make everyone happy is the most challenging part," said Cpl. Mandy "Mandy-at-the-Mic" Castillo, AFN Okinawa's morning announcer and assistant radio department non-commissioned officer-in-charge. "We have a broad spectrum of viewers and listeners, from students to retired service members. Sometimes it's hard to find a happy medium."

Despite the challenges, the AFN group agreed being here definitely has its benefits. "We have the opportunity to explore what we're interested in," said Lance Cpl. Michael Krysinski, an AFN Okinawa broadcaster. "We have the ability to experience all the units and their happenings in the Corps, and that's what makes this job great."

Just completing AFN Okinawa's mission and keeping people informed is a validation in itself, said Knapik-Christensen.

"We are the voice of the command," said Knapik-Christensen. "We are the immediate source on Okinawa for news, entertainment and information."

Job satisfaction doesn't come from just voicing command messages and providing radio entertainment, it comes from a genuine concern for the welfare of their audience, agreed AFN Okinawa staff.

"We want our viewers and listeners to know we're here for them," Krysinski said. "We want to tell their story and make sure they're in-the-know about what's happening at home."

• Date Taken: 10.16.2009
• Date Posted: 10.19.2009 01:28
• Story ID: 40310