Marines Perform Hollywood Heroics

[darrels joy]

Submitted by: Los Angeles Public Affairs
Story by Sgt. James S. Goff

LOS ANGELES -- Whether it?s engaging enemies on the battlefield or on the small screen, Marines are always ready to go into ?Action!?

And this time was no different here in San Pedro when Marines from Marine Air Group 46, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775, 1st Marine Division Schools and Special Operations Training Group, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, showed off their military prowess by conducting real and intense Marine Corps training exercises in support of the 20th Century Fox Television show ?24? starring Kiefer Sutherland.

The exercises included aerial assault maneuvers by two AH-1s unloading a barrage of bullets at ?terrorists? standing on a rooftop, 13 Marines fast-roping off a UH-1 into a smoke-filled alleyway, then engaging and killing more ?terrorists? amidst aloud explosions and gunfire. In the end, the Marines destroyed the ?terrorist? forces and saved Sutherland?s character ?Jack.?

According to Maj. Michael J. Borgschulte, air officer for SOTG, the Marines were very happy to kill two birds with one stone by supporting the production.

?This is a great training tool,? said Borgschulte. It was also a great recruiting tool for interested young men and women to see military special operations training in action, Borgshulte added.

?This was great for our Marines, and it was a great opportunity to tell the Marine Corps story in a realistic setting,? said LtCol. John J. Houtchens, operations officer for Miramar, Ca., based MAG-46.

Tim Icafano, the show?s producer and director, was very pleased with the professionalism and performance of the marines, and he was excited about the footage they wee able to shoot during the filming. ?Given the real-world challenges today in coordinating for marine Corps air support, it was amazing that we were able to make this scene happen,? Icafano said.

?We knew the Marines were good at what they do, but they were really good, very precise and precision oriented,? Icafano said.

Fast-roper and terrorist killer on the show SSgt. Jens Merritt, SOTG, I MEF, was thrilled to be a part of this unique training mission, even if it was just Hollywood dramatics.

?I can?t wait to see us on TV. Anytime I see Marines on TV, it just gets me motivated. Now, that?s me on TV representing the Marine Corps,? said Merritt.

According to Merritt, the best part about being in the TV show was all the free food. The caterers on set were the one thing he would remember the most about being on TV, Merritt said.

The Marines are scheduled to debut on ?24? Monday on Fox. Check local listings for show times.

Photo included with story: A UH-1 keeps vigil for Marines from Special Operations Training Group, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, as they prepare to engange "terrorists" hiding in an alleyway, while an AH-1 hovers in the background for further support.