AFRC video wins top DOD honor Published May 25, 2016 By Jenny Gordon Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force Reserve Command's video, "Winning Your Wings II," has received top honors in the 2015 Department of Defense Visual Information Production Awards, and was named DOD Production of the Year. The two minute, 37 second video also won the first place DOD-level award in the Public Information/Internal category, after having previously won the same awards at the Air Force level. The video was produced to serve as an Air Force Reserve mission and heritage video, and its story captures the essence of what it means to serve as an Air Force Reservist. With inspirational visuals of both historical and present day Air Force missions, it was originally conceptualized to tell a story of 'what if.' Specifically, what if someone back in the 1940s were to have accurately predicted what the modern day Air Force Reserve would become, as if looking from the past and telling the future. "We wanted to share the modern day narrative of who we are as a service, while at the same time honoring our history and legacy," said Maj. Patrick Simmons, who scripted and produced the video. He is a Reservist with AFRC's Public Affairs Office. "While times in some ways have changed, the relevancy of the Air Force Reserve still remains. It's as critical today as it's ever been, and that's really been the essence of this story," he added. Opening with black and white footage of historic aircraft, the video is narrated by Oscar-winning actor James "Jimmy" Stewart, known for his performances in iconic movies such as "It's a Wonderful Life," and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Stewart, who had a life-long love of aviation, enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II, qualifying as a pilot and experiencing combat missions in Europe. After the war he remained in the Air Force Reserve, retiring in 1968 as a brigadier general. He was subsequently promoted to major general on the retired list by President Ronald Reagan. In addition to his combat service in World War II, Stewart also used his star power to help the war effort, starring in a film produced by what would become the First Motion Picture Unit, consisting of many of Hollywood's elite, including Jack Warner, Clark Gable and Ronald Reagan. Several modern day combat camera squadrons, including AFRC's 4th Combat Camera, trace their lineage from the First Motion Picture Unit. The concept for this AFRC legacy video solidified after coming across the original 1942 film "Winning Your Wings," which starred Stewart, and was produced for the U.S. Army Air Forces, aimed at recruitment of candidates for the service. This newest production took on the form of a sequel to the original film, with Stewart's words juxtaposed with modern day imagery and bringing the story current, as if Stewart knew all along what was going to happen. Produced by Simmons, the video was directed by Master Sgt. Sam Ameen and edited by Tech. Sgt. Chris Hibben, both then assigned to the 4th Combat Camera Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, California. Editor's note: To view the AFRC video, visit www.afrc.af.mil/News/Video/tabid/5064/ videoid/401306/Default.aspx.