Fort Bliss Monitor

courtesy photo

Future Weapons” host Richard “Mack” Machowicz.

Discovery Channel to feature Bliss Soldiers

Spc. Rachael Estes
32nd AAMDC Public Affairs

The Discovery Channel will be featuring Fort Bliss Soldiers on an upcoming episode of the television show “Future Weapons.”

Soldiers from Headquarters/Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, will be an integral part of the episode entitled “Seek and Destroy.”

The Soldiers, who work with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system, were interviewed after a successful flight test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., July 12.

“The training the Soldiers have completed led to a successful flight test,” said Chief Warrant Officer Jerry Tarpley, HQ/A 1-6 ADA detachment commander. The fact that the Soldiers are working on a new missile defense system led to the Discovery Channel wanting to feature the Soldiers on “Future Weapons.”

Paola Retzilli, the show’s associate producer, said they contacted Lockheed Martin Corporation, who is building and testing the system, to feature THAAD on the show.

The system, which is still in the testing phase, is scheduled to be fielded as early as 2009, according to the United States Missile Defense Agency.

Richard Newman, “Future Weapons” director, said that their show features any weapon that is the best and the fastest.

“We talk about anything that is cool, cutting-edge technology that gives us the ability to achieve maximum results with minimum collateral damage,” said Richard “Mack” Machowicz, the show’s host.

Machowicz knows what he is talking about when it comes to the battlefield. He spent 10 years as a Navy special forces SEAL team member, according to his official biography.

“The show features the designers and operators of cutting-edge technology,” said Machowicz. “The colonel [Charles Driessnack, THAAD project Manager] and the Soldiers are the ones who will use this in the field,” he said. “They are absolutely the most important part.”

“I love my military,” Machowicz added. “I know what’s at stake.”

The episode featuring the THAAD system is scheduled to air as part of “Future Weapons” second season, early next year.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	July 20, 2006

	courtesy photo Future Weapons” host Richard “Mack” Machowicz. Discovery Channel to feature Bliss Soldiers Spc. Rachael Estes 32nd AAMDC Public Affairs The Discovery Channel will be featuring Fort Bliss Soldiers on an upcoming episode of the television show “Future Weapons.” Soldiers from Headquarters/Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, will be an integral part of the episode entitled “Seek and Destroy.” The Soldiers, who work with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system, were interviewed after a successful flight test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., July 12. “The training the Soldiers have completed led to a successful flight test,” said Chief Warrant Officer Jerry Tarpley, HQ/A 1-6 ADA detachment commander. The fact that the Soldiers are working on a new missile defense system led to the Discovery Channel wanting to feature the Soldiers on “Future Weapons.” Paola Retzilli, the show’s associate producer, said they contacted Lockheed Martin Corporation, who is building and testing the system, to feature THAAD on the show. The system, which is still in the testing phase, is scheduled to be fielded as early as 2009, according to the United States Missile Defense Agency. Richard Newman, “Future Weapons” director, said that their show features any weapon that is the best and the fastest. “We talk about anything that is cool, cutting-edge technology that gives us the ability to achieve maximum results with minimum collateral damage,” said Richard “Mack” Machowicz, the show’s host. Machowicz knows what he is talking about when it comes to the battlefield. He spent 10 years as a Navy special forces SEAL team member, according to his official biography. “The show features the designers and operators of cutting-edge technology,” said Machowicz. “The colonel [Charles Driessnack, THAAD project Manager] and the Soldiers are the ones who will use this in the field,” he said. “They are absolutely the most important part.” “I love my military,” Machowicz added. “I know what’s at stake.” The episode featuring the THAAD system is scheduled to air as part of “Future Weapons” second season, early next year.