U.S. Air Force Flies With Three New Tours

The U.S. Air Force has deployed three new interactive mobile tours that will visit high schools and Air Force-sponsored events to educate 18- to 28-year-olds about its mission and boost awareness for its high-tech and special ops careers. Altogether, the Air Force has nine tours in its mobile marketing fleet. The three newest programs, called Engage Tours, include the Stealth and Supercar tours and will travel to separate regions of the country over the next five years, stopping at events including the DUB magazine auto show, Hot Import Nights, Battle of the Imports, Formula Drift, International Hot Rod Association and community events.

The Stealth Tour was created to change the perception that the Air Force is only for pilots (pilots comprise only four percent of the total Air Force). With the Stealth trailer as its centerpiece, the experiential tour promotes a range of high-tech and special ops careers. The Supercar Tours promote technical and mechanical career opportunities and include interactive features such as touch screens and display cases with parts used on a flight line.

Keeping with the “stealth” theme, the Stealth Tour trailer features no Air Force branding on its exterior or the tow truck. Both are finished with a black matte paint similar to stealth aircraft. Similarly the staff is dressed in a black military-style uniform with no branding.

Once prospects sign in, they are given a hand stamp in UV ink and join a dozen other guests in a mysterious mission theatre, which is completely black. A 10-screen presentation that uses fast-paced cuts and surround sound describes a shadowy organization along the lines of the CIA. At the end of the five-minute show, the Air Force logo is revealed when black lights come on illuminating the stamp on the back of attendees’ hands.

Prospects are guided next into a “mission room” with six kiosks here they can decode message fragments and pilot a predator UAV on a reconnaissance challenge. Afterwards, they can use interactive HP touch screen career kiosks loaded with information on special ops careers in the Air Force.

For the Supercar tours, the Air Force partnered with Galpin Auto Sports, of “Pimp My Ride” fame, to build two cars that demonstrate how a passion for cars can develop into a career with the Air Force. A Ford Mustang called X-1 focuses on the power and speed of the Air Force. A Dodge Challenger called Vapor highlights its technology chops.

“We wanted to create a tour that was interactive and engaging,” says Captain Homero Martinez, chief marketing officer at Air Force Recruiting Service. “Larger isn’t necessarily better. We decided to go with a smaller footprint that was more practical, easier to set up, will fit better in high schools and be easier to coordinate with class schedules. It allows recruiters to develop the interpersonal communication that we are looking for, more one-on-one face time and a platform to reach certain areas that would not be as conducive.”