Military spouses audition for Alaska-based reality show

  • Published
  • By Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Winstead
  • USARAK Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  A Los Angeles-based production company is looking for military family members to cast in a new show about military spouses in Alaska.

The company is developing what it describes as a documentary series for television broadcast.

The show, with the working title is "Army Wives of Alaska," will focus on the real-world lives, struggles and sacrifices of military spouses stationed in the 49th state.

The show's existence is thanks in part to the efforts of Stephanie Woodard, whose husband, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Woodard, is a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot with A Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright.

"I found information on an old casting for a show that never launched and asked if they were still looking for volunteer cast (members)," Woodard said. "They said no, but I started talking about some of the wives' experiences anyway and they got interested."
Woodard feels that there are important issues that need to be explained to the American public and they can only be told from the unique perspective of the families of service members.

"I feel that there is a lot of fear and uncertainty when a spouse thinks about getting into a relationship that is headed toward the military, but if there is one message that I hope the average viewer takes away from this it is 'I can do this.'" Woodard said.

"Yes, there's tough times. Yes, there are fears that naturally come with a deployment, but the close bonds you can form with other military families are unique and will get you through those times. No matter how hard someone tries, you just can't get that kind of understanding from someone who has never been in that situation."

After several phone calls and meetings with producers at 44 Blue, the Army warmed up to the idea.

Eventually, the Army's Office of the Chief of Public Affairs granted approval for 44 Blue to cast volunteers for the show.

"This program will help to raise the awareness of the national community of the sense of duty that the family has as well as the soldiers in uniform," said Army Lt. Col. John Clearwater, film and television liaison for the Army's Office of the Chief of Public Affairs in Los Angeles.

The show is the first of its kind to be approved for production on a military installation, according to Clearwater.

"This is a cutting-edge project," he said. "There hasn't been a program similar to this at any time previously within the Army. This is an opportunity to show the nation just how much effort our military families contribute to the service of their soldiers. It's a commitment just as deep as (that of) any service member."

It is also a commitment that many active-duty Soldiers say they couldn't do without.
"My wife has been an invaluable asset to me," said Army Staff Sgt. Germaine Pitt, a section chief for the fuel platoon assigned to A Company, 725th Brigade Support Battalion.

"She has always been supportive. I couldn't be as successful as I am without her."
Stephanie Drachkovitch, one of the co-founders of 44 Blue, is uniquely qualified to help portray military families in Alaska.

The daughter of a career Army officer, Drachkovitch lived in Alaska, her mother's home state, while her father served in Vietnam.

"My mother and father actually met while he was stationed up there in Alaska during his first assignment there," Drachkovitch said. "Alaska is a beautiful area and I just so happen to know a little bit about the kind of bonds people can make while living there, which is just one of the many reasons I think the show will resonate with viewers."
Some of Alaska's greatest challenges are also some of its greatest attention draws.
The state's arctic temperatures, dark winters, midnight summer sun and formidable wildlife can bewilder unprepared newcomers.

"We would love to see as many people apply for the casting as possible," Drachkovitch said. "We expect to ultimately cast the same number of families from each area (Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) in the end, so everyone should feel free to still apply."

Many of the wives are doing just that. Traci Moran, whose husband, Spc. Jared Moran, is a paralegal representative for 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment, has submitted her application in the hopes of getting a positive message out to the public.
"I wanted to make sure that we help show a true portrayal of a real Army wife," Moran said. "We're not all about drama and scandal. We're not completely helpless while our husbands are deployed either. We are strong, independent and able to fill the roles of our husbands while they're away. I want to do my part and help show how we hold things together while they're gone."

The show's producers say they hope there will be more families like the Morans willing to share their stories on "Army Wives of Alaska".

To apply for the show, email militaryprojectcasting@yahoo.com to request a copy of the application form and instructions on submitting it.

You can find more information about the show on its Facebook casting page at: www.facebook.com/armywivesofalaskacasting.