Photo By Robert Timmons | Sgt. Jessica Fimbres, the morning disc jockey from American Forces Network Casey,...... read more read more
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Story by: Sgt. 1st Class Damian Steptore
CAMP CASEY, Republic of Korea – When Sgt. Jessica Fimbres first took over the duties as American Forces Network Casey’s morning disc jockey, it was her first shot at doing live radio, and the 27-year-old mother of two said she was a little apprehensive about broadcasting her voice and personality to thousands of Warrior Country service and Family members in Area I.
“I’m still sort of shy about the whole thing, but when I realize I’m actually giving people the information they need to know about what’s going on in the community, I try to bring the energy,” said the Fayetteville, Ark., native.
Fimbres is filling the same role on her local, (Warrior) radio show, that so many have before. Canadian and American television personality Jim Perry began his broadcasting career fresh out of high school with the Armed Forces Korea Network, under his birth name of Jim Dooley, spending one year in Korea before moving on to the University of Pennsylvania to advance his education.
During the Korean War, Army broadcasters set up at the Banto Hotel, which was the old American Embassy Hotel, in Seoul. As the Chinese entered Seoul in December 1950, the crew moved to a mobile unit that was just completed and retreated to Daegu.
Due to the large number of American troops in Korea, a number of stations were also started. Mobile units followed combat units to provide news and entertainment on the radio.
By the time the 1953 armistice was signed, these mobile units became buildings with transmitters and a network – American Forces Korea Network was born.
On Nov. 5, 2007, AFN Korea launched AFN “The Eagle,” a progressive, adult contemporary radio station. This replaced ZFM, which had more of a classic hard rock flavor.
“I am aware of the significance of 60 years of broadcasting, and what that means,” said Fimbres, just before going on the air during her fifth month at AFN Casey. “I try everyday to live up to the standards of those that did this before me.”
AFN-Korea, formerly American Forces Korea Network, is the largest of AFN’s Pacific TV operations. AFKN began TV operations on Sept. 15, 1957, and consists of a headquarters studio at U.S. Army Yongsan Garrison, Seoul and 19 relay transmitters throughout the peninsula. AFKN’s first live television newscast aired on Jan. 4, 1959.
Over-the-air TV for U.S. Forces in the Pacific is currently provided by AFN-Korea, AFN-Japan and AFN-Kwajalein. All local operations merged under the AFN banner Jan. 1, 1998.
Soldiers, such as Staff Sgt. Jake Hughes, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of AFN Casey television, help provide a small portion of AFN Korea’s content by producing command information “spots” that deal with topics such as force protection/anti-terrorism, sexual harassment and advanced education opportunities.
“When I started, I really wasn’t sure about what I would be doing, but my ‘TV mission’ is really rewarding,” the Houston native said. “I feel like I’m making a difference.”
Like its radio counterpart, AFN TV tries to air programming from a variety of sources to replicate programming on a typical U.S. TV station; sourcing from U.S. commercial networks (including PBS), and program syndicators at little to no-cost. This programming is done at the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service Broadcast Center in Riverside, Calif.
Since AFN does not air commercials, and cannot profit from airing shows like stations in the U.S. can, AFN inserts public service announcements and command information spots which are produced, in some cases, by AFN Casey’s Fimbres and Hughes, along with various teams of AFN Servicemembers throughout the peninsula.
“We have some of the finest Soldiers that AFN has to offer here in Korea,” AFN Korea Commander, Lt. Col. Darryl Darden, said recently. “Korea is transforming into more of a normal tour for Servicemembers, and our AFN service members are telling how this is being accomplished.”
Warrior Country Soldiers can tune in to Warrior Radio weekday mornings from 6 to 10 on FM 88.1, 88.3, 88.5 or 102.7 depending on location. The AFN service members continue to tell the American military story the way they have for 60 years.
AFKN began TV operations on Sept. 15, 1957, and consists of a headquarters studio at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, Seoul and 19 relay transmitters throughout the peninsula. AFKN’s first live television newscast aired on Jan. 4, 1959.
Over-the-air TV for U.S. Forces in the Pacific is currently provided by AFN-Korea, AFN-Japan and AFN-Kwajalein. All local operations merged under the AFN banner Jan. 1, 1998.
Soldiers, such as Staff Sgt. Jake Hughes, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of AFN Casey television, help provide a small portion of AFN Korea’s content by producing command information “spots” that deal with topics such as force protection/anti-terrorism, sexual harassment and advanced education opportunities.
“When I started, I really wasn’t sure about what I would be doing, but my ‘TV mission’ is really rewarding,” the Houston native said. “I feel like I’m making a difference.”
Like its radio counterpart, AFN TV tries to air programming from a variety of sources to replicate programming on a typical U.S. TV station; sourcing from U.S. commercial networks (including PBS), and program syndicators at little to no-cost. This programming is done at the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service Broadcast Center in Riverside, Calif.
Since AFN does not air commercials, and cannot profit from airing shows like stations in the U.S. can, AFN inserts public service announcements and command information spots which are produced, in some cases, by AFN Casey’s Fimbres and Hughes, along with various teams of AFN Servicemembers throughout the peninsula.
“We have some of the finest Soldiers that AFN has to offer here in Korea,” AFN Korea Commander, Lt. Col. Darryl Darden, said recently. “Korea is transforming into more of a normal tour for Servicemembers, and our AFN service members are telling how this is being accomplished.”
Warrior Country Soldiers can tune in to Warrior Radio weekday mornings from 6 to 10 on FM 88.1, 88.3, 88.5 or 102.7 depending on location. The AFN service members continue to tell the American military story the way they have for 60 years.
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2010 02:17 |
| Story ID: | 56167 |
| Location: | CAMP CASEY, KR |
| Web Views: | 252 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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