Fort Sill’s Big Deuce and Altus AFB feature in CBS game day commercial

Photo By Christopher Wilson | Big Deuce VIII is a 6-year-old standard donkey who was donated to the Army by Diana Burns, owner and operator of the DT Ranch Country, in Marlow, Oklahoma. He is the official mascot of the Field Artillery.  

FORT SILL, OK, UNITED STATES

11.04.2022

Story by Christopher Wilson 

Fort Sill Public Affairs

FORT SILL, Okla. (Nov.4, 2022) — Fort Sill’s own Sgt. Big Deuce, the mascot of the Field Artillery, will star with Cpl. Short Round in a 30 second commercial set to run during the Army versus Air Force football game Saturday, Nov. 5.

The focus of the ad, which features not only the mascots, but also Col. Blaine Baker, commander of the 97th Air Mobility Wing and Lt. Col. Peter Salfeety, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, highlights the partnership between Fort Sill and Altus Air Force Base.

“The competitiveness between the two teams is always high for this game,” said Don Herrick, director of Fort Sill Public Affairs. “For this commercial, we wanted to not only highlight the football game and show our support, but also really emphasize the teamwork between Fort Sill and Altus.”

The commercial was shot on the main runway at the Air Force base and has both commanders introducing themselves with Big Deuce featured prominently between the officers while surrounded by Soldiers and Airmen.

Himself a United States Military alumni and Army football player, Salfeety was more than happy to participate in the commercial.

“I can still remember the excitement and hype on campus during Air Force week, said Salfeety. “On gameday, all players and cadets want nothing more than to beat Air Force, however as a career field artillery officer, with multiple combat deployments, I know we cannot fight and win our Nation’s wars without our Air Force Brothers and Sisters.”

For the dynamic duo of Deuce and Short Round, this is their first national broadcast after years of local coverage. Deuce, the spokesman for the pair, wants to use the opportunity as inspiration for others to strive to be better and set goals, but also to remind the Black Knights to “GO Army! Beat Air Force!”

“Some people cannot believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first,” brayed Deuce. “The Cornerstone Brigade and the Big Deuce Battalion have always believed in Cpl. Short Round and I and now we are on national television knowing that everything is possible. Being a member of the team and having great leaders has opened many doors and now is our time to shine! Make sure to get our good angle, because the Army Combat Fitness Test) has been keeping us fit to fight.”

Get an early screening of the commercial on Fort Sill’s official YouTube channel and, of course, see it during the game.

https://youtu.be/jN_ypBDMJks

• Date Taken: 11.04.2022
• Date Posted: 11.04.2022 15:29
• Story ID: 432684
• Location: FORT SILL, OK, US