KADENA AB, Japan -- The host and crew of the upcoming Travel Channel show "Out of Bounds" visited Kadena Monday and Tuesday to film segments for an episode on Okinawa and get a taste of life at the largest U.S. Air Force base in the Pacific.
Ian Wright, host of the new show, joined Airmen from the 31st Rescue Squadron for morning physical training, met with a pilot from the 67th Fighter Squadron for an up-close view of an F-15 Eagle, and participated in a military working dog demonstration conducted by the 18th Security Forces Squadron.
"I've been treated badly since I got here," Mr. Wright joked. "They had me doing things like getting up early in the morning, running around with a bucket on my head, carrying guys and running around buildings. When I tried to run away, Security Forces sent dogs after me."
Mr. Wright also had the opportunity to "get his hands dirty" by participating in an F-15 phase lube with members of the 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron. In addition, he received an orientation flight in the 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron's altitude chamber and even found time to squeeze in a Japanese language class at the Schilling Community Center.
"Joking aside, it was quite interesting being in the biggest base in the Pacific," he said. "It has been an eye opener for me."
Martin Herring, "Out of Bounds" director and cameraman, had worked with Mr. Wright previously on the travel show "Lonely Planet." The two men pitched the idea for the new series to the Travel Channel.
"[Travel Channel] wanted to see Ian back out on the road because of his work with 'Lonely Planet,'" said Mr. Herring. "We suggested to them to send Ian to not necessarily remote places, but places where regular tourists don't normally go. So we were very keen to explore Okinawa because that's very interesting for audiences back in America."
He explained that Okinawa is a perfect choice for the new show because of its unique mix of cultures.
"It's Japan, it's Okinawan and it's a little piece of America, too," said Mr. Herring.
The "Out of Bounds" host and crew also visited other parts of Okinawa, sampling the local culture and cuisine.
"We had Ian doing all sorts of things, from making awamori (Okinawan liquor distilled from rice) the traditional way to attending a harvest festival in Ishigaki," said Mr. Herring. "We also went up to Ogimi Village to play gateball with some of the oldest centenarians in Japan and learned about their diet and longevity and all the things that make Okinawa great."
Mr. Herring said he was impressed with the level of professionalism displayed by the men and women of Kadena and felt very welcome during their visit.
"Coming to Kadena, we met a series of really professional and alert people who also happen to be very kind and generous to us," the director said. "Although everybody has a job to do, everybody we met made time for us and we were very well taken care of. Everybody here at Kadena is very lucky to be in a nice place and surrounded by great people."
The former "Lonely Planet" host agreed with his director's sentiment.
"It was all good fun, meeting the pilots and the pararescue people from the Rescue Squadron and everybody else who made us feel welcome," Mr. Wright said. "When everything is put together, this show is going to look brilliant and I hope everybody likes it."
Although it was Mr. Wright's first time at Kadena, he is no stranger to the U.S. Air Force. The host grew up in Ipswich, England near Royal Air Force Lakenheath.
"It's a nice town out in that part of the country where there have been American air bases since the second World War," said Mr. Herring. . "So Ian is familiar with American aircraft flying over his house."
The show is expected to air in October on both the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel Asia.