FNG Archive

By MC2 Elliott Fabrizio

Pentagon Channel

Airman 1st Class Natasha Yarbro is one of the hosts for season two of The Pentagon Channel’s hit lifestyle show, FNG (For New Guys).

Natasha and her co-host, Dan Burkhardt, have been working together since boot camp and are currently stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Md. These young broadcasters host a show for new guys as new guys (and gals).  You can watch a few outtakes from their FNG audition in the video above.   

In this blog, we’ll sit down for an interview with Natasha to get to know a bit about FNG’s leading lady.

You’ve been in the military just under two years, so you’re probably still getting used to the military lifestyle in a lot of ways. What has been your most surreal moment?

Honestly, I don’t think I can pick ONE particular moment, I’m still kind of in awe at all the cool opportunities I’ve had in such a small amount of time.

OK, so what is it like being the host of FNG?

It’s pretty sweet, I mean, how many people can say they’ve hosted a show?…EXACTLY!

And what have your family and friends said about you being in the military and on TV?

My family members are my biggest supporters. I’m surprised my mom hasn’t made “Go Tasha” T-shirts yet. They are definitely proud of me, and they remind me all the time. Honestly, I’d say most of my family and friends were somewhat shocked about my decision to join the military, but once they had a second to process everything it was kind of like “oh, of course you are…”

Well, besides 30 minutes of me…they touch on topics that we, as young military members, can really relate to like saving money while finding ways to have some fun.

So,  what’s the most fun you’ve had working on FNG?

Honestly, every time I went into the studio to record an episode I feel like the majority of it was spent laughing. I would love to watch the blooper reels from all of our shoots. It’s crazy that the second they signal for you to read your lines you completely forget how to read, you aren’t quite sure what to do with your hands….or you just look like a complete robot with no personality…but after a few tries Burkhardt usually nails it… Haha, juuust kidding.

FNG is a very music-driven show, so I gotta ask, what’s on your iPod?

Everrrrrrrythinggggg!

What do you do when you’re not hosting FNG or working at Andrews?

Shopping is one of my all-time favorite things. I could spend all day shopping, but I don’t think I have any interesting stories, unless you think really good deals are interesting.

Hosting a TV show is probably the last thing people think you’ll wind up doing when you join the military, what is it like being a MILITARY broadcaster?

It pretty much means you’re awesome, and that you have to know at least one quote from the movie Anchorman and, as broadcasters, we are expected to repeat that quote in our best Ron Burgundy voices anytime we’re in front of a camera, so help me God.just joking…but not really though. When you tell people you’re a broadcaster people usually give you one of these typical responses:

“How do I get your job?”

“I want your job!”

“So you just walk around and take pictures all day?”…….. ugh.

“So you’re like, on TV?”

Well, Natasha is definitely on TV and the Web, so you can see her and any of our FNG episodes and segments on the FNG page on www.pentagonchannel.mil.

By MC2 Elliott Fabrizio

Pentagon Channel

Airman1st Class Dan Burkhardt is one of the hosts for season two of The Pentagon Channel’s hit lifestyle show, FNG (For New Guys).

Dan and his co-host, Natasha Yarboro, have been working together since bootcamp and are currently stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Md. These young broadcasters host a show for new guys as new guys (and gals). You can watch a few outtakes from their FNG audition in the video above.   

In this blog, we’ll sit down for an interview with Dan to get to know a bit about the man in front of the camera.

You’ve been in the military just under two years, so you’re probably still getting used to the military lifestyle in a lot of ways. What has been your most surreal moment?

The most surreal moment was getting to interview Secretary Clinton at an awards dinner in D.C. I was able to ask one of the most prolific leaders in the nation about leadership and share that with my fellow Airmen. She was super nice and very down to earth. 

I guess working in military broadcasting has its perks. What is it like being the host of FNG?

It’s been an awesome experience. Every episode gets more fun and more interesting and just from having more time in the studio and on camera we learn new tricks and ways to put out a better show. We have gotten a lot of help, advice and feedback from our producers and from the other people you don’t see like the floor director and the camera guys. It’s a real honor to be a part of such an awesome team.

And what have your family and friends said about you being in the military and on TV?

They are really proud of the show and are always a part of the audience when it comes on. My family and friends have been nothing but supportive about my decision to join the military from the first time I brought it up. My father has been a Police Officer for more than 20 years and at my basic military training graduation he came in uniform. They hooked him and my other family members up with a better seat because of that, and I think that really impacted all of us. It was like a welcome to the community.

FNG is kind of a unique show in military broadcasting with its casual, modern style. How do you feel about it?

FNG is one of the coolest shows I’ve ever seen for military members. It combines very interesting and relevant segments with good graphics, advice and support. It has an edgy name that makes you think twice but I think is really attractive to us younger viewers.

OK, what’s the most fun you’ve had working on FNG?

Well, I went to West Virginia to shoot the Military Wilderness Challenge with the Pentagon Channel team and when we were down there worked alongside this civilian guy named Evan. He was super nice and helpful, and really in touch with the natural elements. Well, everywhere we went he would always be there before us–pretty much no matter how far away it was, and he always asked us if we needed some help. We started joking that he was actually just a kindly spirit who would magically appear when we needed help with something. So one morning, super early, I took a quad with one of ACE Adventure Resort tour guides and went riding up to the top of a mountain to get footage of the duckie race. I parked the quad, unpacked my gear and walked out to the ledge and who do I see sitting Indian style looking over the edge? Evan! He’s like, “hey bro, you need any help?” It was pretty hilarious; we all got a good laugh out of those moments.

FNG is a very music-driven show, so I gotta ask, what’s on your iPod?

Who still uses an iPod? The music on my iPhone these days is a little bit of everything. I recently got the new Foster the People album “Torches”, and not too long ago a 311 album. But it really depends on what I’m doing. I love classical music so when I’m trying to relax I usually listen to Mozart or some of the Hillary Hahn albums, it’s amazing stuff. But I have to go back to my roots. I am a huge classic rock fan, and I own every Beatles, Zeppelin and Pink Floyd album ever made. I know the words to most of those songs by heart.

What do you do when you’re not hosting FNG or working at Andrews?

I have been playing guitar and singing since I was 14. It’s changed my life, being able to play and write music with other people. I have a huge appreciation for music because of it. I also am a huge technology buff. I own mostly Apple products but I really enjoy taking computers and computer products apart, seeing how they are engineered, and then putting them back together. The insides of Apple products in particular are amazingly engineered. But It’s like a super-challenging puzzle.

Hosting a TV show is probably the last thing people think you’ll wind up doing when you join the military, how do people react to your job?

People are usually like, ‘That is what you do for the military?’ So I say, ‘yeah, pretty much.’ Then they always ask, ‘How do I get in that career field?’ So I tell them to see about auditioning for DINFOS (The Defense Information School) and when they can re-train. Broadcasting school was really intense, but I am sure at this point that it is one of the coolest and most interesting things I have ever done. I’m really honored to be able to serve in the military and help contribute to younger service members like this.

You can watch any of our past or present FNG episodes and segments on the FNG page on www.pentagonchannel.mil.

By MC2 Elliott Fabrizio

More than 50 miles of running, biking and paddling across West Virginia’s steepest mountains and fastest rivers form a grueling tradition that’s tested the limits of service members for more than a decade.

It’s MWR’s Military Wilderness Challenge.

Why would anyone do this?

Is there prize money? Nope. Do they want to finish first? Maybe. Are they crazy? Probably, but for most it’s because they’re the men and women of the U.S. military and overcoming challenges is what they do best.

The Pentagon Channel’s military lifestyle show, FNG (For New Guys) is back! The new season includes complete coverage of the 2011 Military Wilderness Challenge, spanning two entire episodes. 

 

As a product of MWR, the race is only open to active-duty military, retirees and wounded warriors.

A complete team consists of four members and must include at least one female. Team work is key, since no checkpoint may be passed without all members present.

Forget triathlons, this race consists of five distinct legs: an 8K run, white water rafting across several class four rapids, 10 miles of mountain biking, paddling down the New River Gorge in duckies and a 14-mile mountain hike to the finish.

The 8K run and the 14-mile hike are straight forward. Put one foot in front of the other until you reach the finish or pass out trying. Teams generally stay together and keep each other motivated, because time doesn’t stop until the last member finishes. You’re only as fast as your slowest link.

White-water rafting through several Class 4 rapids (those are fairly tough) sounds technical and terrifying, but organizers assign an experienced guide to each raft. Competitors require no prior training.

If you’re not already, you will get dirty in the mountain bike course. After navigating through miles of narrow and rocky trails, bikers face shin-high mud pits followed by a rough 700ft. decent.

For the duckie race… wait, a duckie?

A duckie is somewhere between a raft, canoe and kayak. Mostly, it looks like an inflatable version of a two-person kayak. Teams divide into pairs for the duckie race and must establish a rhythm for paddling together, or else find themselves spinning in circles or tipping overboard.

The swimming challenge is optional and is usually initiated by accident.

Every year the Mid-Atlantic Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) organizes the event with host and co-organizers ACE Adventure Resort, West Virginia’s largest outdoor outfitter.

ACE Adventure Resort has all the required gear available onsite, but you are more than welcome to bring your own personal gear.

Here’s some stuff you can’t compete without:

-Mountain Bike

-Wet Suit

-Helmet

-Plenty of extra dry socks and shoes

-Food and water

-Disregard for personal comfort

Camping is available on site at ACE Adventure Resort.

If you think you and your fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines or Coastguardsmen are wild enough to tackle this challenge, you might be a masochist—but if you insist, registration for each year’s event begins April 1 and is limited to the first 60 teams. (www.wildernesschallenge.net)

To find out which team finished on top in 2011, watch all the action from the 2011 Military Wilderness Challenge coming out only on FNG.