62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
5/4/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash -- For the first time in the history of the National Football League, all 32 teams were allowed to conduct the third day of the NFL Draft, May 2, however they wanted. The Seattle Seahawks decided to share this day with service members and families from throughout the Puget Sound.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord was asked to host this event at Hangar 9 on McChord Field in which more than 1,500 fans and service members from throughout the Puget Sound came out to support.
The event included a mock NFL Combine, numerous gaming events to include armchair quarterback, shuffle board, pool tables, a football toss and kick game, photos with the 2013 Lombardi and 2014 National Football Conference championship trophies, video gaming, autographs from eight different Seahawk players, free food and drink and numerous military statics from across the Sound.
The highlight of the event was when it was the Seahawks turn to make a pick; they selected service members from across the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force to announce those picks.
The Seahawks had six picks throughout the days event and as the picks were made by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, they were phoned in to a contact at the Draft Day event who in turn ran the pick up to the stage in which the service member was waiting to make the announcement.
Those picks were either shown on the NFL Network channel or through the NFL social media platforms.
Airman 1st Class Michael Andrews, 10th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, was the Air Force representative and he announced the Seahawks 209th overall pick in the draft, which ended up being Obum Gwachum, a defensive end from Oregon State.
"This was a great event and I was proud to be a part of it," said Andrews. "I love the NFL and being a part of this first-time ever event was awesome."
Other highlights of the day included numerous performances by Blue Thunder, the Seahawks drumline band, visits by Blitz and Boom, the Seahawks official mascots and finally visits by Tamia, the official hawk of the Seahawks.
To get the more than 1,500 Puget Sound military members there, the Seahawks assisted in bussing members of the Navy and Marines from Bremerton Naval Station down to JBLM, while Coast Guard members drove in from Seattle to attend the event.
Army and Air Force members from JBLM drove in from the surrounding areas and together the five branches were able to fill the Hangar at various times throughout the day's event.
"We enjoy the partnerships we have with all of the military in the Puget Sound," said Armando Mejia, Seattle Seahawks fan development assistant director. "To be able to include our military in this year's draft was a great opportunity that we could not resist.
"This was a great event and we appreciate all the support and everything everyone did throughout JBLM and the Puget Sound to make this event so successful."
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