Actor David Boreanaz participated in a USO mission immersion tour in Quantico, Va., and Washington last week where he got an opportunity to visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps and meet service members to get an exclusive look into their daily lives.
Boreanaz is well known for his role as Jason Hayes in Paramount’s “SEAL Team,” a television show dedicated to working with service members in order to portray the authenticity of military life on screen.
For seven seasons of the show, Boreanaz has had a chance to meet many service members and listen to their experiences, inspiring him to work with the USO to get even more perspectives and firsthand glimpses of military life.
“Being involved in a show like ‘SEAL Team’ for me really nailed me to understand the process of operators and special forces and how they operate,” Boreanaz said.
SEAL Team actor David Boreanaz visits the U.S. Air Force, Illinois Air National Guard, 126th Air Refueling Wing to tour a KC-135 Stratotanker at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Aug. 5, 2024. (Aaron Rodriguez/U.S. National Guard)
One of the ways Boreanaz dug into the mindset and realities of service members was by immersing himself into the last 50 years of Marine Corps history.
Boreanaz visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) in Triangle, Va., on Wednesday to get an exclusive sneak peek of the museum’s newest galleries — “Forward Deployed” and “Afghanistan and Iraq” — before they opened to the public Sunday.
The museum staff walked Boreanaz and the USO around the new galleries and explained the significance of each exhibit and artifact, each telling a Marine’s story. Boreanaz called it “very moving, emotional, healing and informative.”
“It’s important for him to understand the Marines’ story, and their selfless service. The support from folks like him are invaluable to those supporting all service members directly, and also connecting to the larger civilian population,” said Keil Gentry, the museum director.
SEAL Team actor David Boreanaz poses for a photo with staff at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. on Oct. 2, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)
SEAL Team actor David Boreanaz (center) looks around an exhibit during an exclusive tour given by Director Keil Gentry (right) in one of National Museum of the Marine Corps’ newest galleries, “Forward Deployed,” in Triangle, Va. on Oct. 2, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)
SEAL Team actor David Boreanaz looks at a case exhibiting weapons in one of the National Museum of the Marine Corps’ newest galleries “Afghanistan and Iraq” in Triangle, Va. on Oct. 2, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)
Boreanaz visited Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Md., and the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., where he was able to interact with and talk to military service members in groups and individually.
During the tour, he shared meals with service members at the dining facility on base, hosted an advance screening of the first episode of Season 7 of “SEAL Team,” toured working areas, underwent a Security Forces K9 training session, tried on an Explosive Ordnance Disposal suit and more.
“I was so immersed into it [SEAL Team], and now actually being removed from it and seeing a different angle … I was able to work with the USO and … really dig into what is behind the soldier, what is behind the motto,” Boreanaz said.
SEAL Team actor David Boreanaz visits the U.S. Air Force, Illinois Air National Guard, 126th Air Refueling Wing to tour a KC-135 Stratotanker at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Aug. 5, 2024. (Aaron Rodriguez/U.S. National Guard)
SEAL Team actor David Boreanaz visits the U.S. Air Force, Illinois Air National Guard, 126th Air Refueling Wing to tour a KC-135 Stratotanker at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Aug. 5, 2024. (Aaron Rodriguez/U.S. National Guard)
Boreanaz has no personal military background, but says he always felt connected to the USO’s mission because he grew up listening to his father, Dave Roberts, a radio broadcaster for the American Armed Forces Network.
Boreanaz will continue visiting members of the military and showing his appreciation for them with the USO and as a personal endeavor. He is also working with the Travis Manion Foundation, whose mission empowers veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations.
“The USO does such a great job of allowing people like myself who are fortunate to be working in the industry to meet these amazing people and get a sense of what their drill is, what their passion is, what their inspired by,” Boreanaz said. “The sacrifices and the dedication that they have to our country is just so important, and the USO just brings it out.”
