You can do free actions when it's not your turn, but not directly in response to someone's action (which would be a reaction). I'd say that free actions happen between other people's actions or turns.
Let's look at Second Wind. Soldiers have a talent called Hard Target (reaction to use Second Wind in response to an enemy's attack). Pretty simple. But with the Fast Surge feat (take Second Wind as free action), you would need to do it at a time when it wouldn't be a reaction (enemy 1 ends his turn, you take Second Wind as free, enemy 2 goes).
You would probably be able to Call Weapon between an enemy's actions (he uses a move action to get near you, then you Call Weapon as a free, then he attacks with standard), but not directly in response to an attack like Hawk-bat Swoop or Unhindered Charge.