Don't you just love those AFN (Armed Forces Network) commercials?

Question

These are military channel commercials. I know they're all a little different from base to base but they're all about giving you extremely obvious advice such as "use a kleenex when blowing your nose", and "bend your knees when lifting heavy objects", or "be careful when jumping on trampolines".

My newest favorite is this one where a guy comes home to his dorm room with a small fire going on. He runs to get the fire extinguisher but it's not working - he then gets a flashback of when he had fun using the extinguisher in the yard watching the stuff blow in the wind... so he runs to get a bottle cap of water to try to put the fire out, then he gets a fan to blow on it... then he tries Windex - he finally realizes there's nothing he can do and runs down the hall with his hands flailing in the air. Then the narrator comes on and says "DON'T WASTE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS". Ohmigoodness.

Answer 1

After serving a while overseas you start to memorize them all and my family could not understand why I would welcome real commercials. I am over that now I am addicted to TIVO I cannot imagine life before it.

It is not that the military does not allow soldiers to watch commercials it is that they are not going to support a specific product on a military channel. Besides it would be torture to dangle all of the stuff in front of us that probably is not available overseas anyway.

Answer 2

I can't wait to see these commercials in the Marines!

That was a funny story about the fire extinguisher!

I didn't know that the military branches did not let the soldiers watch commercials.

Answer 3

I guess all the writing, acting and production talent is in Hollywood.

I thought the commercials were lame during my 12 yrs in the AF as well. But, when I was remote in Korea for a year, even lame was welcomed.

Anyway, it is good practice for reading the idiot warning labels on US products, courtesy of the rocket-surgeons who have no common sense (I'm referring to the jurors who award ridiculous settlements).

Sorry, I wandered off topic...

Answer 4

I'm so tired of them after seeing them for so long,, i can't wait to se a real commercial,, i watch them every time i go home for the first day,, i will flip through the channels just o fine the commercials.

Answer 5

Mommy,

Geez...nostalgia.

I remember living in Okinawa in the late 60's/early 70's, watching AFRTS TV and listening to the radio broadcasts.

Lame PS spots...overeating, drinking...watching out for children in the streets...

Using a kleenex, huh?

LOL

Answer 6

LOL... thanks for reminding me! I haven't been overseas in a few years, but they definitely entertained me. (Especially the ones about home safety that show mom tripping over son's toys. Mwaaaa haaa haaaa.)

You know what made me laugh even harder? The fact that the people in the AFN commercials probably still have hope they'll make it in Hollywood.

Eh, I'm a little bit cruel. What can I say?

Answer 7

I was partial to the State Quizzes and the random trivia.. like the London Bridge being moved to Lake Havasu.

Answer 8

There is nothing better, while the rest of the world watches great superbowl commercals, we get stuck seeing a commercal about cleaning up after your dog.

Answer 9

I got a kick out of them too. They are produced by the military. I think they are influenced by officers with too much time on their hands. Public Announcements!

Answer 10

thats a nice one. I like the fact that you cant own a handgun or drink alcohol but we will let you drive a tank in Bagdad. Way to go America take the young who dont have the sense to do either of the above mentioned things and without the education to know what you should and shouldnt do with a fire extinguisher and let them take a bullet for big oil!!