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Happy Hour Comedy Tour: It's comedy with a message

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Adawn Kelsey
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A comedy act with a serious message provided a new and innovative way to raise awareness and dangers of alcohol abuse to Airmen at Sheppard AFB, Texas, during the Happy Hour Comedy Tour held at the base theater Aug. 5.

To reinforce the mission behind the tour, a non-alcoholic happy hour was held at the community center after the program.

Bernie McGrenahan, a stand-up comedian, has been touring military bases around the world presenting his unusual and contemporary comedy act about alcohol, drug addiction and sexual assault prevention for the past 15 years.

Mr. McGrenahan said it is "comedy with a message."

"I took serious issues and transformed the lectures into fresh and reformatted basic intervention training," he said. "This program takes my trials and errors and gives Airmen insight on what it was like to head down a path of high-risk behavior and the negative outcomes it led to."

Mr. McGrenahan said he is trying to provide insight and laughter while also focusing on serious issues that pertain to making sure the mission is getting done.

"Most of the issues I talk about apply to the 18-25 age group," he said. "My goal is to reduce the number of people who get alcohol poisoning and who get arrested because of driving under the influence or because they become violent. I also talk about sexual assault and how people react differently sober versus under the influence."

The comedian stressed the importance of noticing the signs of addictive behaviors as he told the crowd of Airmen in training about his younger brother who had developed an alcohol addiction and then committed suicide at the age of 19.

"It is very important to remember you are never too young to have a problem," he said. "It is important that you are a good Wingman by being proactive and not just standing by.

"Make sure you are using the tools you are provided like the (Alcohol and Drug Addiction Prevention and Treatment) program, the Chaplain if you need someone to talk to or the sexual assault prevention and response coordinator. Taking your life is never the answer," he added.

Airman 1st Class Terrel Taylor, 362nd Training Squadron student, said he thought the happy hour comedy tour was a great way to reach out to Airmen.

"His story was really inspirational," he said. "He gives examples of what not to do and reminds you that there are so many tools here to help prevent something like his situation from happening to you."

At the event Airmen Kelly Oneil, 383rd Aerospace Medical Training Squadron student, said Mr. McGrenahan's program proved to be more attention getting than the traditional slideshow presentation.

"His testimony is not something you hear every day," she said. "It really caught my attention and made me think 'what can I do if a situation like this comes up?'"

After the program ended, Airmen attended the non-alcoholic happy hour where they were able to socialize, eat some food and enjoy games without alcohol present.