--- title: "Conan O’Brien hilariously rips Air Force alcohol policy while visiting deployed troops" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-21" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/conan-obrien-deid-rips-air-force-alcohol-policy/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Join the Military" - "Military Culture" --- # Conan O’Brien hilariously rips Air Force alcohol policy while visiting deployed troops ![]() Comedian Conan O'Brien tore apart the Air Force policy of allotting deployed troops a maximum of three alcoholic drinks per day at al-Udeid Air Base. --- "One alcoholic beverage consists of no greater than five ounces of wine," Conan O'Brien read from the al-Udeid Air Base rule book. "Five ounces of wine? I have that at breakfast with my cereal!" He visited the Qatar-based forces with First Lady Michelle Obama, musicians Grace Potter and Jimmy Vivino, and comedian John Mulaney. They performed for the 11,000 troops stationed on the air base. Someone from the audience taped a portion and sent it to retired Air Force Lt. Col. Tony Carr, who posted it to his John Q. Public [blog](). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqaCKk6C0dg Portions of his performance will be aired on his TBS show later this year. First Lady Michelle Obama [met]() with three dozen deployed troops for an ice cream social, where she thanked each of them personally for their service. Joining Forces is an initiative of the First Lady and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden to work in the American public and private sectors to rally around service members, veterans, and their families to support them through wellness, education, and employment opportunities throughout their lives. In what could be a hint at what might be the focus of Michelle and Barack Obama's post-political careers, the First Lady promised service members she would help look out for them, not only for the rest of her time as First Lady, but "for the rest of my life." "You all still have struggles," she told the [crowd]() of deployed troops. "But we're going to keep on working to ensure that you and your families have the jobs you deserve, that the benefits that you've earned are waiting for you ready, and that -- the support this nation owes you." ![]() *(White House photo)* She continued: "And that's not just my vow to you as First Lady, but it's my vow to you for the rest of my life. (Applause.) So it's important for me that you know that your Commander-in-Chief and your First Lady, we're proud of you. And we're going to devote our lives -- it will look different in different stages -- but we are going to have your backs. We're going to figure out how to use whatever platforms we have to support you." In the meantime, O'Brien also took over the First Lady's [Instagram]() account, posting photos of himself and Michelle Obama interacting with and performing for deployed troops, and even busting out fifty of his best "[Team Coco]()" push-ups for the FLOTUS. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()