AAFES gives overseas troops Christmas gift

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) in partnership with the producers of the film Point Break have devised a novel approach to thanking those protecting American freedom.

Point Break hits domestic theaters on Christmas Day but troops stationed in Afghanistan will also be able to see the film the same day thanks to a partnership between AAFES, Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures. The action adventure movie stars Edgar Ramirez and Luke Bracey reprising the roles of the late Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves who appeared in the original Point Break film in 1991.

“The Exchange couldn’t be happier to give troops serving in dangerous combat zones the opportunity to see this highly anticipated film,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, the Exchange’s senior enlisted advisor. “When every day is a matter of life and death, it’s important to be able to kick back, relax and take in a good movie – just like you would back at home.”

Screenings will be held at Kandahar and Bagram Airfields. Point Break is the latest in a series of advance and first-run screenings of major motion pictures at AAFES installations in the Middle East and other contingency zones across the world. It is likely to be a big hit with troops given plotline and adventure scenes.

As in the original film, Point Break is the story of a young FBI agent, Johnny Utah, who infiltrates a cunning team of thrill-seeking elite athletes, led by the charismatic character Bodhi. The athletes are suspected of carrying out a spate of crimes in extremely unusual ways. Deep undercover, and with his life in imminent danger, Agent Utah strives to prove they are the architects of this string of inconceivable crimes. The film is replete with scenes of daring athleticism performed by elite athletes representing the world’s best in class in big wave surfing, wingsuit flying, sheer-face snowboarding, free rock climbing and high-speed motocross riding.