My wife and I were watching TV the other night and a commercial came on showing people of different ethnicities, superimposed against foreighn locations. The voiceover asked if you were intelligent, interested in seeing foreign locations and helping the security of your country. I turned to my wife and said, “This sounds like an ad for the CIA.”
Sure enough, the ad said that it was for the clandestine services department of “your CIA”!
Has anyone else seen these ads? Do you feel as uncomfortable as I do that they are trying to sell us on joining the CIA the same way they sell other products? How about, “CIA. Use it against foreign governments. CIA. Use it against foreign governments. CIA. Use it against foreign governments.” Just like the Head-on commercials.
Maybe they need a spokesman. Instead of the Geico Gekko they could have the CIA Mole?
If they’re going to use the HEAD-ON! adevetising magic they need a shorter, punchier, less easily understood phrase, amenable to shouting.
I suggest “SLAM DUNK! SLAM DUNK!”
Sailboat
*advertising
The CIA. We’re everywhere, for your convenience.*
*wave JMS/B5 Psi Corps
I saw one during “Lost” and for just a moment thought it was one of those fake adds for the Hanso Foundation.
I can’t say I see any difference between a CIA recruiting ad and one for the Army or Marines or the Peace Corps.
They have to get people from somewhere.
I think a mole is about the last thing you want in the CIA. Maybe an eagle, or an owl.
Back in school (I went to an almost exlcusively engineering school) the CIA usually had a booth for career day. I knew several EEs and a few CS majors who co-oped for the CIA, either in the Directorate of Science & Technology (the real-life, if somewhat more tame, counterpart to Bond’s Q Branch) or doing SIGINT for Intelligence (analytical work). I don’t know why they’re advertising on t.v., though.
Stranger
So when will the Secret Service start running ads?
“Join the Secret Police! It’s fun! It’s fab! You’ll love our new Parade Dress Uniforms!” 
I keep expecting the Announcer to tell us that the CIA is a Ronco™ Product!
I always kinda thought they kidnapped Mole People to do their bidding.
Most jobs with the CIA are as unexciting as any other office job, although the background checks might be a little more extensive. I really don’t think they’re looking for the next Jason Bourne or John Clark. Most of the “exciting” stuff is staffed by ex-military who are recruted before their service contracts are up.
These ads bother me. There’s something about the phrase “CIA ads” that says ‘contradition in terms’ to me. Given our need for good foreign intelligence these days, I also consider the possibility that the CIA is coming up short of people and feels it needs to do commercials kind of alarming.
Eagle, eh? Now I’m having a wonderful vision of Stephen Colbert doing these commercials.
That’s when I saw it, too! I’m glad they didn’t show it during SNL or I definitely would have thought it was an ad parody.
How about an infomercial for the CIA? A studio audience and an obnoxious host screaming out, “Want terrorists out of the way? Join the CIA!” They could have some testimonials from leaders of Third World countries about how they just couldn’t succeed in their countries until the CIA stepped in to overthrow the legitimate government! A couple of disguised operatives could then say a few words:
“I wasn’t happy as a part-time bully and sneak. I loved spying on my neighbors and turning them in to the cops or sometimes blackmailing them, but it just wasn’t fulfilling. Then I joined the CIA! Now I travel the world, listening in to private conversations, intimidating government officials and occasionally roughing up people we think might be involved with terrorism! And the best part is that even if I kill the wrong guy, I can expect a presidential pardon! Thanks CIA!”
“That’s right. I called 1-800-WE-B-SPYS and before you could say ‘black bag ops’ I was in the field doing wet work, providing unsubstantiated rumors to my superiors and targeting funerals for attack by unmanned Predator drones! The CIA has made me the happiest sociopath on the block!”
Considering the programs they sponsor in Chicago I’m all for it. The CIA couldn’t help but operate better with a few more “Simpsons” fans who have their Irony and BS Meters turned on. Perhaps someday the halls of Langley will finally hear the words we outside the Agency have long wished they would hear, “Jeeze, that’s so stupid not even Homer would fall for it.”
Are you sure they were CIA ads?
I’ve seen several NSA ads recently, but I don’t recall seeing any CIA ads.
Nope, they were definitely CIA ads. I’ve seen the NSA ads before and thought they should be showing them during Numb3rs. CIA should advertise during Heroes or Jericho. Homeland Security could advertise during 24. And the Congressional page program could advertise during the Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator specials.
I’ve seen ads for the other CIA before. You know, the Culinary Institue of America?
I’ve always wanted to go there because A) I love to cook and would like to learn more and B) So I can say I was trained by the CIA.
Like Trunk, I do believe I have seen ads for the NSA. I think they are mostly looking for data monkeys not super secret spies.
What, you didn’t like the exploding cigar trick? What a killjoy.
Stranger
They already are, but I can’t tell you when they’re on.
Yeah, I’ve seen the CIA ads a few times lately. Both on major metworks and less-so. Struck me as kinda odd. (And yes, I think the military and USPS adds are a little odd as well.) I knew they did recruiting at colleges and listed openings at USJobs. Figured that would provide enough staff.
Kinda wondered how they picked the shows they thought would generate the best results.
So what organizations will you NOT see advertising on TV? Can’t recall seeing any local police or fire depts advertising.