It appears that America's Army isn't the only link to the gamer generation being pursued by military recruiters.
The New Hampshire Union-Leader reports on a Halo 3 launch event in Manchester in which under-17's were turned away from a local GameStop's Halo 2 tournament, only to be ushered into a similar event set up by nearby Air Force recruiters:
More than 100 gamers... gathered at the GameStop for a "Halo 3" release party... There was only one glitch... a "Halo 2" tournament was delayed after the chain store's district manager, Suzan Shockley, announced that nobody under 18 could participate.
"I'm sorry, but it's a company rule. We take the game ratings seriously," she said. ...Fortunately, the Air Force was on hand to save the day.
As co-sponsor of the gaming event, local Air Force recruiters were manning party central outside... where underage gamers who had fled the store in despair flocked for pizza, Mountain Dew and a chance to play "Halo 2" on a split screen from the back of a pimped-out military SUV...
Air Force recruiter Staff Sgt. Christopher Johnson explained the military presence at the Halo 3 launch:
This is going to be huge. We expect a big showing. We have the same demographic as [GameStop]. Our target market is identical to that of video game stores...
Johnson told the newspaper that an Air Force/GameStop tailgating bash arranged for the August Madden 08 launch netted two new recruits. Johnson added that he had not heard any objections to using video games to attract young people to the military. But New Hampshire Iraq war veteran Joe Turcotte disgreed:
The whole idea of serving your country out of patriotism gets lost. It cheapens the honor and sacrifice when you turn it into a video game. We are proud of our service to our country, but there's something about this that just doesn't seem right.
I would like to know if there's a disclaimer, if they're warning kids that their actual combat experience may vary. War is not a game.
Additional reaction to the Union-Leader story is expected. Michael Moore's website picked up the story, as did the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (both without comment, so far).
Comments
true, the coast guard doesn't get much credit these days.
If you join, you'll find who ever the hell trains you has no idea what they are doing, and it isnt till you start OJT that you really learn stuff. (at least in the comm field)
Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard are the 5. Yes, the Marines are technically derived from the Navy, but at this point, with the completely different rank structure they use, they're essentially considered a seperate unit.
You know you may be searching for a conspiracy when there is none. The military doesn't need to "brainwash" folk to fill out their ranks. If they truly wanted to be evil dickheads about it they wouldn't have to ask. An army recruiter would show up at your door and tell you to get the hell in the van. I'll take these recruitment techniques over a draft any day. Count your lucky stars that this is all they are doing.
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Papa Midnight
I mean, if you're the type of parent who hates when they do that, be aware they do it at the kid's SCHOOL even, you know? Why even mention a Halo 3 launch party the kid ran into somewhat randomly out in public?
@ All the active soldiers who posted
I'm amazed that any of you were brave enough to actually join the military. No matter what the games may tell me, that war is fun, I know that actual war can be comparable to hell. I salute you for volunteering to defend the freedom of our country. I doubt that many people here, especially the trolls, even consider how hard it must be to VOLUNTARILY put yourself through what might end up to be hell.
@ Trolls
Remember that this country doesn't draft men and women ages 18-45 into the military. It hasn't been done since 1975, and I doubt that it would be reinstated. That means that the armed forces decreases in size, and to keep up with the demands of manpower during the war, recruiters have to use ever more creative methods to lure in young people. That said, I seriously doubt that they actually expected anyone except for the kids who have trouble telling the diffrence of Halo and reality to join at that tourny. I think that they were trying to boost their image as a helper of society, not a blight on it. Then maybe people would join so they could also help. And if the Air Force didn't mean to boost their image, it was a good publicity stunt.
*note* the preceding was written at midnight while my body was running low on caffeine. so any confusion to my comments should be atributed to sleepiness.
September 26th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Quote:
'"I agree, War is not a game, there are no respawns if you die and such"'
I disagree with you. There are no re-spawns yet.
I want to thank all the Men and Women Serving in the Military for their service and diligence. I look forward to when you all can come home.
Second,
Those of you who see this as a horrible way to recruit young MEN and Young WOMEN. Get over your selfs. The Times change, recruitment tactics Change. Deal with it.
Also, If your saying that 17 and 18 year olds aren't competent enough to make their own decisions regarding their lives. Well, you all are no better than those foolish politicians.
BANE XXIII
Minneapolis, MN