British Army Attacks Recruitment Issue With Online Game

April 7, 2009

While the U.S. Army has enjoyed success with game-based recruiting for the better part of a decade, the British Army is launching its first probe into the game arena.

As reported by GameSpot:

A campaign entitled "Start Thinking Solider" will include an online game where players have to escape enemy tunnels from a first-person perspective, find the parts to make a bomb in an enemy stronghold, and answer multiple-choice questions.

Research conducted for the British Army recently found that 68 percent of 17-21 year olds had no career path in mind. The campaign, consisting of four television commercials, will be targeted at that group...

While the America's Army series has helped promote military careers to American youth, the use of video games for recruitment has become an increasingly controversial subject in recent times. Among other charges, some critics have claimed that the America's Army games violate United Nations protocols against recruiting children for military service.


Comments

Re: British Army Attacks Recruitment Issue With Online Game

That is kinda the problem in the US too... Recruiters lie. They try to cheat you out of as much time as possible... My brother and his friend went up to the office for recruitment in my area and the guy there was trying to tell them they didn't have options they did. Which they eventually weasled out of him cause they did their research ahead of time nya.

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Re: British Army Attacks Recruitment Issue With Online Game

I think it is screwy they still say it is children being recruited. These are young males who likely have no other option in mind. As the British poll pointed out, 2/3rds have no career in mind! I'm not sure how well the benefits are in the UK, but it is better than being a hippie and just doing nothing but smoke pot all day. Hell, it could set these people straight and make them want to do something with their lives.

Using it as a recruitment tool isn't a bad idea imo. I'd only disagree with it if they don't understand the risks involved. However, CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE RECRUITED. Thus, the people being recruited are of legal age to make their own decision.

Re: British Army Attacks Recruitment Issue With Online Game

That is kinda the problem in the US too... Recruiters lie. They try to cheat you out of as much time as possible... My brother and his friend went up to the office for recruitment in my area and the guy there was trying to tell them they didn't have options they did. Which they eventually weasled out of him cause they did their research ahead of time nya.


Re: British Army Attacks Recruitment Issue With Online Game

The problem with recruiters is the way we operate, we are an all non conscripted force, but as such, it does lead to rather bad recruiters, because they have to make a certain quota.  We try to make sure that all our recruiters practice fair recruiting policies, but some don't, and we have to make sure that we reprimand recruiters that don't use fair policies.

-Idiots, the lot of them - SSGT -Yeah, but they're our idiots - ME On the topic of congress

Re: British Army Attacks Recruitment Issue With Online Game

Now I thought that the regulations against recruiting children were meant to stop militaries from inlisting children. Just putting out the idea that joining the military is a good career choice for those who have not decided cannot logically be contrued as recruiting children.

I would also like to point out that in most states in the US, it is legal for children to have a job as young as 14 with some provisions (ie can only work part time during non school hours) so there is nothing wrong with presenting children of working age with long term career options.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

Re: British Army Attacks Recruitment Issue With Online Game

What I love is how the nations in Africa that have predominantly CHILD SOLDIERS in their military still get a seat at the table in the UN.

But we're bad because we have a videogame that talks about military careers.

Re: British Army Attacks Recruitment Issue With Online Game

Translation: "Video games are for children"

I would say more... but I am drawing a blank on what hasn't been said before.

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