Army 'misleading' potential recruits

[POWERJIM]

Army 'misleading' potential recruits

Potential recruits are being given a "misleading" picture of life in the Army as war is "glamorised", a leading charity has warned.

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust says vital information, including the risks a career with the Army poses, are being omitted from campaigns which are now targeting children as young as seven.

The report claims efforts to attract young people to join up are intensifying, especially among those below the recruitment age of 16. But, partly owing to the negative publicity over the Iraq war, fewer people are signing up.

The report says: "Recruitment literature for army careers emphasises potential benefits: career interest and challenge, comradeship, the active lifestyle, travel and training opportunities.

"It omits to mention or obscures the radical change from a civilian to a military lifestyle, ethical issues involved in killing, risks to physical and mental health... and the right of conscientious objection."

The report, written by David Gee, says half of young recruits aged between 16 and 22 are leaving the Army, while one in five of all soldiers want to leave at the earliest opportunity.

The Ministry of Defence has described the report as "ill informed and incorrect".

Mr Gee says children and adolescents are the main target groups for recruitment, with methods including visits to schools, literature and local cadet forces.

"As the pool of potential recruits shrinks, outreach to children is expanding, including to those as young as seven.

"Key messages are tailored to children's interests and values: military roles are promoted as glamorous and exciting, warfare is portrayed as game-like and enjoyable and outreach to the young is described as serving their personal growth and education."

According to the report, Informed Choice? Armed Forces and Recruitment Practice in the UK, almost half of all soldiers found Army life to be worse than expected last year, with only 20 per cent thinking it was better.

The report recommends sweeping changes to Armed Forces' recruitment policies, including a new charter setting out the state's responsibilities, a radical review of recruitment literature, phasing out recruitment of minors and new rights for recruits to leave the service.

[bbskupak]

It is obvious marketing techniques that any business would use. Why would anyone emphasize the negative aspects of their own product. If im selling a car im gonna emphasize that it has 500 hp and goes 160mph not that you get 5 miles per gallon. If anyone criticizes the army for only marketing the positives they they are just dumb

marketing themselves to 6 year olds is a diff story but i dont feel like commenting on that

[baseball]

I don't really care, but Army was calling my house when I was like 13 and 14 wanting me to come in and see what it was about, as well as trying to get my to visit westpoint because I was big basketball. I never went because I wasnt interested...but...If you are going to sign that dotted line it should be assumed that you may be put into a life or death situation. And with today's status in the U.S., it should also be assumed that you are going to iraq. So the only people who should have a real problem with this are the ones who sign the dotted line thinking they're heading to a baking competition or something. As far as the six year olds deal, let them hear about the army. Let them grow up wanting to serve their country. I don't see a problem with that. All the freedoms we have here, the least we can do is help protect and serve our country.

[POWERJIM]

Heres a typical British Army advert that we get here in the UK obviously, i personally dont see a problem with it.

YouTube - British Army Mechanised Infantry Recruitment Advert

YouTube - British Army Advert - Air Assault Infantry

YouTube - Royal Navy Recruitment Advert - Air Engineering Technician

YouTube - Royal Navy Recruiting Advert - Weapon Engineering Submariner

And save the best till last, my fathers Regiment God bless em.

YouTube - Royal Marines Commando - Its a State Of Mind Advert

YouTube - Royal Marines Recruitment Advert

[Taekwondo Guy]

if you join the army expect to be shot, blown up, captured and tortured, whatever... thats the downsides

only a dimwit joins not expecting that crap

they dont even offer a good enough wage to make it worth it but thats what you expect if you dont buckle down in school.

[Renegade68]

PowerJim - I agree that its far too young to be bothering with them. BUT - don't have a problem highlighting the positives of membership. Anyone who joins should be responsible for doing their own due diligence to find out all of the pros and cons of military service no matter the country.

In the US - I have trouble believing the Army was contacting you at 13 or 14 yrs old in recruiting efforts. MAYBE to get you to go to West Point because of outstanding academics, ROTC involvment, and potentially athletic skill, but even that seems unlikely. They turn down more than they accept to the military academies.

They can visit HS's of course, and 13/14 yr old may be freshmen, but its a waste of time for most recruiters to mess with them as the recruiters are on 3 year tours and will be done by the time you graduate - so they don't get credit for it. Most recruitment of HS students is at the HS Junior/Senior level, usually 16 years and up.

[baseball]

Originally Posted by Renegade68

PowerJim - I agree that its far too young to be bothering with them. BUT - don't have a problem highlighting the positives of membership. Anyone who joins should be responsible for doing their own due diligence to find out all of the pros and cons of military service no matter the country.

In the US - I have trouble believing the Army was contacting you at 13 or 14 yrs old in recruiting efforts. MAYBE to get you to go to West Point because of outstanding academics, ROTC involvment, and potentially athletic skill, but even that seems unlikely. They turn down more than they accept to the military academies.

They can visit HS's of course, and 13/14 yr old may be freshmen, but its a waste of time for most recruiters to mess with them as the recruiters are on 3 year tours and will be done by the time you graduate - so they don't get credit for it. Most recruitment of HS students is at the HS Junior/Senior level, usually 16 years and up.

I wonder though, do you think they even care about getting credit for it? I'm sure in that instance they are just proud of being in the army. And wether they get credit or not they want others to be influenced, wether its on their watch or not.

[Renegade68]

Originally Posted by baseball

I wonder though, do you think they even care about getting credit for it? I'm sure in that instance they are just proud of being in the army. And wether they get credit or not they want others to be influenced, wether its on their watch or not.

Yes, their performance reports are based on meeting their recruiting requirements. Not on how many folks they talked to about the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines.....simply on #s brought in.

There are rules of engagement as well. I wasn't 100% sure on them, so I called the local recruiter and he stated:

The age we can start recruiting is a HS senior, 17 yrs old with parental consent. As for speaking to anyone younger than 17, its ok, but as more of a spreading the word type deal, not recruitment. We certainly wouldn't call them at home, unless it was by mistake and as soon I heard the age of 16 or under, I'd apologize and hang up.

[POWERJIM]

Heres a link to that story in the Guardian Army accused of glamorising war and recruiting youngsters | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Renegade is right. I was in high school as a Junior when they came after me.
I was 17 yrs old, they called me all the time!

I decided to join the Marines, but I lied about my medical history (I have blood disorder), they quickly found out and denied my entrance.

I then tried to become a Sheriff for the state of California, same deal as above. I lied on my application and they found out and I was ineligable based on medical issues.

Fvckers both lost out on a good soldier and recruit, but in the end I am not upset I wasnt let in, perhaps am happy I wasnt in alot of ways.

[Renegade68]

Things happen for a reason Tommy.

PowerJim - I wasn't doubting your story....just FYI. I just knew that their were rules against certain strategies of recruiting in the US. Here, even at 17, you have to have parental consent to sign up. But I do stick to my earlier comments on glamourizing vs. telling a negative story. No one would do that. When you go to a job interview they prop up the company, but never tell that their health ins sucks, their 401k plan is in the dumps, and the building is infested with asbestos. LOL.

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

Renegade is right. I was in high school as a Junior when they came after me.
I was 17 yrs old, they called me all the time!

I decided to join the Marines, but I lied about my medical history (I have blood disorder), they quickly found out and denied my entrance.

I then tried to become a Sheriff for the state of California, same deal as above. I lied on my application and they found out and I was ineligable based on medical issues.

Fvckers both lost out on a good soldier and recruit, but in the end I am not upset I wasnt let in, perhaps am happy I wasnt in alot of ways.

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Originally Posted by Renegade68

Things happen for a reason Tommy.

Very true my friend, very true

[POWERJIM]

My dad joined the Royal Marines at 15 years old back in the day when you could, although he had to wait till he was 18 to become a Commando and then onto special forces. At the end of the day i see no problem with a young man of 16 fighting for his country if he so wishes, we need more young men with that sense of moral standing and character, boys as young as 13 years old lied about their age to fight in WW1, brave young men.

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Originally Posted by POWERJIM

My dad joined the Royal Marines at 15 years old back in the day when you could, although he had to wait till he was 18 to become a Commando and then onto special forces. At the end of the day i see no problem with a young man of 16 fighting for his country if he so wishes, we need more young men with that sense of moral standing and character, boys as young as 13 years old lied about their age to fight in WW1, brave young men.

Your Father is a man of much respect my friend, honor him as I am sure you already do

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

Your Father is a man of much respect my friend, honor him as I am sure you already do

I always wanted to join myself as it runs in my blood, plus my dad ran a bootcamp at home so it was drummed into me that i would be a Commando one day, my health wouldnt allow it though due to my asthma which is a problem to me, even the damn police force wouldnt take me on, plus im white British which the police dont like these days.

I could be a cop.

YouTube - Funny Police Recruitment Advert 1