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[IbizaPocholo]

US Army Planned on Spending Millions in Attempt to Recruit Gamers, WWE Fans, and More

A US Army report reveals that the organization planned to spend millions of dollars in an attempt to recruit gamers, WWE fans, and more.

gamerant.com

Vice has acquired some US Army documents through the Freedom of Information Act that reveals some details about recruitment methods. Recruitment officers have historically been deployed in various US cities in order to increase the volume of soldiers available at the US Army's disposal for conflicts abroad by reaching out to people directly. Because the US Army is often involved with the creation of many popular games and movies, it may not be a stretch for them to look at other potential avenues of growth like its notorious Twitch account, as well as esports and WWE events.

The recovered US Army documents from Vice detail plans for 2021 and 2022 in which the organization stated intentions to reach younger audiences through esports tournaments, popular Twitch streamers, Paramount Plus, and more. According to the documents, the US Army has been looking to increase its diversity with minorities and women between the ages of 18 and 24. Based on its internal logic, $6.9 million was to be spent on drawing a young audience that's interested in war games like Battlefield 2042 or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 into enlisting for the real deal.

Until Activision Blizzard was accused of fostering a harmful work environment last year, the US Army intended to spend a chunk of its money on Call of Duty League events, but that has been paused for now. The US Army also has an esports team of its own. Beyond this range of methods for US Army branding, the report also suggested that Call of Duty Mobile ads could be altered to reward players with in-game currency for watching US Army ads, something that never came to fruition.

Responding to Vice questions regarding the US Army spending for recruitment, a spokesperson stated that they "must meet the youth where they are," suggesting that the best place to target them is online. While some gamers remain critical of the US Army's tactics despite the fact that some of the ones highlighted in the report weren't acted upon, others continue to keep an eye on its esports team.

 

[ManaByte]

How dare they.

Oh it’s a Vice article. That explains it.

 

[Saber]

Recruting gamers(and diversity)?The US army would be doomed then.

 

[Gamerdude123]

I thought Emma and her two moms are keeping the US safe?



Oh.... and Private always remember to adress the enemy with the correct pronouns when he is blowing your limbs off on the Battlefield.

 

[begotten]

Not sure fat, smelly wrestling marks would add much value.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Makes sense. Modern weapons systems are not dissimilar from videogames.

Better than pulling from prisons. Or drafting. Or hiring mercenary groups to commit - and obfuscate your involvement in - war crimes.

 

[Punished Miku]

This has been going on for a long time.

 

[Banjo64]

bah gawd he just pedigreed the jihadi through the table - that man had a family king!

 

[Thaedolus]

...you mean being in the Marines isn't like this???

 

[Beer Baelly]

 

[LordOfChaos]

Yvan eht Nioj

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

Military industrial complex attacks again. Shouldn’t be allowed to advertise in entertainment.

 

[GHG]

Where we dropping boys?

 

[nani17]

Now's the time to invade their army is weak.

The rise of New New Ireland has begun. We have one WWII plane two tanks and something called Hindenburg II. It must be good if they're making a second one

 

[TheInfamousKira]

I mean, it could be construed as dirty tactics, but I feel that viewpoint is painted with a far left brush. It's the government. It's the military. They recruit from US citizens. How else are they supposed to recruit? It's not deceptive to be like "Hey, we're a part of an organization that needs people. Like This stuff we're involved in? You can incorporate elements of that into a career!" It's just like soda or pizza brands promoting a product. Pepsi isn't being an asshole putting It's logo on the screen, just the same as you aren't an asshole for seeing it and getting thirsty.

Pulling from an obvious, infinitely repeated tactic and saying "Look at these evil tricksters!" is weak. No one is being a reddit detective and uncovering the Illuminati through declassified documents. The government could have literal homosexual plants aliens dressed in suits and we wouldn't realize it until 2064 when it gets intentionally declassified. We aren't playing with even equipment, here.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Am I supposed to fins this offensive? The military recruiting young people where they are? Those bastards!

 

[ParaSeoul]

One of the biggest game series is already American military propaganda so

 

[TheUsual]

Can't wait until Vice's next article about the military's clandestine high school recruiting operations. No one saw it at all!

Kids, just say no to a Marine recruiter next to a pull up bar.

 

[Wastelander92]

The gamers will teabag the terrorists to death.

 

[ManaByte]

Am I supposed to fins this offensive? The military recruiting young people where they are? Those bastards!

I think this thread was posted in the wrong forum.

 

[Esca]

I mean they made America's army, it's anyone really surprised

 

[analog_future]

I thought Emma and her two moms are keeping the US safe?



Oh.... and Private always remember to adress the enemy with the correct pronouns when he is blowing your limbs off on the Battlefield.

You really read the OP and went "Oh, this is the perfect opportunity to hate on both homosexuals AND trans people!"?

 

[brian0057]

 

[MikeM]

“If you can pilot a missile in COD, you can do it in real life. You can even choose between Series or PS controllers!”
- US Army

 

[Coloress_Kafka]

>According to the documents, the US Army has been looking to increase its diversity with minorities


The fuck? The Army has traditionally been one of the most diverse organizations because it’s been one of the quickest ways for a black or brown person to prove their worth and gain a better life no matter where they grew up. If they are slacking in this then they have really fucked up their recruiting efforts in those communities.

 

[TheInfamousKira]

You really read the OP and went "Oh, this is the perfect opportunity to hate on both homosexuals AND trans people!"?

He's like "It's a stretch, but I'm doing God's work here, I'll make it happen!"

 

[Torrent of Pork]

The government has been using videogames as a recruitment tool for over 2 decades. I don't know why Vice suddenly has their panties in a twist over it.

I'm sure it would shock them to learn the military also recruits out of public high schools.