America’s Army Under Fire From Anti-Recruitment Group
By Ron on Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 at 7:58 AM PST In America's Army, Computer, Game Platforms, Gamer Life, Games
Everyone knows that America’s Army is a great shooter, and everyone knows that it’s produced by the US Army. This June, the US Army is set to sponsor a channel at the website of the Global Gaming League, and anti-recruitment groups are slamming the Army for these plans. “It is part of this campaign for the last 20 years to invade youth culture with militarism,” says Project on Youth and Non-military Opportunities co-founder Rick Jahnkow. “It affects the way young people think. It affects their world view. That is a very dangerous thing.” Oskar Castro of the “admittedly anti-war” American Friends Service Committee said, “You don’t have ‘game over’ and start again. ‘Game over’ means you come home in a body bag and a casket,” in a statement he made decrying the practice of using games as a recruiting tool.
I’m fairly sure that anyone who falls into the ‘Teen’ category (the ESRB rating for America’s Army) is well aware that you don’t get to get up and go home after being killed in a real war. Why is it that these people get worried about how games affect someone’s world view, but they never mention the violence in TV, movies, or even the news? Besides that, what’s wrong with a young person anting to join the military? It’s a job that pays well, has great benefits, and allows that person to travel. Granted, it may not be quite as desirable a job with a war going on, but kids today are aware of the war. It’s not like they don’t see it on a daily basis from every news outlet.
It’s time for people to realize that games are not the brainwashing machines that the mainstream media thinks they are. On that note, these activist groups should stop using games as a prop for their cause.
I can see the point of anti-recruitment groups, and why they oppose America’s Army, but you have to realize that it is both a game and a recuitment tool
I won’t lie, I am in my mid-late teens and have given a thought to going for the militairy (possibly ROTC or Airforce ROTC, or after college) and it doesn’t seem like that terrible of an idea
I am well aware of the war, I mean, is there any way you can’t know about it?
as far as brainwashing goes, I don’t think the game does this at all, but it does lead you to give the militairy some thought
can’t blame the government though, they spend millions of dollars developing a game and publish it for free, I’m sure they want at least some returns on their money
The game makes the military seem like it’s all fun. It doesn’t simulate pain. It doesn’t simulate brain damage. It doesn’t simulate emotional trauma from seeing your camrades and innocent civilians getting killed. They even admitted they had to reduce the gore in the game in order to get a rating of teen. Otherwise it would be mature.
But most of the propaganda is about what you’ll get out of the military. The advertisements say earn up to $70,000 for college. This is only possible if you qualify for the Army College or Naval College Fund. The most you get out of the Montgomery GI Bill is $36,144. But in either case you’re not sure to get all the money. There are other factors and they way it works out is that only 35% of recruits receive any educational benefits from the military. It doesn’t help with jobs either. Studies show veterans make 11% to 19% less than non-veterans.
As a retired army NCO, I can tell you from experience that what Andrew posted is simply not true. He uses the typical strategy of not telling the whole story to emphasize his point.
First of all, he states, “…only 35% of recruits receive any educational benefits from the military.” Adn while hsi figure MAY be accurate, his statement makes it seem that only 35% are offered these benefits when in fact, 100% of thos who SIGN UP AND THEN APPLY for benefits receive them, as long as the school is regionally or nationally accredited and that they actually pass their classes. His other statement that, “in either case you’re not sure to get all the money.” Again that makes it sound as if the military might somehow cheat you. My benefits run out next month (I retired 10 years ago), and yes, I have approximately $200 dollars left in my account which I will not use, so in his limited thinking, I fall into Andrew’s category of “not receiving” all my benefits.” VERY few use every dime in their account.
I joined the military as a non high school graduate. By the time I left the military I had recieved 2 Associate Degrees, and my Bachelor’s degree. I used my GI Bill to get a Master’s Degree as well as my teaching certification. So I promise you, the benefits are there and they are REAL.