Military recruiting ads zero in on mom, dad Parents/SF Gate (Chronicle)

[fed-up]

Military recruiting ads zero in on mom, dad
Parents, many of whom never served, are told of benefits

Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 18, 2005

With public support for the Iraq war dropping and military recruits becoming harder to attract, the Pentagon started an ad campaign Monday that skips patriotic images and focuses on the difficult conversations that young people have with their parents about joining up.

The $10 million campaign by the military's marketing arm urges parents to "make it a two-way conversation" with children looking to join the military. In four 30-second spots on cable networks and in print ads in publications ranging from O, The Oprah Magazine to Field and Stream, the appeals urge parents -- many of whom, the Pentagon realizes, have never served in the military -- to learn more about the services.

Military officials say the ads aren't a response to falling poll numbers and emphasize that they have long tried to connect with people the Pentagon calls influencers -- parents, coaches, teachers and other adults who affect a potential recruit's life.

However, in contrast to past campaigns, the new ads focus less on a patriotic call to military service ("Uncle Sam Wants You") and opportunities for self-advancement ("Be all you can be"). The military's market surveys told them that families wanted a different reason for their children to join.....

[Dhalgren]

1. "a different reason for their children to join"?

How about, "Cannon fodder for Bush's murder machine!"? Parents would really like that...

[ninkasi]

3. Well, a different reason

could be that the parents are just as sick and twisted as Babs and Poopy, and hate their kids. Otherwise, I can think of no reason I would encourage my kids or grandkids to join the military while the Chimp is in Charge.

[Polethebear]

11. shameless

just shameless

[unhappycamper]

2. fed-up:

Please be aware that DU copyright rules require that excerpts of copyrighted material be limited to four paragraphs and must include a link to the original source.

Thanks.

unhappycamper
DU Moderator

[uppityperson]

4. That's what I tell my kid all the time-Be ALL that you can be

However, I believe he can be more than another piece of meat in an unpatriotic wrong war. I found the link http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/10/18/MNGD9FA4TG1.DTL

The ads are being released at a time when peace activists are trying to limit the military's access to potential recruits in public schools. One such activist, Gail Sredanovic of the group Raging Grannies, said the new campaign glosses over the disadvantages of serving in the military, especially during a war.
<clip>
"Mom, you know how I love being on the water, right? How I love the environment?" a young man asks his mother as they talk on their back porch. "I can be part of an environmental response team working on oil cleanups and stuff. I'm serious about this.

It will be good for my career. Finish what you start. A higher calling. Hmmm, it almost works for me. Boy, now I must think about this some more.

[soup]

6. Unfortunately I've seen a couple of these.

What a bunch of hogwash.

"Yah, kid. Guarding pipelines in occupied Iraq is such a blessing on the environment. Grab your weapon and get to work." blecch

[pinniped]

10. I couldn't believe what I saw in that silly POS comercial.

He's a friggin environmentalist so he chooses to enlist and clean up oil in Iraq. Kid probably drives a Prius, too.

I think I've seen it all now.

[trogdor]

5. When he's 18, you can talk to him all you want.

Until then,

1. Stay away from us.
2. Don't expect me to do your job.

That is all.

Trogdor, Staff Sergeant, USAR, Retired.

[pinniped]

7. Some Army reserve commercial has a kid who says...

he won't be called until they need him.

Another has a dude telling his mom it's time for him to be the man.

[HockeyMom]

8. I will quote my then 18 year old DAUGHTER (HS Senior), 3 years ago.

"Mom, I am scared. This man is STALKING me. Will he show up at our house next when nobody is home? What should I do?" A Military Recruiter who would NOT take no for an answer and would NOT stop calling. I told her to tell him she would call the police on him and charge him with stalking if he didn't stop calling. Yes, that worked. He never called again after that.

FACT.

[pinniped]

9. I just saw a new one and some kid talks into the camera...

telling his mom or dad that he could do his part in helping the environment by cleaning up oil or some shit like that. He won't be cleaning up shit, he'll be guarding pipelines.

These commercials are such BS.

Be an environmentalist and join the military, give me a FCKN break.

Calling all environmentalists, the military wants you! This commercial will pick up thousands of recruits in Berkeley.

At the end of the commercial, the message says "It's your turn."

[maddezmom]

12. locking

Missing link to the article, please feel free to repost with a link.