Posted on 05/08/2006 11:33:22 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
CHICAGO - Hit by one of its most difficult recruiting periods in decades, the Defense Department is paying United Airlines to show passengers a Pentagon-produced video touting military jobs.
The 13-minute video "Today's Military" is played between standard in-flight programming, such as NBC sitcoms or Discovery Channel productions, the Chicago Tribune reported.
It profiles five military jobs, none in dangerous regions such as Iraq or Afghanistan. The video shows only one soldier beyond U.S. borders: an Army animal-care specialist on a humanitarian mission in Thailand.
The Defense Department is paying United about $36,000 to run the video from April 17 through May 17, said Lt. Bradley Terrill, project officer for the video.
By the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, the Army closed out one of its most difficult recruiting periods in decades, falling more than 6,600 recruits short of its annual goal of 80,000. It was the first shortfall since 1999, and the largest in 26 years.
It was unclear whether the military has contracts to show the video on other commercial airlines. Lt. Col. Todd Vician, a Pentagon spokesman, told The Associated Press on Sunday that he could not immediately provide more information on the video.
United said it's not unusual for companies to pay for promotional spots on flights.
Tom Bivins, a professor of media ethics at the University of Oregon, said the military's omission of production credits on the video is questionable.
"People need to realize they are being advertised to," Bivins said.
There is a word for people who listen to mass media communincations and do not suspect that they are being advertised to.Suckers.
I'd prefer they not be taking recruiting to the new lows of gangbangers.
Cue music...
We are Si-a-me-eze if you plee-eeze
We are Si-a-me-eze if you don't please
We are former residents of Siam
There are no finer cats than I am!
Recruiting cannot be that bad. The Air Force is forcing 57,000 out.
Navy is cutting 60,000 from now until 2008. Things are not that bad at all.
Navy is cutting 60,000 from now until 2008. Things are not that bad at all.
Can you imagine the media coverage if a US automaker was announcing a cut of 120,000 jobs over 2 years?
Can you imagine the media coverage if a US automaker was announcing a cut of 120,000 jobs over 2 years?
LOL. There would be non stop Bush bashing that is for sure.
All you need to read is the source: AP and Yahoo!
I would say the showing of such films on airline flights is a good thing. Our young people need to know what options exist for them. Our adults need to know what career options exist for their children, also. With the hostile MSM and academia, there are fewer ways to get this information across to moms and dads and children. The liberal professor and the rest of the left wing conspiracy continue to undermine our country's values with their unrelenting and plain mean spirited attacks.
According to whom?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.