Chapter 10: The Era of Recruitment: The Militarization of Everything

Picture yourself as a young man or woman sitting at home and you are taking a pause from playing your favorite video game and watching television. You might be watching the Military Channel. This channel was launched in 2005. It is 24-hour “militainment”: “The new channel promised to take viewers to the front lines, showcase new gadgets, and deliver the standard military history fare” (Stahl, 2010, p. 144).

The frequent commercial interruption occurs. This scene unfolds in one such commercial. Two young men, one Black and one White, are vigorously playing a video game, hands clutched around their controllers. Flash to the screen of their monitor. We see soldiers in the game moving in on a house in some Middle Eastern land. The troops have their rifles held out in front of them ready for action. The sounds of war are ringing all around them. All of a sudden one of the techno gear-laden soldiers in the game turns and knocks on the screen. “You look like you are really into this. You guys want the real challenge?” (goArmy.com/courage, 2007). The 30-second commercial proceeds to discuss the opportunities available in the Army. It concludes with the web address where the two young men and those watching can send for the free official video game of the United States Army, America’s Army. The web site allows you to download the video game for free. This video game is actually two games in one. The first is about military life and how it progresses.