The Virtual Army Experience
One of the more interesting exhibits (depending on how you look at it, we guess) is hosted by the United States Army here at Digital Life. It’s actually called the Virtual Army Experience and it’s a full scale setup. It even has a tour bus, flashing lights, and the works. The basis for the Virtual Army Experience is to take a virtual test drive of the Army. Makes sense, right? The whole thing is based around an Army-produced video game entitled, America’s Army: Special Forces (Overmatch). and the exhibit has a high number of computer stations that allow attendees to participate in sort of a U.S. Army LAN party. A little strange, but what’s more strange is that the experience itself is hidden from view. We had to practically seek it out which is weird given the nature of a convention like this. Regardless of that, more than a few people seemed interested, and there are Army personnel on hand to answer any questions about the game and / or the real Army experience. Besides the moral issues of trying to groom kids into soldiers, the whole gaming aspect was incredibly thought out, and the networked environment ran seemlesly. That’s more than we can say for some of the Sony Playstation 3 units on display here. After all, the Army likes to get their Xbox 360 on! More photo snaps after the breakage!
hey nate, don’t you work on that piece of shit? not biased, are you? are you even an american?
Well here it is boys and girls, I am an Army recruiter so lets set some facts straight. Usually I won’t get involved in these posting fights but when I see the things posted about our service men and women I must interject. Is the pay good…kinda…the pay is decent…it is enought to provide for your family and make a living. The college money is excellent. In addition to the GI Bill you CAN have your loans paid off through the Student Loan Repayment Program up to $65,000 worth of them. The bonuses are also great-actually up to $40,000 right now. Do some people join for the money? Sure! But the vast majority join because they love their country and wish to serve. Don’t ask me, ask one of the over 80,000 new soldiers that enlisted last year. These exhibits are done to introduce people to the Army and give them a realistic idea of what we do. I think they are great. Tons of fun really!
Since you are a recruiter, perhaps you wouldn’t mind explaining the close-up picture of the participation sign- a clear violation of Geneva Conventions, Protocal I, adopted 1977, which states:
“Children who have not attained the age of fifteen years shall neither be recruited in the armed forces or groups nor allowed to take part in hostilities”
And are the laws being broken at the “Army Experience Center” at the Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia also? I support military recruitment. But only truthful and equal messaging. War has nothing to do with video games.