Anime wrote Source: news5cleveland.com/news/national/...ideo-games


The United States Army wants more soldiers.

Last year, the recruitment goal was gaining 76,500 new recruits. The Army didn't make that mission, enlisting only about 70,000 soldiers.

This year, the recruitment goal is getting 68,000 new pairs of boots on the ground. Finding qualified candidates, however, isn't what it used to be.

"Ten years ago, it was pretty easy to find qualified individuals," says U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Robert Dodge. "In the last couple years, it's gone down."

In an attempt to help with recruiting, the US Army is trying something brand new this year: it built a gaming trailer on an 18-wheeler that will be taken across the country with the idea of getting more young people interested in joining the military through video games.

"It is a way to attract a younger audience," Sgt. Dodge says. "Sixty percent of Americans have some sort of gaming console."

Sgt. Dodge says 71 percent of Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 do not qualify to for military service. The reasons range from drug history to health problems with obesity being the number one disqualifier.


Seems kind of like a not a bad idea. Especially to let the younger folks try out the gaming to see if they would want to join.