"Qualities not Qualifications"

[Vegetius]

This is re. the tagline new army officer recruiting ad.

What do the officers here make of it? Funny thing is, it reminds me a bit of the ORs ads from a few years back (and of course, my own bugbear, not a stitch of desert DPM in sight, the officers are in the Balkans or supplying logs for the brave boys fighting some fictitous Shock Army).

Also, the themes seem to me to be even more ridiculous than the normal army recruiting ad (yes, blonde attractive twenty-something woman playing football in the park with your friends, making decisions is just like looking for your lost ball, or yes, handsome dark-haired twenty-something bloke, stopping a Serb militia is just like being a London club doorman)?

I've always thought that the "Be the Best" campaign onwards was shite. This for me confirms it. So is it (A) dumbing down? (B) Getting with the kids? (C) Something else entirely.

I know they're not aimed at me, but that doesn't mean I can't see them for the pap they are. Someone is getting paid a lot of money for these ads, after all.

V!

 

[moving-target-survivor]

A load of dumming-down papp...........I believe that if you collect enough 'tokens'*, you can become a Guards Officer too.

(* Just take them into the Army Careers Office to exchange them for a nice new uniform)

 

[TIGER-MONKEY]

My favourite was "Join the Professionals for Action, Travel and Adventure"

That was what to poster said when I joined.

That was what I had by the time I left.

So no complaints from me.

 

[gingwarr]

Anyone else think they should run the old Rudyard Kipling's "If" recruitment ads again, or maybe revamp them (If you can keep your head when those around you are losing theirs and blaming it on you etc)? I'm fairly sure these were occifer ads.

I must have been a young kid when those came out, but I still remember them.

 

[Twist_To_Open]

i prefered the frank receruitment adds, oh to be frank on the beach with the chicks

 

[Macks]

Wouldn't exactly make me join up if I hadn't already signed on the dotted line.
I mean, "Qualities over qualifications." That's just implying some horrible little oik has a chance of being an officer. Damned shocking.
But seriously, it's hard to see what their target audience is at all.

 

[Biscuits_AB]

i prefered the frank receruitment adds, oh to be frank on the beach with the chicks

Did you see the mock up of the 'Frank' ad? Frank skiing, Frank playing footie, Frank with the chicks, Frank driving his DROPS , Frank in a body bag.

 

[antphilip]

Hmm Qualities not Quals? Are they trying to make Non Grads more acceptable or is it just the marketing companies idea? Hmmm

 

[StabTiffy2B]

Well I've got loads of good qualities innit. I can out run the rozzas and I'm well stealthy. Those security blokes don't notice me nicking gold bling from Argos.

I've even got me asbo as a qualification innit.

Can I be an officer?

(it's a joke. Honest).

 

[barbs]

Well I've got loads of good qualities innit. I can out run the rozzas and I'm well stealthy. Those security blokes don't notice me nicking gold bling from Argos.

I've even got me asbo as a qualification innit.

Can I be an officer?

(it's a joke. Honest).

Might do better than some I could mention!

 

[msr]

This is re. the tagline new army officer recruiting ad.

What do the officers here make of it?

Was it written for Prince Harry?

msr

 

[nasch]

We do need to distinguish between adverts which make us feel good to be part of the organisation, and adverts which are good at recruiting. For instance, RM's 99.99% Need Not Apply obviously makes Royal think that he's hoofing. Unfortunately, it also means that 99.99% don't bother to apply - so they're having problems recruiting.

The key thing we need to do is get people to consider a career in the armed forces. Once they've done that, hopefully the facts and the blokes will speak for themselves. However, at the moment, lots of undergrads don't even consider the army as an option (perhaps thinking it's a career for thickies, isn't challenging, is poorly paid, etc). The challenge is to get them to look beyond their prejudices about the armed forces, and show them the facts.

Not sure whether that's got anything to do with the current campaign, as I haven't seen it (although I do believe that one of my bezzers, who has something of a pretty boy reputation, may be a star!)...

 

[cpunk]

What has always surprised me about army advertising is that it doesn't focus on the uniqueness of the job. Time after time, they seem to focus on how 'it's a bit like civvy street, but more exciting' when in reality, it isn't anything at all like civvie street. I can't think of any comparable jobs, where day in, day out (on op tours anyway), you are challenged to your physical and intellectual limits. That is what has kept me hanging around for twenty years.

 

[msr]

Time after time, they seem to focus on how 'it's a bit like civvy street, but more exciting' when in reality, it isn't anything at all like civvie street.

Cpunk, how long did you spend working in civvie street before you joined the army?

msr

 

[ugly]

Time after time, they seem to focus on how 'it's a bit like civvy street, but more exciting' when in reality, it isn't anything at all like civvie street.

Cpunk, how long did you spend working in civvie street before you joined the army?

msr

I spent a few summers work dodging when I was a schoolboy and honestly it prepared me for life in Bn. Dont need a clip board just a brass neck Bob W taught me that, a sense of humour helps and a quick wit for when you've been collared.

 

[gingwarr]

I think the fact that anything to do with leadership is automatically associated with officers put prospective toms off (I know this about officer ads). Surely showing prospective recruits that they actually have a career path can't hurt, can it?

Also the last bunch of Infantry ads were utterly bonk. Showing a lad in a field saying "I'm never alone" and then advertising all the other jobs (Geo-terrain analyst FFS!) won't work. Then there was one showing a Para officer being led toward another vehicle during a sandstorm didn't really work. It was sort of "I'm a para officer - people in offices with headphones tell me what to do, and I do it".

Is it too much to ask, for something a little warry?

 

[Macks]

Is it too much to ask, for something a little warry?

Yes. Probably wouldn't get on TV for fear of offending hippies, peace activists, etc. etc.

 

[CaptainBlackadder]

Why does a guy with a degree make a better Officer? They don't necessarily - I think THIS is the point being made.....all graduates get off your high horse

 

[ugly]

Why does a guy with a degree make a better Officer? They don't necessarily - I think THIS is the point being made.....all graduates get off your high horse P

"When I" was considering which route to take in the late 70's the min entry requirement for Officers was 2 A level grade E. I suppose the powers that be consider that to have been the equivalent of a 3 year course in macrame at central blogistan university, formerly MK poly!
All it seemed to get for the Grads in My Bn was a second pip after 6 months even before PCBC
I still maintain the best I served under had sacked RMAS once, got bored retried and had to serve as a Rfn in RGJ before attempting RCB again, managed a year in NI before convincing them he had to be my Boss!

 

[barbs]

Why does a guy with a degree make a better Officer? They don't necessarily - I think THIS is the point being made.....all graduates get off your high horse

Hear hear! Someone recently tried the 'graduates should get paid more than the non-graduates because they've got bigger debts' line on me the other day... laugh? I almost sh@t.