Canadian Forces ads

[Fuzzy McGillicuddy]

Have you seen these new Canadian Forces recruiting ads? They've been on TV a couple of weeks now. They are very powerful. It is a remarkably different approach to recruiting soldiers than I've ever seen in this country. The theme of the ad is "fight". Among other things, it shows soldiers firing weapons at an unseen enemy. The message isn't sugar-coated: Canada is at war.

I've heard some flak from the NDP (you wouldn't expect anything else). But I don't care if some people think these ads are slick. They seem to be effective.

It's nothing like those ads that used to tout, "there's no life like it."

[Jayems]

The Canadian Islamic Congress deemed them offensive, if you can believe it.

[Red Mile Style]

As far as I can tell, the old ads were working just fine. I don't recall seeing any tanks rolling on Canadian streets or Canadian civilians being killed. In fact, I think the amount of money we were spending on the military was appropriate for the purpose it was serving.

Then again, I'm sure this is a great way to spend tax payers money, becuase CanWest Global or Bell Globe Media aren't quite profitable enough...

[CaptainCrunch]

I thought they were very well done, but a little dark for recruiting purposes. They did show civilian rescues and the Navy picking up refugee's on the boat, so it continued with the same kind of message that they always have shown.

I'm sure a lot of people will be disturbed by the Afghanistan footage in there with the house raid, but at least the ads are honest.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Red Mile Style

As far as I can tell, the old ads were working just fine. I don't recall seeing any tanks rolling on Canadian streets or Canadian civilians being killed. In fact, I think the amount of money we were spending on the military was appropriate for the purpose it was serving.

Then again, I'm sure this is a great way to spend tax payers money, becuase CanWest Global or Bell Globe Media aren't quite profitable enough...

Obviously the old ads didn't work since there has been a massive shortage of fresh recruits over the last 15 years. When the Liberal's wanted to ad 5000 soldiers to the forces for the purpose of proping up our peace keeping obligations we couldn't fulfil those roles.

The amount of money that we were spending on the military was actually a waste of money since the spending actually allowed the armed forces to decay to the point of not being able to reach our obligations both at home and abroad. Even with the spending increases the Forces is facing a critical equipment and manpower shortage in the next 20 years.

The sad statement right now is with the deployment of just 2000 troops and thier accompanying equipment, the forces is now incredibly strapped for both finances and front line combat troops. We can't pursue any peacekeeping missions even if we wanted too, and if there was a major disaster in this country, the forces would be hard pressed to respond.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Obviously the old ads didn't work since there has been a massive shortage of fresh recruits over the last 15 years. When the Liberal's wanted to ad 5000 soldiers to the forces for the purpose of proping up our peace keeping obligations we couldn't fulfil those roles.

The amount of money that we were spending on the military was actually a waste of money since the spending actually allowed the armed forces to decay to the point of not being able to reach our obligations both at home and abroad. Even with the spending increases the Forces is facing a critical equipment and manpower shortage in the next 20 years.

The sad statement right now is with the deployment of just 2000 troops and thier accompanying equipment, the forces is now incredibly strapped for both finances and front line combat troops. We can't pursue any peacekeeping missions even if we wanted too, and if there was a major disaster in this country, the forces would be hard pressed to respond.

Considering that you can look forward to living off the food bank, I can't blame people not wanting to join.

[arsenal]

If the Canadian military was as well equiped as the US military, I probably would have joined back when I was 18,19. What's the point of joining the Military if you don't have the tools required to do the job? But that goes for any job. If people are going to be defending our country, they need the backing of the country, both in monies and public support.

[browna]

I think they're great ads. Bold, which is good.

A few (4?) years back, I was in a focus group for the CF ad campaign. They showed us similar ads to these, as well as some lighter (the previous ads to these current ones, that they ended up choosing for the previous ad campaign), and then 2 real lame ones that would've been an embarrasement to Canadians.

These are eye openers, and not marginalizing, or glorifying, the Forces roles.

[Fuzzy McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by arsenal

If the Canadian military was as well equiped as the US military, I probably would have joined back when I was 18,19. What's the point of joining the Military if you don't have the tools required to do the job? But that goes for any job. If people are going to be defending our country, they need the backing of the country, both in monies and public support.

I think the troops have the support of the Canadian public. Most people I speak to are very proud of our soldiers. It appears the Harper government is finally providing financial backing to the military. If we expect our troops to perform in harms way, we have to give them the equipment necessary to get the job done.

[CaptainCrunch]

Agreed the public has always been pretty good about supporting the soldiers, the problem has been political as the Liberals and even to some extent Mulrooney's conservatives had an institutional hatred and mistrust for the men and woman in uniform.

I'm happy that they're finally getting the backing that we didn't have back when I served. If that backing was there I probably would have been happy with a career in uniform, as it stood, the lack of pay and decent equipment and confusing and muddled missions drove myself and a lot of good people out.

[White Doors]

Originally Posted by Red Mile Style

As far as I can tell, the old ads were working just fine. I don't recall seeing any tanks rolling on Canadian streets or Canadian civilians being killed. In fact, I think the amount of money we were spending on the military was appropriate for the purpose it was serving.

Then again, I'm sure this is a great way to spend tax payers money, becuase CanWest Global or Bell Globe Media aren't quite profitable enough...

huh?

They are trying to increase the size of the Canadian forces so the people that fight on your behalf aren't burnt out and have the equipment that they need. You have an issue with that?
The old ads were working fine were they? Are you in recruitment yourself? You know this?

[Morozee]

Are these commercials online?

[Morozee]

http://www.recruiting.forces.gc.ca

duh...

[GoinAllTheWay]

I saw one for the first time the other night and was blown away it was an ad of the CF, thougth for sure it was from the Stats. I was very impressed with them, espcialy blending the role they have always been in (Peace Keeping) to their current operations in Afghanistan.

Couldn't be happier. I dislike the fact that armed forces are required in our world but the sad fact is we do, possibly now more then ever. When you consider where we were military wise by then end of WW2 to where we are now, that is a mamoth step backwards in terms of fighting potential.

Our military has been a joke for some years now. Helicopters crashing on a regular basis, ships having to be turned around because said choppers crashed and burned on their deck, unable to even move our troops ourselves over seas because we don't have the transports to get them anywhere, showing up to a desert war in green camo, and just the minute number, its good to see that maybe we may be heading back to respectability.

That being said, the AF that we DO have are well trained and repected around the globe. JTF2 is a VERY good outfit, our pilots are amongs the best as we have limited aircraft so only the best we have are allowed to fly them. And we do have a habit of doing quite well in the tank competitions we get into with the states.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I saw one for the first time the other night and was blown away it was an ad of the CF, thougth for sure it was from the Stats. I was very impressed with them, espcialy blending the role they have always been in (Peace Keeping) to their current operations in Afghanistan.

Couldn't be happier. I dislike the fact that armed forces are required in our world but the sad fact is we do, possibly now more then ever. When you consider where we were military wise by then end of WW2 to where we are now, that is a mamoth step backwards in terms of fighting potential.

Our military has been a joke for some years now. Helicopters crashing on a regular basis, ships having to be turned around because said choppers crashed and burned on their deck, unable to even move our troops ourselves over seas because we don't have the transports to get them anywhere, showing up to a desert war in green camo, and just the minute number, its good to see that maybe we may be heading back to respectability.

That being said, the AF that we DO have are well trained and repected around the globe. JTF2 is a VERY good outfit, our pilots are amongs the best as we have limited aircraft so only the best we have are allowed to fly them. And we do have a habit of doing quite well in the tank competitions we get into with the states.

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