If you see any ads in the Examiner for future recruitment nights, it's worth making a placard and picketing them. Young country people shouldn't become cannon fodder just because there's no work here for them.
JOINING THE AUSTRALIAN KILLING FORCE (OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE: ADF)
During 2001/02, the ADF spent more than $33million on recruiting ads in newspapers, on TV and at movie screenings. The advertising is not telling the truth.
It does not try to convince young people to protect Australian business investments in other countries – if need be by killing the inhabitants. Nor does it aim to persuade young people to fight terrorism or "rogue states", both of which are the current justification for military intervention in the Third World by our leaders.
Rather, ADF recruiting advertising focuses on how being part of the ADF enables young people to get fully paid training in some highly skilled technical job, or perhaps help poor people in other countries rebuild basic services. Recent ads have highlighted the Australian military’s role in rebuilding East Timor’s infrastructure following the devastation caused by Indonesia’s occupation. The ADF combat role is only alluded to through scenes of war games, never images of real combat situations.
Historically, the bulk of enlistments of the world’s armed forces are drawn from the working class, usually its poorer sections. Generally, enlistment by young people in the army or navy is motivated by the desire for a regular, guaranteed income rather than patriotism. The ADF chiefs are well aware of this. That’s why their recruiting ads emphasise the amount of money that recruits will be paid. An 18 year old ADF recruit can expect to receive at least $690 per week, equivalent to $45,927 pa in civilian employment.
The pictorial adverts usually are a mock-up of soldiers dressed in high-tech gear and brandishing high-tech weapons. This is a come-on to youthful minds of being able to use this "marvelous" stuff. There are never any pictures of the dismembered bodies of your own mates which is a more likely scenario.
-Jim Knight
In January the ADF held a recruitment night in Grafton. It was a typical low-key Grafton affair, with two CEC picketers and three customers. If you see any ads in the Examiner for future recruitment nights, it's worth making a placard and picketing them. Young country people shouldn't become cannon fodder just because there's no work here for them.