Military Stereotypes

For years the Pentagon has paid sports teams to honor veterans and those still wearing the uniform. There are celebrations where sports teams wear military inspired uniforms to show solidarity with who they consider their heroes. At almost every sporting event, you will see a large American flag covering most of the field before the game begins. A famous or professional (depending on the event) singer performs the nation’s anthem. The military color guard (usually representing all branches of the armed service) is given most of the camera’s attention during the ceremony. The anthem usually culminates with a presentation of military aircraft flying over as the final notes are sung. This example is just one instance in almost every major sporting
event where sports (athletes), entertainment (famous singer), and the military (color guard/aircraft) are infused into one spectacle. The notion of warriors taking the field and fighting together to achieve victory is a description that could just as easily be applied to a battlefield or a sport’s arena since the mentality is the same. The idea that the opposing team is the foreign “enemy” and the home team is the local “heroes” that will defend and prevail is easily grasped and applied to both forms of conflict. Students at the military academies can often defer their military service if they have a professional offer; this usually includes military member’s filling recruiter roles during their reserve time. The most famous example of this being, David “The Admiral” Robinson who completed his obligation service in the Navy Reserves. (Cyphers and Trex).

In recent years the media/Hollywood has stood in support specifically of the American troops, carful not to repeat the transgressions committed against the troops during the Vietnam War.
The modern day celebrities are often very careful to only ridicule American foreign policy and foreign intervention in a way that avoids condemning the American military members. Actors and actresses that are anti-violent and pro-gun control will often appear in violent films, often pro-military, fighting the “terrorist-de-jour” of the film, racking up large body counts to save America. The Pentagon offers experts and advisors to some of the largest movie studios to ensure that Hollywood portrays the military in a positive (and accurate) way. In my opinion, there are many Americans that learn history from movies and television. The History Channel, and many of Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood’s movies are good examples of Hollywood bringing often-obscure events to the public, or using war as a backdrop, to tell their stories. One of the most common places to see recruiting commercials is during the coming attractions at movie theaters.
(Hilton).

The Pentagon has created and developed numerous games to give American teenagers the ability to create, fight, and experience many battles that have taken place in the real world (and many in alternate timelines and history.) This serves the purpose of exposing America’s youth to a possible career in the military and highlighting some opportunities a military career offers.
The violence is controlled to an acceptable level where an individual can always restart, or assist in “reviving” a fallen comrade. Speaking from personal experience, I have seen my son pick weapons inside a video game that he knows will work for specific missions (often customizing it to meet specific requirements). He is fully aware that close air support has a limited time on station, and coordination with other team members is essential to completing the mission. He understands “military jargon” used in the real military due to his exposure to these games. I often find he understands more of what I say then my wife when we reminisce about my time in the military. The pentagon and game developers have tapped into the American emphasis on violence in our society. A perfect example is my son playing, “Call of Duty” where he will kill numerous insurgents, Russian separatists, rogue androids, or entire countries with tactical sub-orbital strikes. But, he still covers his eyes during nude scenes in movies. Somehow we have associated violent content as marginally acceptable, and intimate moments as
something completely unacceptable. Games, Hollywood, Media, and Sports play heavily into this outlook. (Miller).