Is the US Army Going Soft?

Recently, the US Army released a series of promotional videos, meant to encourage (presumably young) people to join. In a series titled “The Calling”, these videos illustrate stories of a group of soldiers and how they came to answer their callings - in a particularly Disney-esque fashion, given the way they’re animated. One of the videos, following Janeen’s story, even has Janeen singing.

But when other nations like Russia come out with videos that tackle the idea of the army being rigorous, to say the least, and showing the brutality of training and combat, it begs the question: has the US Army gone soft? And what does that mean for the rest of the world?

It’s worth noting here that the stories aren’t inherently bad; in fact, they’re inspiring in a different way and largely present the army as a way for the young subjects to pursue meaning and purpose.

In Rickie’s story, he describes how he came from Haiti to the US, as a first-generation immigrant, and grew to love this country, becoming determined to protect it. David’s story is one of perseverance, throwing out excuses for yourself, and pursuing a dream of being a pilot, even if it entails exceptionally hard work and dedication. Janeen’s story goes into how she came from an army family and became a singer that toured the world only after her army-dad didn’t give her his blessing to join the army. When she witnessed parts of the world in political turmoil, suffering violence and injustice, she returned to join the army, this time with new determination and her father’s blessing. Jennifer joins the army, intending to be one of the good guys, after coming to the realization that while there is evil in the world, there’s also good - and it’s important to make an effort to be a part of the good.

Perhaps the most infamous story, the one that misses the mark exceptionally, is Emma’s. Her story focuses heavily on the positive influence of women in her life. She grew up with two mothers and attended rallies in support of same-sex love and marriage. When one of her mothers became paralyzed when she was young, Emma observed her slowly make a full recovery, even when doctors said she might never walk again. Fast forward to her graduating college, and Emma reflects on her life. She asks if she’s earned anything on her own, seeing as she has lived a comfortable life. One of her friends is studying abroad, another is climbing Mount Everest. Upon meeting with an army recruiter, she finds “a way to prove [her] inner strength and maybe shatter some stereotypes along the way.”

Emma’s story isn’t one of self-sacrifice or a desire to help others. While I’d like to believe that, as a person, she holds these values, the story doesn’t come across that way. It paints her as someone who just wanted to waltz into the army because of her own self-interest, and so she did. Out of all the stories, this is the most Disney-esque, and when such a tone and style of story is charming for children’s stories, it’s bizarre to apply it to the army.

While the other stories are fine - some even being very patriotic - they seem to paint an image of the army that would, in turn, hurt our image as a nation.

To contrast those stories, a Russian army recruitment ad depicts a young man getting his head shaved. The tone is brutal, a bit dark but adventurous. The only bright imagery is of him and his significant other - a wife or girlfriend. But it’s quickly snapped away as he wakes up and pursues his training, ultimately going into sub-zero temperatures, engaging in combat. The tone here is one of strength, and it doesn’t shy away from depicting the harshness of combat and training for it.

According to US News, the slogan of the Russian video is

“Be all you can be”? Not today. “An Army of One"? No chance.

This is … the first day of your new life.

The voice-over in the video expands upon the themes of being in the army for your nation, not for yourself, and not as some single unit that anybody cares about. 

“Who you were yesterday doesn’t concern anyone anymore. What do you know about yourself? What are you capable of? The questions may remain without answers, but would you be able to sleep well?”

“To know yourself is to know the limits of your abilities. To hell with limitations! Are you ready to break yourself, every day? Here pain makes you stronger, scars are a daily occurrence. Here you decide to prove something to yourself.”

“This you try to see in each shadow of your enemy, because without an enemy there is no battle, and without a battle there is no victory. But in reality, the main enemy … is you, the you from yesterday. Your mission: Track down the enemy, catch up with him, overcome, become better than him and return as a victor. Because tomorrow is the first day of your new life.”

There’s no triumph in the Russian army recruitment video. There is the very real brutality of training and it hints at war and combat that can await you. There’s no winning, but in its stead, a constant battle to gain strength and improve upon who you were yesterday. It paints an image of a Russian army consisting of strong soldiers, always pursuing improvement, willingly endeavoring upon this new life that is rigorous and difficult.

Meanwhile, all the stories in the US Army recruitment videos read as triumphant by default. When no struggle is perceived, all the subjects look like Mary Sues, even when one has to believe that that can’t possibly be the case … right?

Such seeds of doubt, the fact that you even have to ask yourself that, is indicative of the negative image that is being put out by the US Army in these videos. Does the US Army consist of Mary Sues? Or people that are, to some degree, self-involved or too focused on who they are as an individual that they’re not putting their all towards being a part of a formidable unit? Is the army more focused on feelings instead of generating strong soldiers that are constantly seeking more from themselves to contribute, as well as from their teammates?

When I think about the army, I don’t immediately jump to thinking about individuals (though this isn’t to say they’re not worth thinking about). I think about the strength of that army, and how formidable they are, given that there’s no guarantee that we will never engage in a hot war with countries such as China or Russia, where tensions are increasingly high, no thanks to the currently weak and seemingly floundering administration. If the army is soft, I suppose that it’s good that we know that, although it certainly diminishes any ounce of confidence civilians could have in the army or the nation. However, if it’s not, now, more than ever, is the time to show that.

Luna Salinas is a US-based contributor for Lotuseaters.com with a focus on culture and society, and how they directly influence politics. She turned to writing in order to join the fight against misinformation, and in order to provide a voice that perhaps other young women could relate to. Her favorite drink is either pinot noir or whiskey, and her favorite view is one with mountains and forests.