UK Defence Secretary John Healey wants gamers and coders to join the army as "Cyber Military recruits".
Most of us gamers have enjoyed our fair share of first-person shooters, but, of course, that doesn't translate to actual warfare. Thankfully, this recruitment drive is focused on non-combat roles. Specifically, the UK want gamers to join as "Cyber Military recruits"...
Gamers to boost the "Cyber Military"
At the annual Labour Party conference in London, UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced a number of major changes to UK military recruiting. Namely, they want gamers and coders to join as "Cyber Military recruits" who will be involved in cybersecurity and, based on a separate interview he gave to the Sun, drone piloting.
Healey spoke about the changing nature of warfare and increasing importance of drones in his interview with the Sun, citing Ukraine as an example:
The sort of skills that drone pilots have are many of the same skills as some of our best console warriors in civilian life.
To make this recruitment drive more successful, the Defence Secretary also announced plans to lower the fitness requirements, and remove the ban on applicants with medical conditions such as hayfever, eczema and acne. They also want to reduce the bureaucratic upheaval of joining the military, which has been a long time coming; three out of four UK military applicants actually drop out of the selection process voluntarily due to how long it takes.
The wider effort here make sense, but the way he chose to appeal to gamers is possibly too jingoistic for this demographic:
I'm setting up a new direct route for Cyber Military recruits. Because if you're a top gamer, or a coder, your country needs you. We'll create an armed forces that draws the very best of Britain's talent. Better fit to fight, [and] better reflecting the country they defend.
The whole "call to arms" is just a touch too cringeworthy.
Is this a crazy scheme, or simply the future of the military in a technological age?