Defence Forces launch World’s first interactive video recruitment campaign
The Defence Forces have become the first military in the world to create a first-person interactive video as part of a recruitment campaign. The current recruitment campaign, which was launched recently by the Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D., is inviting young men and women between the ages of 18 and 24 to ‘Join Our Team’.
The interactive video uses a real soldier avatar to fully immerse game players in the reality of becoming a soldier in a platoon which is conducting a joint land, sea and air assault. The scenario, where every decision has a consequence, offers an unprecedented opportunity for players to appreciate the skill, determination and courage required of Defence Forces personnel as they conduct their basic training.
Minster Kehoe commented on the campaign: “This year’s recruitment campaign is exceptionally important as the Defence Forces seek to recruit 860 applicants across general service, apprentices and cadets. This campaign is reaching out to potential recruits on platforms that they are accustomed to, offering them a unique opportunity to become immersed in the type of intense Defence Forces training exercise they can expect to face as they begin their military careers.”
The Defence Forces have employed the tactic as the target demographic are frequent users of gaming. The campaign began with a teaser trailer similar to the type of advertisement one would normally associate with the launch of a major video game. Titled ‘A New Dawn’ the game’s teaser trailer received wide spread attention as gaming aficionados attempted to establish its origins. Of course, the big reveal on launch day was that visitors to the site expected to find a game but instead found out this is not a game, this is a Defence Forces training scenario. Peaking interest in this way enabled the Defence Forces to break out of its normal channels to engage with young men and women that may not appreciate the wide range of roles and responsibilities available in an organisation which prioritises lifelong learning.
Minister Kehoe launched the Defence Forces recruitment campaign on the 23rd of February with a social media video which asked people if they had what it takes “to make an impact.” The video was viewed 500,000 times in the campaign’s first 5 days, attracting over 3,600 applicants since the campaign’s launch.
Commenting on this year’s campaign, Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Vice Admiral Mark Mellett said: “How we are reaching out to potential recruits is different this year, but what we offer them remains the same. A career in the Defence Forces is an opportunity to serve your country and to make an impact in some of the world’s most troubled regions while also receiving first class training and education along the way.”
The Defence Forces innovative approach to this year’s campaign is building on last year’s female focused campaign that won a Silver Lion at the Cannes Festival of Creativity.
To play the vidie: see www.anewdawn.ie