Link between Airshows & Recruitment

[Ken]

An interesting article on military.com doubting the value of airshows in attracting recruits to the military.

See it here: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014 ... force-a.nl

[Forgotten Field]

Good article. I definitely have a question about "sponsorships" of Nascar bringing out recruits. Public displays with hands-on are what enticed me to join the service; I was allowed to launch a simulated TOW missile and fire a few blanks out of an M16 and was hooked right there. I wasn't allowed to go to airshows when I was a kid (even though I desperately wanted to go to one). With my eyesight at 20/25, and the absolute 20/20 requirement that I heard about (not having heard about waivers anywhere), I decided on the Army because I knew I couldn't fly. I don't regret my service, but I regret not being able to objectively look into the USAF.

But if they are using the recruiting as justification for the demos, I think they are missing the bigger point. We own that hardware, and few of us will ever dream of using it. The line between a 16-year old kid and flying an F-18 is a long, arduous one but it has to begin somewhere. If we close down the demos, where is the kid going to get the idea to pursue that line of career choice? I absolutely believe the cost/benefit analysis needs to be researched, vetted, and validated. But there are a lot more intangibles out there that are hard to define regarding the shows and recruiting.

There is of course one other simple solution: Bring back the draft. But no deferments, period.

[RandolphB]

I disagree with this for civilian airshows. Over the last 15 years air shows have become opening acts for military groups. Most shows have sparse attendance until just before the team like the T Birds or Blue Angels fly. Then people come out of the wood work, you see cars lining the fencelines and 80% more eyes are actually watching the aircraft in the air. The last few major shows I went to, 90% of the younger people (of enlistment age) were talking endlessly about the military acts. I would agree with the listed demographics for specialty shows without a military act headlining, but not for shows with them performing. In fact, it is a pet peeve of mine that few give a darn about civilian performers of any kind, because they want them to hurry up so they can see yet another military act. Military shows have strong attendance from the opening gate onwards....

[JohnB]

There is one other reason for airshows, or at least open houses at military installation: public education.

Since the days of the draft are long gone (thankfully, are any of you bosses or supervisors? It's hard enough to manage people who want to be there, can you imagine the difficulty leading people who don't want to be there especially in places they don't want to be?) most Americans have no direct connection to the military.
Think of your friends, many/most families haven't even known a service member in 40 years since the Vietnam era.

An open house/airshow at least gets them to visit a base. There they see the facility (which they pay for) for good or ill, meet service members (even if it's an A1C/PFC or Seaman) answering questions about something, see the hardware and finally watch the Blue Angels, T-Birds or Golden Knights.
It gives the public a greater understanding of the military. Otherwise all they know/learn see about the forces is what they see in Hollywood films, which are seldom accurate.
As an example, I'd hate to think people think the USAF is really like what it saw in Iron Eagle, (sure we let 16 years olds fly F-16s).

The NASCAR sponsorship is another mater. A year or two back, a female democrat from Minn. (IIRC) wanted to end NASCAR sponsorship. She was unsuccessful and met resistance from the Pentagon. I would imagine some day others with her opinions will be successful. BTW: the military also sponsors other youth-orientated sports events like the "X-Games.

In this case, I wonder if it was about saving money or just anti-NASCAR feeling? I'd imagine liberal women from Northern states, as a demographic group, aren't huge NASCAR fans.

[Ken]

I'm not a business guy but I'd be interested to see a case presented on the economic impact of a big show vs. a cancelled show. As we saw during last year's sequestration, a number of big shows were dropped after the DoD pulled out. At what point is is advantageous for taxpayers to fund an event that then generates greater economic activity? Just curious.

Ken

[Obergrafeter]

Nascar, airshows and FISHING??? Every Service sponsors fishing competitions. Just another way to reach the public. Why should TV advertisements get all the money?

[RyanShort1]

I know of a friend who said that his decision to attend the Air Force Academy was a direct result of a Houston airshow.