WHAT ARE THEY THINKING????

So, as most will recall, the Army has now stopped a football player from going pro, and a boxer as well. Why? Had they been allowed to go pro, that could have been the BEST recruiting net out there! These soldiers, were still going to be "active duty" in a recruiting capacity. Kids, who idolized them, could have gone and been recruited BY their idols! The Army however, thought it best to just keep them back in the ranks, and mandate them to be ordinary soldiers. Now, instead of having career soldiers, going pro, and drawing people to the Army, these guys will finish up their enlistments and bolt to be able to enjoy the life of pro players, MINUS any commitment or love for the Army that tried to hold them back...

Fast forward to what I found today. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13276.html

The Army is now in a deal to sale the rights of the Big Red One patch to Sears. Why? Because they say it will put the Army out there to the masses. It will get kids wearing the Army gear and make them want to join. What? Really? Who is the marketing genius to the Army? He/She needs to be demoted! That patch is meant to be worn ONLY by those that proudly serve that unit. Want to wear it? ENLIST!

According to the article, the manufacturer of the clothing line sporting the Big Red One, will be an American based company, falling within the guidelines of all things legal, a.k.a. not a sweatshop. Great. FOR NOW! Does the Army not realize that this will require their full attention, FOREVER? You see, the Army can never get lazy about monitoring how this line of clothing will be made. If they do, and this company OUTSOURCED making an Army logo, and the nation of choice that makes it oh so much cheaper, EVER got busted for using small children in sweatshops to make the clothes, the Army would have a BIG RED FACE! You are who you take up company with. For now the company is safe, but in the drive for a dollar, all things can go wrong. We see it on the news DAILY! Does the Army REALLY think this is the way to go about recruiting? Are they REALLY prepared for the possible drawbacks? Don't they have enough responsibility on their plate with looking after soldiers, without adding being a watchdog for a possible recruiting tool gone wrong?

Want to recruit? Allow those outstanding athletes/soldiers to go pro, with an agreement to continue to serve out their enlistments as a recruiter. Contract them to wear the Army logo on the field or in the ring until their enlistment is complete! This will reach the masses via internet, television, radio, etc. These are soldiers who understand why they serve and who they are representing! The watchdog necessity is so much LOWER in this situation.

Hurry up, WAIT, and THINK, THINK, THINK!