The Armed Forces Bowl

President Bush's speech Wednesday evening raised a number of concerns, not the least of which is where he intends to find an additional 20,000 troops to send to Iraq. It is clear that our military personnel have been seriously overextended, and with the waning support for the war in Iraq, recruitment is suffering. The military is looking for new ways to market itself, including changing its basic training requirements, raising age limits for enlistment, or even giving away a nifty sportswatch just for signing up.

And here's where sport comes in. It is not a new phenomenon to see a military presence at sporting events, or even to see networks and leagues use the military as prop. Particularly since 9/11, military rituals such as flyovers and the presentation of colors have become commonplace. My academic work focuses on this sort of thing, so it takes a bit to surprise me now. But I was stunned to see on December 23 that among the college football bowl offerings was the Armed Forces Bowl (AFB). Previously called the Fort Worth Bowl, this game was offered as an explicit celebration of not only our troops overseas, but also of military machinery in general.

As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the festivities for the AFB were to include: "Four hours before kickoff, starting at 3 p.m., the largest display of military hardware ever seen at a football game opens for public viewing. The display features four helicopters, including the V-22 Osprey; armored security vehicles, including the new M1117, which is designed to deflect roadside bombs; a Bradley fighting vehicle; Coast Guard ships; a flight simulator; and World War II vehicles." The article added, "And, of course, there will be a flyover and fireworks."

Of course? Why yes, in this age when the realities of warfare are veiled by arrogant displays of military hardware, video footage from CNN, and the pagaentry of flags and uniforms. Hell, civilians can even visit the Army's website and download "America's Army Game," a video simulation of war that promises "to provide an accurate portrayal of Soldier experiences." Accurate, I assume, except without the killing. But it isn't so simple as to say that we're just turning warfare into another form of amusement, is it? Well, the headline to the Star-Telegram articles read, "FW Bowl Tries to Put Fun Back Into the Bowls." I'm not making this up; the article even suggested the game would be the "Cirque du Soleil of bowl games."

Most troubling is that the AFB was more than just a showcase for American military strength. It was also a clear effort to bolster recruiting efforts. Quoting again from the Star-Telegram, "At halftime, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, a former Fort Worth aerospace executive, will become the first recipient of the Great American Patriot Award. And, at some point tonight, he’ll conduct an 'oath of enlistment' for recruits from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines." So there you have it: An event sponsored by a military hardware manufacturer, named "in honor" of our troops, broadcast by ESPN (owned, of course, by Disney), and sanctioned by the NCAA. Oh, by the way, Utah beat Tulsa, 25-13. No word on whether or not Tulsa's players were forced to take an oath of enlistment.