The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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Dirty Little Secrets
U.S. Air Force Competes With Free Games
by James Dunnigan
December 30, 2004
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
The U.S. Air Force has always seen itself as a high-tech and innovative
operation. So it was with some dismay that they viewed the success of the U.S.
Army’s online game (to help snag new recruits) roll out two years ago. The
“Americas Army” game inspired the air force to do one of their own; “USAF: Air
Dominance.” While the name of the game evokes what the air force sees of itself
(controlling the air with high tech warplanes), the game is more practical.
Sure, you can fly the hot new F-22 fighter in the game, but you can also fly a
Predator UAV, or a C-17 transport. These latter two aircraft are doing far more
for national defense these days than the F-22. Moreover, the air force doesn’t
need much help in the recruiting department. At the moment, the air force is
laying off people. Over 90 percent of the people in the air force are in support
jobs, and never get near an aircraft during working hours. But the air force
wisely decided to not include office work or guard duty in their new game. The
air force only spent $250,000 and three months to develop their new game, while
the army spent over $5 million and several years to create America’s Army.
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