Tapsearch Com EditorWe Want YOU! US Military looks to hire Arab-speaking actors for war games
March 6th 2007 02:04
When a bunch of Arab speaking actors showed up at a casting session in Germany recently, they had no idea what they were in for. They were answering a vague ad in the classifieds of a local tabloid calling for Arab speaking actors. Not many were happy that it was a casting call for the US military.
The US Army in Germany is looking for 600 Arabic-speaking extras for its Iraq training exercises in Germany. Willing participants can earn 90 a day -- their main task is to not understand US soldiers.
The German in charge of casting first asked, "Is there anyone here who has problems working for Americans?" Four answered by grabbing their coats and leaving.
Out of 29 applicants who showed up that day, only four remained when the casting was finished. The United States military is currently looking for the Arab speaking extras to play shop keepers, mayors, terrorists and brothel owners in Afghanistan or Iraq.
The US Army plans to simulate the situation in Iraq from March 20 to April 11 in training exercises in Germany with the Arabic-speaking extras helping to add a bit of realism to the scenario. The extras will live for three weeks at the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) in Hohenfels, Bavaria, located between Nuremberg and Regensburg
The exercises are intended to help prepare US soldiers for the reality on the ground in Iraq. US President George W. Bush recently announced he plans to send 21,500 additional soldiers to Baghdad.
The war games aim is to school US soldiers on how to mix with Arabs or Afghans and tune in to their culture. "We're looking for more realism," said Reggie Bourgeois, of the US Army in Bavaria. "The more actual culture we can inject into the exercise the better it is for our soldiers. After all, we're in the business of dealing with the culture."
Did anyone else know the US military was in the business of dealing with culture?
The main objective is to "fail to understand" the US soldiers and to goad the troops into thinking for themselves. "It's easier to fight, it's harder to restrain," Mr Bourgeois said. "We try to teach them their weapon system should be the last resort, and to keep them from doing down-range dumb things."
I'm very reassured that the military encourage firing a weapon as a last resort. .
Seriously, it's probably a good way to help US Soliders get a handle on cultural and language differences in stressful situations. The Australian army does similar training. I watched a doco on it recently and it was really interesting. But this story cracked me up all the same. Imagine thinking you're being set for some German soap opera only to be greeted by US army officials!
Source: Spiegel and Sydney Morning Herald.
The US Army in Germany is looking for 600 Arabic-speaking extras for its Iraq training exercises in Germany. Willing participants can earn 90 a day -- their main task is to not understand US soldiers.
Give the man a gun! Photo used courtesy of US Army.
The German in charge of casting first asked, "Is there anyone here who has problems working for Americans?" Four answered by grabbing their coats and leaving.
Out of 29 applicants who showed up that day, only four remained when the casting was finished. The United States military is currently looking for the Arab speaking extras to play shop keepers, mayors, terrorists and brothel owners in Afghanistan or Iraq.
The US Army plans to simulate the situation in Iraq from March 20 to April 11 in training exercises in Germany with the Arabic-speaking extras helping to add a bit of realism to the scenario. The extras will live for three weeks at the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) in Hohenfels, Bavaria, located between Nuremberg and Regensburg
The exercises are intended to help prepare US soldiers for the reality on the ground in Iraq. US President George W. Bush recently announced he plans to send 21,500 additional soldiers to Baghdad.
The war games aim is to school US soldiers on how to mix with Arabs or Afghans and tune in to their culture. "We're looking for more realism," said Reggie Bourgeois, of the US Army in Bavaria. "The more actual culture we can inject into the exercise the better it is for our soldiers. After all, we're in the business of dealing with the culture."
Did anyone else know the US military was in the business of dealing with culture?
The main objective is to "fail to understand" the US soldiers and to goad the troops into thinking for themselves. "It's easier to fight, it's harder to restrain," Mr Bourgeois said. "We try to teach them their weapon system should be the last resort, and to keep them from doing down-range dumb things."
I'm very reassured that the military encourage firing a weapon as a last resort. .
Seriously, it's probably a good way to help US Soliders get a handle on cultural and language differences in stressful situations. The Australian army does similar training. I watched a doco on it recently and it was really interesting. But this story cracked me up all the same. Imagine thinking you're being set for some German soap opera only to be greeted by US army officials!
Source: Spiegel and Sydney Morning Herald.
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Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Well this is too little too late anyway, can't stop the chaos with manners now...
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Interesting stuff. I want to know how the defence forces train, but at the same time I don't. It's like a train wreck...don't want to look, yet can't look away.
Ahmed....very funny
Love & stuff
Mrs M