Which Army Slogan Did/Do You Like the Most?

SSG Linda Holt — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:23:00 -0400

This is a picture of an Army recruiting ad (obviously, aimed at recruiting women) that appeared in a 1972 magazine. It includes the slogan of the day, "Today's Army Wants to Join You".

What do you think of the various slogans that have been used through the years? Do you have a favorite? Do you think some have been more effective than others? Is it time for a new one? Any suggestions for one?

Response by SPC Chad Kolod made Jun 4 at 2015 12:25 AM

SPC Chad Kolod — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:25:49 -0400

I really appreciated Army Strong! I just feel like it takes a strong person, both mentally and physically to serve their country! Great post!

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Jun 4 at 2015 12:27 AM

SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:27:29 -0400

Army Strong for me. It perfectly represents what it takes to serve in the military.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 12:35 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:35:21 -0400

"Be All You Can Be" was probably the best.

The English minor in me still has a hard time getting past the lack of "the" in "I want YOU for (the) US Army" even though the History major in me loves the connection to the past. "Today's Army Wants You" and "Join the People Who've Joined the Army" seem... lame.

"Army of One" is flat-out puzzling, what with the "teamwork" emphasis. And "Army Strong" sounds like "We're Trying Too Hard For You To Like Us!"

There was another one that was experimented with, after "Be All You Can Be" and before "Army of One" was adopted: "Freedom Isn't Free". I wish they'd been willing to explore that one more. I think that had potential.

--EDIT: And I just realized that poor woman in the poster has a First Army patch. Please, someone arrange an exfil before her paperwork ends up under some Brigadier's parakeet cage or something.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jun 4 at 2015 12:35 AM

Capt Mark Strobl — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:35:21 -0400

Although I question how effective this one was, my favorite Army recruiting commercial started with a bunch of soldiers getting woken up at o'-dark thirty, then they loaded an airplane, checked their riggings, moved out to the aircraft, sortied, jumped out of the aircraft, set up all their gear, dialed in a howitzer, conducted a fire mission....Then, as the sun was peaking over the horizon, a young hard-charger handed a canteen cup full of steaming coffee to his 1stSgt. The ad ended with the narrator: "In the Army, we do more before 8:00 am that most people do all day!"

I think that came out in the early 80's. I kept thinking to myself: How, in the world, would THAT appeal to an 18-yr old?! The ad didn't last too long and I joined the Marines. Anyone else remember that one?

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 4 at 2015 12:41 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:41:31 -0400

I love this Poster so traditional....

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 4 at 2015 12:43 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:43:23 -0400

$288 in 1972 was worth: $1,645.40 in 2015

http://www.saving.org/inflation/inflation.php?amount=288&year=1972

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jun 4 at 2015 1:03 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 01:03:35 -0400

SSG Linda Holt, I'm afraid SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL beat you to the punch on this discussion thread! By the way, I enlisted on 9AUG69, so the slogan then was "Look Sharp, Be Sharp, Go Army". This clearly was taken from the 1952 Gillette razor blade commercial, "Look Sharp, Feel Sharp, Be Sharp". The slogan was used by Gillette for decades!

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/which-army-slogan-did-you-join-with-mine-was-be-all-you-can-be-in-the-army-1989

Which Army Slogan did you join with?"Mine was "Be All You Can Be " In The Army (1989). |...

2006 to present "Army Strong" is the recruiting slogan that is used currently by the United States Army. The composer of the song used in the Army Strong television commercials is Mark Isham.[3] 2001 to 2006 A humvee wrapped with the slogan in April 2006 "Army of One" was a relatively short-lived recruiting slogan. It replaced the popular "Be All You Can Be" and was replaced in 2006 by the new slogan "Army Strong".[4]The Army of One slogan was...

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 4 at 2015 1:09 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 01:09:26 -0400

Tell me the commercial wouldn't have hooked you!

Be all you can be!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDTPWgGfunM

1983 US Army commercial. "Army. Be All You Can Be."

1983 US Army commercial featuring their college fund program. "Army. Be All You Can Be."

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 4 at 2015 1:11 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 01:11:55 -0400

The slogan I like the best.

Although it is a Marine instead of Army.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 1:12 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 01:12:39 -0400

"Be All You Can Be". Of course, I still mourn the BDU.

"Army of One"...I have always hoped this particular slogan was not a collaborative effort. I'd like to believe that the deadline was midnight, and that one guy was a half-case in at 2330.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jun 4 at 2015 1:22 AM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 01:22:43 -0400

The Few, The Proud, The Marines

Response by SPC William Weedman made Jun 4 at 2015 3:00 AM

SPC William Weedman — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 03:00:04 -0400

It was the one in use during my time in the Army, but I actually had a favorite commercial which came out in the late 1980s with a song called "My Hometown" I was stationed overseas and since there are no ads on AFN, it played a lot, and I liked it. It's still out on You Tube and every once in a while I'll watch it again, not sure why I like it but I do.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 4 at 2015 3:04 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 03:04:08 -0400

Yes I'm a Sailor. However when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's I often played Soldier with my friends and wanted to join the Army when I got older. All because of the Army recruiting slogan "Be All You Can Be."

I even remember the other part, "Get an edge on life in the Army!"

Response by SGT Frank Leonardo made Jun 4 at 2015 3:40 AM

SGT Frank Leonardo — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 03:40:27 -0400

Army of 1 because soldiers need to come together as 1 to get things done

Response by SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA made Jun 4 at 2015 4:09 AM

SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 04:09:17 -0400

The 1960s, "The New Action Army".

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jun 4 at 2015 4:37 AM

SFC Stephen King — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 04:37:07 -0400

Enlisted: Be all that you can be. Simple but effective to this day.

Recruited from: Be all you can be - Army of one (very challenging). Terrible ad campaign

I liked Army Strong the message the ad campaign was not well executed. The emphasis was not on all strength. In hindsight I would have stressed "Mentally and Physically tough trained in my warrior tasks and drills.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 4 at 2015 7:11 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 07:11:49 -0400

"Be all you can be" was mine

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 4 at 2015 7:31 AM

SGT William Howell — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 07:31:36 -0400

You missed, "We do more before 9AM, than most people do all day."

Or my personal Army recruiting slogan which took off with limited success in Iraq 2004, "This is almost more bullshit than you can stand." This had went well. I had at least a 100 out of work Iraqis looking to join, but when they found out what it meant in Arabic they joined the other team.

Response by SGT Kristjan Rahe made Jun 4 at 2015 8:33 AM

SGT Kristjan Rahe — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 08:33:59 -0400

Be a all that you can be was the best

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 4 at 2015 9:05 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:05:46 -0400

best fiction ever!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 9:54 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:54:20 -0400

"Be all that you can be" which is what I saw on TV as a kid. I joined with "Army of One" didn't like it.

Response by SSG Todd Lysfjord made Jun 4 at 2015 10:02 AM

SSG Todd Lysfjord — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:02:27 -0400

"Be all you can be"...the best

"Army of one"...the worst

"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his" ~Patton

...best quote!

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made Jun 4 at 2015 10:18 AM

PFC Tuan Trang — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:18:09 -0400

"Army Strong"

Response by SGM Reginald Thompson made Jun 4 at 2015 10:51 AM

SGM Reginald Thompson — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:51:31 -0400

I heard those words, "Be All You Can Be!" that was my call to duty, and I joined up in 1981.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 10:59 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:59:12 -0400

First Army Strong, then Be All You Can Be, I Want YOU for US Army, Army of One, and lastly Today's Army Wants You to Join You.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 4 at 2015 11:02 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 11:02:41 -0400

The slogan I joined up under, "Be All You Can Be", one of the best "ad" campaigns ever and should be brought back, was stupid to have ever gone away from it. If I remember correctly it was the #2 most recognizable campaign after either Coca-Cola or McDonalds.

Response by SFC Wallace Lopez made Jun 4 at 2015 11:11 AM

SFC Wallace Lopez — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 11:11:59 -0400

"Be all you can be"

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Jun 4 at 2015 12:18 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 12:18:30 -0400

US ARMY - Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet and Us Ain't Ready to Move Yet. Then, during Viet Nam, there was Time in Jail or join the military. Finally, the quaint acronym "FTA" was regularly used when I was in during the 1970's. One 2LT caught one of our guys chalking it on a truck and told him he was going to bring him up on charges. The soldier winked and asked why - the LT told him you know what that stands for and enough is enough. The soldier replied "Follow the Airborne", sir, whereupon we all got a good laugh and the 2LT learned another lesson...at his own expense.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Jun 4 at 2015 1:28 PM

COL Ted Mc — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 13:28:25 -0400

Personally I think that "Be All You Can Be" actually sums up what is wanted from someone who is going to be "professional military".

"Army of One" and "Army Strong" are PR slogans designed by advertising executives.

Quite frankly I'd never want to have anyone who thought that they were an "Army of One" under my command - people like that are dangerous because "warriors" make crappy "soldiers".

"Army Strong" is simply meaningless bafflegab.

Response by SSG Eric Trace made Jun 4 at 2015 3:52 PM

SSG Eric Trace — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:52:12 -0400

Be all that you can be, and that is how I lived my life and my 27 year Army career!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 5:26 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:26:47 -0400

"Be All You Can Be". Just wish they would have keep this slogan.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 5:35 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:35:27 -0400

None of these that's why I aimed high.

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Jun 4 at 2015 8:05 PM

SGT Edward Thomas — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 20:05:38 -0400

My favorite has always been, "Be all you can be".

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 8:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 20:31:30 -0400

"Be all you can be" is the best and I wish they used it today

Response by SFC Wesley Arnold, Jr made Jun 4 at 2015 8:37 PM

SFC Wesley Arnold, Jr — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 20:37:19 -0400

"Be All You Can Be" although "I Want You for US Army" is classic and timeless

Response by SGT Edwin Claudio made Jun 5 at 2015 12:05 AM

SGT Edwin Claudio — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:05:12 -0400

I came in to be all I could be and I still am ALL THAT I CAN BE!!!

Response by SGT James Hastings made Jun 5 at 2015 1:17 PM

SGT James Hastings — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 13:17:35 -0400

It helped me become more than I was at 18.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Jun 5 at 2015 3:25 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 15:25:54 -0400

Before my OEF tour I was at Ft Bragg doing the warriors skills training. On the combat assault course an NCO yelled "Come on Ma'am - your an Army of One!" I was like "HELL NO - I AM BEING ALL I CAN BE!!!" LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QplWbNg57h4

Army Commercial - Be All You Can Be (1986)

Originally recorded on VHS tape from KTVY, channel 4 in Oklahoma City, on May 8th, 1986.

Response by SGT Chip Hutchings made Jun 5 at 2015 10:26 PM

SGT Chip Hutchings — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:26:16 -0400

Be all that you can be.

I never liked the army of one. Make it sound like your an individual and not part of the team. Did they forget there's no Me in US Army.

Response by 1SG James Richardson made Jun 13 at 2015 11:47 AM

1SG James Richardson — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 11:47:36 -0400

While a detailed Army recruiter myself. I liked " Be all you cab be" Because I would tell potentional recruits that in the Army you could be all you can be. If that was taking college courses on your off duty times or touring Europe or just going bowling and having a good time. Those were all things that you could do in the Army.

Response by LTC John Gillette made Jul 5 at 2015 8:58 AM

LTC John Gillette — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 08:58:51 -0400

Be All Yo Can Be. I was a Recruiting Battalion Commender during the Army of One years and had to constently explain that one to the National and local media. I am not so sure USAREC even understood that slogan.

Response by SGT Jess Daniels made Jul 30 at 2018 12:56 PM

SGT Jess Daniels — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:56:05 -0400

Be all you can be, Army strong!

Response by SGT Kyle Bickley made Oct 24 at 2018 9:40 PM

SGT Kyle Bickley — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 21:40:09 -0400

I like mine the best! Fellow Me!

Response by CPT Tommy Curtis made Aug 25 at 2019 12:36 PM

CPT Tommy Curtis — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 12:36:09 -0400

Be all that you can be.