Posted on Aug 16, 2014
Which Army Slogan did you join with? Mine was "Be All You Can Be " in the Army (1989)?
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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 meant to mean as described Sun Tzu's Art of War in Chapter VI Weak Points and Strong, that you are only as strong as your weakest link,if the enlisted soldiers are not trained by the non commissioned officers,because the officer are not with troops and checkout what they need,a Army is very weak. The reason for the replacement is believed to be[by whom?] that the slogan "Army of One" is contrary to the idea of teamwork.[citation needed] It is unknown whether this slogan was taken directly from the poster for the 1976 Clint Eastwood film The Outlaw Josey Wales, which had "An Army of One" under a drawing of the Josey Wales character. The "One" in the slogan was an acronym, standing for Officers, Non-Commissioned, and Enlisted,[citation needed] the three types of Soldiers in the US Army.
1980 to 2001
Be All (That) You Can Be was the recruiting slogan of the United States Army for over twenty years.[5] This popular slogan was created by Earl Carter while at the advertising firm N. W. Ayer & Son. He was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Award for his efforts.[6] In his autobiography Soul of It All, Michael Bolton claims to have sung the jingle in the early 1980s.[7]
1971 to 1980
"Today's Army Wants to Join You" was a recruiting slogan from the 1971 Volunteer Army (Project VOLAR) campaign, which was introduced as the country prepared to transition to an all-volunteer military. When N. W. Ayer & Son, who were engaged by the US Army, believed they felt the army said "Today's Army is changing; we want to meet you half way", the firm came up with that slogan. General William Westmoreland asked "Do we have to ask it that way?" but agreed to the campaign. The slogan was replaced by "Join the People Who've Joined the Army" in 1973, which later evolved into "This is the Army."[8]
Slogan was written in 1971 by Ted Regan Jr., Executive Vice President and Executive Creative Director of N.W. Ayer, the Army's ad agency. Regan also wrote the follow up slogan, "Join the people who've joined the Army."
Circa 1950s–1971
"Look Sharp, Be Sharp, Go Army!"was a recruiting slogan in the 1950s and 1960s. The Big Picture,[disambiguation needed] public announcements on broadcast television, and highway roadway signs advertised the slogan during a time of a national draft of young men 18 to 34 years of age. The advantage of volunteering for Service, vice being drafted, was choosing the career field you wanted to serve and/or first unit or location of assignment.
World War I
"I Want YOU for US Army" featured on a poster of Uncle Sam painted by James Montgomery Flagg.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slogans_of_the_United_States_Army
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Mc1uQW8RI
"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 meant to mean as described Sun Tzu's Art of War in Chapter VI Weak Points and Strong, that you are only as strong as your weakest link,if the enlisted soldiers are not trained by the non commissioned officers,because the officer are not with troops and checkout what they need,a Army is very weak. The reason for the replacement is believed to be[by whom?] that the slogan "Army of One" is contrary to the idea of teamwork.[citation needed] It is unknown whether this slogan was taken directly from the poster for the 1976 Clint Eastwood film The Outlaw Josey Wales, which had "An Army of One" under a drawing of the Josey Wales character. The "One" in the slogan was an acronym, standing for Officers, Non-Commissioned, and Enlisted,[citation needed] the three types of Soldiers in the US Army.
1980 to 2001
Be All (That) You Can Be was the recruiting slogan of the United States Army for over twenty years.[5] This popular slogan was created by Earl Carter while at the advertising firm N. W. Ayer & Son. He was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Award for his efforts.[6] In his autobiography Soul of It All, Michael Bolton claims to have sung the jingle in the early 1980s.[7]
1971 to 1980
"Today's Army Wants to Join You" was a recruiting slogan from the 1971 Volunteer Army (Project VOLAR) campaign, which was introduced as the country prepared to transition to an all-volunteer military. When N. W. Ayer & Son, who were engaged by the US Army, believed they felt the army said "Today's Army is changing; we want to meet you half way", the firm came up with that slogan. General William Westmoreland asked "Do we have to ask it that way?" but agreed to the campaign. The slogan was replaced by "Join the People Who've Joined the Army" in 1973, which later evolved into "This is the Army."[8]
Slogan was written in 1971 by Ted Regan Jr., Executive Vice President and Executive Creative Director of N.W. Ayer, the Army's ad agency. Regan also wrote the follow up slogan, "Join the people who've joined the Army."
Circa 1950s–1971
"Look Sharp, Be Sharp, Go Army!"was a recruiting slogan in the 1950s and 1960s. The Big Picture,[disambiguation needed] public announcements on broadcast television, and highway roadway signs advertised the slogan during a time of a national draft of young men 18 to 34 years of age. The advantage of volunteering for Service, vice being drafted, was choosing the career field you wanted to serve and/or first unit or location of assignment.
World War I
"I Want YOU for US Army" featured on a poster of Uncle Sam painted by James Montgomery Flagg.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slogans_of_the_United_States_Army
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Mc1uQW8RI
Military Industry
History (Major)
Army
Re-enlistment
Recruiter
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 349
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I had to look it up. "The Army wants to join you." I can't say I recall ever hearing that.
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Thank you SFC Davis for this trip down 'Army Memory Lane' as most of this was a distant memory for me. The slogan at the time of my enlistment in December '68 was "Look Sharp, Be Sharp, Go Army!" (Reminiscent of a Gillette razor blade commercial)
I also remember one for the Army Reserve which showed a muscular soldier in a OD tee shirt holding a bar bell about waist high and a young lad, presumably his son, standing under it as if to be lifting all of that weight alone. The slogan was "Strength in Reserve" I don't know how effective it was but I thought it was pretty cool at the time.
I also remember one for the Army Reserve which showed a muscular soldier in a OD tee shirt holding a bar bell about waist high and a young lad, presumably his son, standing under it as if to be lifting all of that weight alone. The slogan was "Strength in Reserve" I don't know how effective it was but I thought it was pretty cool at the time.
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I overlapped two. Delayed entry in 1979 and basic in 1980. What a great place to start!!!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SSG Steven Mangus I am with you on that one, here is a ROGER THAT! Great choice my friend. "CAV all the Way!"
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth - oh shucks, I wanted to see if you could remember that one, before I was born.
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I didn’t have a slogan in mind when I enlisted. I had my Father
SPC PETER J LOOMIS
1BN / 22Inf Reg / 4ID
(Circa 1967-8)
SPC PETER J LOOMIS
1BN / 22Inf Reg / 4ID
(Circa 1967-8)
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never saw any of the ones listed for 1971 , when I joined. did see the VOLAR Army throw. yellow, blue, & red wall lockers, desks, chairs, & lamps. what a joke that was.
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Mine was “Do you want to enlist and have a job choice or drafted and no choice”?
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I joined in 1964, and I can't remember what the slogan was. After all that was back in the last century.
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I came in as Be all you can be was transitioning to Army of one. But refused to go by the AOO motto
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Frankly the Army hasn't had a decent recruiting slogan since "I want you for the US ARMY" with Uncle Sam. You all should drag the 'authors' of those silly sayings behind a tank. For all the money spent on Madison Avenue geniuses, they couldn't come up with even one that expresses the pride, professionalism and spirit of being a soldier and defending your family, friends and country.
You'd have done just as well by saying, "Wanta do Marine stuff without the tough boot camp and sharp uniforms? Stop by and see an Army Recruiter".
Just kidding, guys. Call off the fire for effect.
You'd have done just as well by saying, "Wanta do Marine stuff without the tough boot camp and sharp uniforms? Stop by and see an Army Recruiter".
Just kidding, guys. Call off the fire for effect.
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COL Charles Williams
MSgt George Cater Good one... Not really... The Army has done very well since 1775, and will keep rolling along in our blue collar way.
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I have seen in following posts in my time it was "Look Sharp be Sharp Go Army" my own incentive was didn't want to join the Navy or Marines too much water ( funny how that turned out Ft.Lewis ,rain 365 days a year,Vietnam we won't even go there,and finally the swamps of Louisiana) as far as the AirForce my older brother was a Master Sergeant and I didn't want to be in the same A O as that insufferable old bastard!
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Get a free mule! No just kidding me thinks it was a combination of Be all you Can Be! and We do more before breakfast than most do all day! My memory is fading!
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Join the people who've joined the Army that was the slogan when I went in 1973
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I joined the military in 1977, "Be all you can be" was what got my attention. Even now as I am typing, I am play that song in my head. Great moments. I still have some of the pamphlets and advertising papers that the recruiter gave me that day.
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Greetings, Uncle Sam wants you to report to your local draft board on Dec. 3, 1965, located at blah, blah, blah.
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Be all that you can be! At the time I felt it meant that if you were going to do a job do it to the best of your ability. Succeed in your training as your training will keep you alive. That sort of stuff.
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SFC Jim Ruether
Thanks for serving our Country SFC Davis and for asking the question too. I really had to think for a moment before I answered this one. That was a long time ago.
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I joined when the slogan was being changed to "Join the people who joined the Army". I was in AIT at Ft. Lee and just leaving the dining facility at lunch. I was asked to be photographed for a possible ad. I did the ad dressed up as a cook, though I was doing 76P at the time. A good story for the Grandkids.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Laurie Mohon well said and profoundly conveyed. Thanks for sharing!
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I came in during the Army of One slogan time in 2005. At the time I really didn't care about the slogan. I just cared about joining.
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Mine was Air Force... Aim High. I know this is an army thread but I couldn't resist!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SSgt Alex Robinson Your welcome, more importantly your a Rallypoint member whom I really enjoy!
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"We do more before 9am than most people do all day" Was one of my favorites.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SPC David Hannaman Iconic and epic, what a memory. I appreciate that one.
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Greetings you have been selected to report to your local draft board for processing on November 10 1971. Failure to report under penalty of prosecution or something like that,
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I still like "Be All You Can Be". I loved it when I saw the Army Choir (with the Army band) sang it! They just dropped Army Strong from external advertising, as they determine that it doesn't resonate with the prospects. but still use it internally. I think that slogan is Ok. My suggestion for a new slogan: I am an American Soldier, the first line of the Soldiers Creed. That along with the creed itself does resonate with me!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
MAJ Jim Woods Roger that, much respect. I appreciate your duty honor country.
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SSG Eddye Royal
BE ALL YOU AN BE, plus, make sure that college fund is fully funded. Plus, how much of a discount on classes to I get off at each duty station. The new people dont ask these questions
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"Be all that you can be"! I remember singing it, when I was growing up, every time it came on the TV. I hope I have made my Dad proud.
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I remember I was in during the change over from "Be all that you can be" to "the army of one"
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SPC Larry Buck, I do too, and I tell you looking back, it will never be the same. Just miss the discipline and training of the 1990s.
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I joined under "Be all that you can be" (even as I typed that I actually sang it in my head). I specifically remember the commercial that said "we do more before 7 AM than most people do all day" and the soldier with the cup of coffee greeting his SNCO "Mornin' Sarge".
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When I signed by papers it was "Be All You Can Be" but I was in Delayed Entry so by the time I got to basic it was "Army of One"
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SGT James Elphick, I appreciate your post, The Army is steady changing, who knows what the next slogan will be, do you have any suggestions?
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SGT James Elphick
I wish I did. Army Strong isn't terrible. Maybe the Army should come up with a motto like the Navy's "A Global Force for Good"
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I joined the Army with the Motto "Be all you can be" and went to basic training at Fort Bliss, TX, when they still had basic training. :-)
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
MAJ Carlos Corredor, I did my AIT on Logans hill on the side of the mountain. Billy grass detail, "No Grass" its got to look like the desert the DS would say!
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MAJ Carlos Corredor
Ha ha. Woah yeap, no grass up there. We were part of Alpha Company Motengators! And wonderful Bivuac out in White Sands. Ha Ha, man time flies when you are having fun.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SSG Gerhard S. NICE, memories from 1983. Much respect from the Soldiers of your era!
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I was told that in "an army of one", one meant officers, NCOs, and enlisted.....is this true?
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I enlisted during the "Army of One" campaign. What a hideously douchey commercial. Nothing say tough guy like some retard out running over sand dunes, by himself, dogtags bouncing around and catching the sunlight for every sniper within a 50 mile radius to key in on. And correct me if I'm wrong here, but didn't the Soldier in that commercial get chaptered out of the Army shortly after that campaign started, for cocaine use? Or is that just another urban legend? Either way, terrible. The Army should just fire everyone who ever had anything to do with any of those ad campaigns, and then go beat up the Marines and steal their slogan. I mean, who didn't get a 2 foot boner as a kid, watchign some dude fighting dragons and whatnot, and then being struck by lightning and turning into a jarhead in his dress uniform??
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SGT Steve Vincent , thanks for the post so true in all said, that era made me get gray hair. Wow !! Eloquently expressed and well said!
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OK this made me want to run right out at 42 and join Uncle Sam's Misguided Children.
http://youtu.be/6sWW0nxi9bw
http://youtu.be/6sWW0nxi9bw
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OK, so obviously I didn't join the Army but the Navy slogan that they were using when I joined was;
“You Are Tomorrow; You Are The Navy” .
That is NOT the slogan that I remember when i think about the Navy though. I always think of the slightly older slogan;
“Navy. It’s Not Just A Job, It’s An Adventure”.
“You Are Tomorrow; You Are The Navy” .
That is NOT the slogan that I remember when i think about the Navy though. I always think of the slightly older slogan;
“Navy. It’s Not Just A Job, It’s An Adventure”.
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The Army's motto has always been This We'll Defend. However, there have been numerous recruiting slogans and advertisement to characterize our Army. What's troubling is that our Soldiers actually think that our Army's motto is Army Strong. NCOs please educate our force and teach our warriors what our Motto is and forever Will be
TWD!
TWD!
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PFC Zanie Young
You are right CSM (Join to see)! It is embroidered on my carpet in my truck. It's been that way since 1775, the motto I mean.
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LTC (Join to see)
I agree Army Strong was a slogan not the motto. Although the official ad campaign has just ended, it still being used as an unofficial motto. I like This We'll Defend, however, I always thought it was the Drill Sergeants Motto; as its on their badge. Ive very rarely seen it used in other contexts.
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My first enlistment was Be All You Can Be (1986) and my second enlistment it was Army Of One (2002).
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It was "Army of One" when I signed enlisted at MEPS, but changed to "Army Strong" while I was in Basic.
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I enlisted with the same motto that it has been for decades "The Few, The Proud, The Marines"
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
I can live with that, it was during my time when I came in the Army. I would have to agree the best comercial of them all!
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When I enlisted, it was the tail end of "Be all that you can be," and on the cusp of the "Army of One" garbage.
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CPT (Join to see)
Was both of them. Was in basic in 2001. It was be "All You can Be" half way and then "Army of One" for the other half. I love the old commercial of the Soldier running in a desert through military vehicles with his top of and they say "Army of One"
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I had a few, Starting With "Today's Army Wants To Join You" (1971-1980). Then it was "Be All You Can Be" (1980-2001). And then "Army of one" (2001-2006). And ending with Army Strong " (2006-Present). I know you ask for one and it was the first one, but I was under all of these.
Thanks for the Question. And Thank you for your Service.
Thanks for the Question. And Thank you for your Service.
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Suspended Profile
Be all you can be:) in the Army!
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I didn't have the money to return to college in the fall of 1963 and I knew my name was soon to come up for the draft so in July of that year I joined the Air Force. In those days the Uncle Sam poster down at the post office proclaimed, "Uncle Sam Wants You." He didn't care which branch you joined.
The old Army slogan, "Look Sharp, Be Sharp, Go Army." makes me wonder, was it borrowed from the 1952 Gillette advertising slogan, "Look Sharp, Feel Sharp, Be Sharp." Gillette sponsored the Friday Night Fights. That jingle played well into the sixties.
The old Army slogan, "Look Sharp, Be Sharp, Go Army." makes me wonder, was it borrowed from the 1952 Gillette advertising slogan, "Look Sharp, Feel Sharp, Be Sharp." Gillette sponsored the Friday Night Fights. That jingle played well into the sixties.
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I joined at the conclusion of hostilities in Vietnam. The slogan then was, “Today’s Army Wants to Join You.”
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Mine was join and choose what you want or we'll draft you and send you to Nam.
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