[War] US: Reprising a former role

[pentaj2 at Scranton.edu]

"Reprising a former role"
25 September 2006
President John Williams
United States
========================
It was a constant problem for the US military; Without going into an 
operational area, how do you train the troops in a tough, realistic 
fashion?

Such was the problem the President pondered today. Particularly with 
the rise in urban warfare, it often seemed as though they should 
occasionally rent an abandoned town somewhere.

That, sadly, was not practical.

However, as he sat in the residence that slow morning, he did have a 
bit of a lightbulb moment.

Quickly, then, he picked up a phone.

"Josh? John. Would you get me in touch with the IATSE?"

"The set designers' union?"

"Yep."

"Gimme a bit, sir."

A few minutes later, he was on the phone.

"Mr. Short, this is the President."

There was a long pause, as if the person on the other end was shocked 
to hear what he'd just said.

"Mr. President?" the man squeaked.

"How would your union like to serve the cause of freedom?"
----

It was harkening back to a previous war.

In World War II, set designers helped the US Army build camouflage and 
training areas. Actors (among them a future President) did training 
films.

Hollywood had gone to war.

So it would be in this era, hopefully.

Williams had made calls to the heads of each of the unions with stakes 
in the entertainment industry, soon enough, with a pitch.

Instead of being used in propaganda films, the union members (the 
industry was heavily unionized, so this was much of the talent) would 
be recruited to put their skills to work for the US military and NATO.

Set designers and the building trades would help create realistic 
training areas; Actors would play civilians and other non-combat roles 
in training exercises; Make-up artists would help by applying their 
skills to training exercises, teaching camouflage and disguise 
techniques; Special effects technicians would, well...Apply their 
skills to upgrading military training and in teaching their craft to 
trainers (and to the troops, since the same techniques could also 
prove useful on the battlefield).

Even child actors could find a place, the President noted, alongside 
their adult colleagues.

It was potentially steady work, and definitely unique work, in an 
industry where work could often be sporadic. Rates would be negotiated 
with the unions, lower-than-normal pay compensating for food and other 
things to be provided by the military while on the job.

The perfect example of a mutually beneficial arrangement.
---
Actions:
1. POTUS to make calls to the heads of the entertainment industry 
unions, and the locals of more general unions with stakes in the 
industry.
2. The pitch: Bring your skills to help the soldiers, sailors, airmen, 
and marines. Not just of the US, but of Canada and the rest of NATO.
3. Pitch the idea to the Canadian government. Hey, they have the wide 
open spaces.