BROOYLYN, Mich., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army is using an interactive display at NASCAR auto races around the country to recruit soldiers.
Visitors to the Army exhibit can spray bullets during the virtual patrol, scale a 25-foot rock-climbing wall, bounce in a Humvee simulator, have their names stamped on dog tags and talk to recruiters, reported the Boston Globe Sunday.
By the time NASCAR's 36-race Nextel Cup series ends this year, the Army expects to gather about 40,000 names of potential recruits who will be contacted at least once by a recruiter.
"In terms of sheer numbers, this is the exact kind of event we want to be at," said Staff Sgt. Harold Darner, an Army recruiter in Michigan. "They're race fans, and they're patriotic people. This is more bang for the buck."
In addition, the Army is sponsoring a car in the Nextel Cup series costing $16 million a year -- which covers the cost of the interactive display, a show-car program, labor and operating costs of the program.
