THE Australian Defence Force is searching for the next generation of soldiers on popular gaming review websites featuring military-style video games.

The ADF has bought advertising space on popular gaming review sites IGN and Neoseeker, promoting the excitement and real-world adventure of life in the armed forces.

High intensity videos boosted by heavy rock music frequently run before game reviews and trailers, with click bait on each page describing the ADF’s best assets.

“Experience military training”, “Make new friends”, “Earn a great salary” routinely flash above each article, luring the most devoted potential virtual soldiers.

Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert said armed forces recruiting from a cross section of the population is “hugely important”.

“The beauty of people involved in gaming is that they’re adept, fast thinkers, very natural with technology and they’re used to complexity,” Mr Robert said.

Mr Robert said 6000 Australians a year are recruited for about 500 different jobs.

“More and more of them are becoming very technologically driven,” he said.

Mr Robert said gaming sites were a space actively targeted by the defence force because they attracted “people with an interest in complex scenario- based computing”.

“If we can find someone with the right attitude and aptitude, we can train them to do anything we need them to do,” he said.

A spokesman for defence said it used a “strategic approach” to meet recruitment targets, and that digital advertising was one of the most effective mechanisms.

The ADF spokesman would not say how many new applications had been generated through gaming sites.

Defence is also recruiting with advertising on male lifestyle sites.

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