British Army launch campaign telling new recruits robots will never replace soldiers

1 July 2022, 00:30 | Updated: 1 July 2022, 00:50

The British Army has launched a new recruitment drive featuring robots
The British Army has launched a new recruitment drive featuring robots. Picture: British Army/Alamy

By Megan Hinton

The British Army has launched a new recruitment drive featuring robots in a bid to show future applicants that the "human ingenuity of soldiers is "indispensable to the future of the Army".

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The campaign called Nothing Can Do What A Soldier Can Do contains the message that while new technologies are being used by troops in battle, the future of UK defence will be underpinned by soldiers.

The one-minute video advert will be shown in cinemas, on television and online and shows a dystopian future where a robotic soldier scouts the terrain of a conflict zone, made of more than 4,000 individual CGI elements and 2,000 sound design samples.

The ending will send the message that only soldiers can make instinctive decisions on the ground in a conflict zone.

As part of the recruitment drive, striking images of soldiers and robots will be displayed on billboards.

The campaign is the sixth iteration of the "This is Belonging" series developed by Accenture Song together with Capita and the British Army.

Read more: Putin mocks G7 leaders' lack of 'machismo' and says PM would look 'disgusting' topless

As part of the recruitment drive, striking images of soldiers and robots will be displayed on billboards
As part of the recruitment drive, striking images of soldiers and robots will be displayed on billboards. Picture: British Army

Colonel Nick Mackenzie, assistant director of recruiting, said: "Like previous recruitment campaigns, Nothing Can Do What A Soldier Can Do aims to dispel one of the many myths that surround the British Army.

"This time, looking at the British Army of the future and the role of soldiers within it.

"We want to tell future recruits that, no matter what technological advancements we make, it is the judgment, intelligence and even the wit of our soldiers that is indispensable to the future of the Army.

"We hope the campaign will lead to potential applicants seeing the Army as an exciting place they can learn and grow, and be valued as an integral part in our future."

Read more: 'Kaboom!' Ukraine celebrates Putin's humiliation as Russia retreats from Snake Island

Richard Holroyd, managing director of Capita Defence, Fire and Security, said: "While we live more of our lives online and increasingly in augmented realities, it's easy to believe that the future of any armed force is now about mass robotic units managed by unfeeling AI.

"As a former soldier, I know that will simply never be the case. Technology must work alongside the human ingenuity of soldiers and personnel - the army of the future still needs you."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The jackpot has rolled over again to an estimated £208 million after Tuesday's £199 million draw, which would also have been a record-breaking amount, had no winners

UK ticket-holder could win record £208 million in Friday’s EuroMillions draw – bigger than Adele or Dua Lipa's fortunes

Beckham is said to be good friends with King Charles and the pair were seen chatting at the Chelsea Flower show last mont

Sir David Beckham? Football icon ‘set for knighthood’ in King’s Birthday Honours

Disabled activists march towards Parliament on March 26, 2025 in London, England.

Thousands of protesters will gather to ‘send message’ to government for ‘targeting poorest’ with spending cuts

Exclusive
‘Coward’ Farage is not prepared to be introspective, former Reform UK Deputy Leader has told LBC.

‘Coward’ Nigel Farage not prepared to be introspective, former Reform UK Deputy Leader tells LBC

Robinson is presented with a a business card for the CEO of Hawksmoor and advised to contact the email address "if he has any questions".

Tommy Robinson 'kicked out' of London steakhouse after staff 'felt uncomfortable serving him'

Six water companies have been banned from paying bonuses to senior bosses, under new rules that come into force on Friday.

Six water companies including Thames Water banned from paying bonuses to bosses

Exclusive
Starmer ‘needs to get ballsy on defence spending’, former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tells LBC

Starmer ‘needs to get ballsy on defence spending’, former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tells LBC

Israeli and U.S.-backed group paused food deliveries at its three distribution sites in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday,

British Palestinians urge UK to sanction Israel over Gaza crisis as families starve under blockade

Ms Zablocka came to the UK in 2009 from Poland and was living in the Normanton area of Derby, but lost contact with her family in August 2010

Woman charged with murder of Polish woman who disappeared 15 years ago as human remains found

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel has 'activated' local clans of Palestinians in Gaza in the fight against Hamas

A court sketch drawn from a video link shows Erin Patterson giving evidence in her own homicide trial at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Morwell, Victoria

Australian woman accused of killing three in ‘mushroom murders’ denies measuring out ‘fatal dose’

Madeleine McCann went missing while on holiday with her family in 2007. The latest search of the Algarve has proved fruitless

Madeleine McCann search ends after just three days as investigators seen packing up equipment

"Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday."

Concerns raised over measles risk as families take summer breaks in Europe

Overflowing bins

Birmingham bin strikes could last until Christmas as workers vote to continue action over pay and jobs

Students set up tents and stage a protest, demanding that the school cut investment ties with Israeli companies and those supporting Israel or involved in arms trade

Cambridge University colleges seek injunctions against pro-Palestine activists

Schoolgirl, 12, charged with manslaughter over death of 80-year-old dog walker Bhim Kohli

Teen sentenced to seven years for killing elderly dog walker as girl, 13, who filmed attack avoids jail