Magazine ‘distorts soldiering’

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 8

Magazine ‘distorts soldiering’

By

DAVE WILSON

A new weekly war magazine containing graphic advice for wouldbe snipers romanticises killing and distorts the reality of soldiering, according to Major Bruce Morrison, a 20-year veteran of the New Zealand Army. Major Morrison was yesterday asked for a professional’s opinion on the magazine “Combat and Survival,” touted by its publishers as a military manual in weekly parts. After examining several issues he said the magazine would appeal more to fantasy commandos than real soldiers. His particular concern was the apparent ghoulish concentration on the blood and gore of combat. Television New Zealand has received complaints about advertisements for the magazine which is the latest in a genre catering for males fascinated by the “Rambo” image of war. Publications such as “Soldier of Fortune” and “Gung Ho” from America emphasise the image of a lone warrior taking on guerrillas or whole armies single-handed. Major Morrison, the joint forces public relations officer for the South island, is an officer who has served in the elite Special Air Ser-

vice. He said there was a line between civilians who followed military matters as a hobby, and those who fancied themselves as a one-man commando force. “Magazines like these appeal to ersatz commandos, people with an unreal fascination with things military, yet who lack the motivation to join the Army and sweat it out on a basic training course. “I tend to think that magazines like “Soldier of Fortune” and “Gung Ho” should be regarded in the same category as war comics.” The first two issues of “Combat and Survival” contain a “sniper’s manual” offering hints on how to kill people from a great distance and how to aim a sniper’s rifle to catch a moving target. In the wake of the recent Hungerford massacre in Britain, and a similar bloodbath in Australia, the graphic content of the sniper information was described by one local bookseller as being in rather poor taste. Major Morrison said these chapters dealt in unnecessarily fine detail with the ghoulish aspects of killing. “It contains the sort of information an Army sniper would be taught. But he is also taught re-

sponsibility. He is only going to be used on the instructions of the Government of New Zealand. “Magazines like this, on sale publicly, mean there is absolutely no control over who might use the information in the chapters. In the hands of an immature or irresponsible person it could lead them to think that by buying a hunting rifle they could become a self-styled sniper.” Similarly, chapters dealing with self-defence techniques were more dangerous than helpful, he said. “If someone is serious about learning self-de-fence it is better for them to join a club that teaches it. It is more dangerous for them just to read this and think they know how to deal with an attacker.” Major Morrison said he did not know of any soldiers who subscribed to such military magazines. “That indicates the gap between what these magazines concentrate on and the reality of soldiering. “The reality is that if soldiers have to go into the field, they do so as part of a disciplined team and on the instructions and authority of the Government. They are only going to use their skills in countering a threat to New Zealand, probably

against another soldier. “The role of the Army is clear. At times it has meant the destruction of enemy forces but we are not for ever dangling that before the public. That aspect is the bottom line. These magazines make it the top line and distort the reality of soldiering and romanticise killing.” Major Morrison said it had been a decade and a half since the New Zealand Army was involved in combat but the magazines depicted armies as always fighting, and always depicted the most gory aspect of warfare. “If all I had to go on before going into an operation was one of these magazines I’d feel very worried,” he said. Several local booksellers approached for comment were guarded, saying the latest magazine was little different from others of the genre readily available for some years. One central city bookshop owner, who is himself interested in military. history and firearms, said subscribers were fully aware the contents of such magazines were not something they could emulate. . . “They are people who are interested in military history and who. want to know about technology and training techniques

without having to undergo the agonies of joining the Army.” As a bookseller he noticed that military histories sold more than magazines featuring combat techniques. “People are more interested in reading about personal experiences and studies of equipment than training techniques." At his shop six customers had placed orders for “Combat and Survival” while the more general military magazine, “The Elite,” sold to 19 customers each week. By comparison the American monthly magazine, "Soldier of Fortune,” sold poorly. “People read it in the shop but at $9.95 a copy, very few buy it.” Although the magazines were intended for male readers, there was also female interest in them. “The Elite,” a series deal-, ing with special forces around the world, numbered three women among its regular buyers at his shop, the man said:. Meanwhile, “Combat and Survival” subscribers may learn about how to evade tracker dogs in the country, but there will also be a small financial lesson. The cost of the 120 week, series works out at $446.