Military looking for "Actors"??

I do part time acting..
Recently my agency sent this to all clients..

I edited it with XXXXXXX to protect names and companies and my agency.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX has been asked by the Military to bring their
expertise to the training ground to help them re-create live simulations of
villages in which Military personele might interact in real time combat
situations. This is where you come into play!! By creating dramatic village
settings with real civilians ( You!) the soldiers learn to adapt and assist with
a better understanding of cultural, religious and political views.\'
It has been calculated that after military recruits have participated in three
of these training sessions and then travel abroad- the casualty rate on both the
civilian and military side has dropped from 50 percent to 4 percent.
These sessions will be held on the Military base from MAY 21ST THROUGH TO JUNE
13TH- INCLUSIVE- and ALL people chosen for these sessions will be housed on
the base- FOR THE ENTIRE SESSION. You MUST remain on the base for the entire
project. You will work SIX days on and ONE day off- ALL participants are
PAID for the ENTIRE SESSION- INCLUDING TRAINING AND DAYS OFF. No live fire
will be used.
The rates of pay are $162.00 per day plus $15.00 per diem for all background
performers ( Caucasian, Afghan, Persian and all other ethnicities) and $250.00 per day
plus $15.00 per diem for Speaking Actors ( The Speaking roles will go to Afghan
Actors or those who speak FARSI.).
For those wishing to apply for the roles you MUST come in person to fill out
the forms and the security clearance. To fill out these forms you need to
know your HEALTH CARE #- YOUR DRIVERS LICENCE #- - SOCIAL INSURANCE #-
AND THE ADDRESSES AND PHONE #\'S OF WHERE YOU HAVE LIVED FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS-
They will need to know which months and years you lived at these addresses.
**** ALL TRAVEL, MEALS AND ACCOMMODATIONS ARE COVERED*** Because of the length of
time that it takes to get the Security Clearances back we suggest that you get
into the office IMMEDIATELY to fill out these forms.

WXXXXXXXX MILITARY PROJECT- MAY 21ST- JUNE 13TH- AGES 18-60- MALES AND FEMALES- ALL
ETHNICITIES- MUST BE ABLE TO REMAIN ON THE BASE FOR THE ENTIRE 20 DAYS- YOU WILL NOT
BE ALLOWED TO GO HOME DURING THIS TIME. THESE PEOPLE MUST BE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO
ACT OUT VILLAGE SCENES ON A DAILY BASIS. THESE PEOPLE MUST BE CAPABLE OF
WORKING SIX DAYS ON AND ONE DAY OFF ( ALL DAYS ARE PAID).

I don't think this is ordinary "in field" training for when our troops go over seas.......Maybe though??

Why do Canadians need training and such with Farsi?
We going into Iran soon or something?



[edit on 14-4-2009 by xbranscombex]

[edit on 14-4-2009 by xbranscombex]

The military does this all the time. I even know of at least one person on the boards that does this a lot. I used to see them using military personnel all the time for RIMPAC, but they would occasionally bring in civilians to make it a little more realistic.

If it reduces casualty rates for soldiers and civilians, I am all for it.

And if it can help a starving actor pay his rent, all the better.

Yeah, the Canadian military likely got this idea from their American counterparts as we have multiple facilities around the States for deploying troops to get run through beforehand. A few of the places are seemingly permanent and some others are makeshift on base.
Not all the time does learning a language for a different country mean that we're invading said country, it helps to have the personnel ready in case if the need does arise. As the Boy Scout motto goes, Always be prepared.
Plus considering the obvious still going on between the Iranian government and the Western governments.

Edit to add: Plus I think it does help to connect and strengthen the bonds between the military and civilian worlds. This could give some insights to the actual way militaries do things unlike the massive amount of inaccuracies that Hollywood and many others shove into their media. Give a more realistic sense for the actor, pretty sure some character and method actors could make use of this for future roles.

[edit on 14-4-2009 by spec_ops_wannabe]

There's a successful reality show here in Canada called Combat School on the Discovery Channel, where they ship a group of Canadian Forces personnel to the American southwest and have them prepare in that setting for desert warfare in Afghanistan.

I've watched the show a number of times, they often use payed actors in their training scenarios to portray civilians and enemy combatants.

No conspiracy there, sorry.