22-million dollar “Army Experience” closes at Philadelphia mall

    Experiment produced 236 recruits

    A high tech marketing experiment by the U.S. Army is closing down at an area shopping mall. Military officials say they have met their goals and are reviewing if “The Army Experience” will re-open at another location in the country or if its equipment will be used in mobile displays.

    $22 million was spent creating and maintaining The Army Experience over two years at Franklin Mills Mall. Brian Leplay, of the Army Accessions Command who runs the facility gave a report on how many men and women, signed up for service through the facility.

    “As of two weeks ago there it was 236 people were recruited. This place did not have a recruiting mission. There was no quota, This was not a recruiting station per-se.”

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    Bob Smith of the Brandywine Peace Community says it was protests and civil disobedience that caused the facility to close.

    “The closing of The Army Experience was an affirmation of what people can do and a celebration if you will that our youth didn’t sign up.”

    Not so says Leplay.

    “The two year contract was up that’s why The Army Experience Center is closing.”

    The final day will be July 31st.

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