The public relations firm of Livingston, Aldred, and Burley was retained into help bring a paradigm shift to the public image of the Navy’s premier commando force, the SEALs. This plan ultimately would go horribly awry.
– News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.
Navy SEALs quietly end relationship with the PR firm behind their “bad boy” image media campaign.
From Quincy Quarry’s media brethren at Duffle Blog comes word of an apparent change in promotional activities on behalf of US Navy SEALs.
Sources close to the Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) have revealed the command has discreetly severed ties with the public relations firm of Livingston, Aldred, and Burley.
Contracted in 2011, the PR firm had a single purpose — to help bring a paradigm shift to the public image of the Navy’s premier commando force, the SEALs. That edict ultimately would go horribly awry.
Reeling from years of veteran ridicule as Hollywood pretty boys as concerned with hair gel, chest waxing, and book deals instead of as killers of the enemies of freedom, NAVSPECWARCOM contracted the firm to help change the narrative.
In turn, Livingston, Aldred, and Burley recommended changing the SEALs’ reputation from pretty boys to bad boys.
Unbeknownst to Naval commanders, the storied frogmen would take the new message to heart and then run amok with it.
From SEALs being accused of illegally killing ISIS prisoners and taking selfies with their bodies to a variety of other heinous crimes, Navy SEALs apparently went from legendary United States Special Operations forces to Grand Theft Auto in the blink of an eye.
“I mean we all get tired of the same old jokes about tell-all books and movie deals,” said Lieutenant Commander Mark “Duck” Moses, “but we never meant for these guys to just run around killing people like they’re the Manson family or something.”
“I mean, like they don’t they get to kill enough with ISIS and Boko Haram?”
According to sources, some SEALs took their new public image too far. War crime allegations within the Naval special operations community from Iraq to Africa have captured the attention of the media as well as others and so prompted some to ask if there is an ethical dilemma within the Navy’s premier anti-terror forces.
“It seems like LA&B came up with a new message but failed to illustrate that the message was a story, not the new Rules of Engagement,” said Commander. Roger Sterling. “We didn’t want to make a big deal about it, but we knew this firm had to go.”
Sources close to NAVSPECWARCOM have hinted the command is looking at a shift back towards their previous reputation. To assist with this goal, classes in book editing and finding an agent will resume at BUD/S.
At the same time, Quincy Quarry expects collateral damage mitigation efforts will likely include featuring puppy pictures of the SEALs’ also fearless but so far untarnished K9 operatives.
After all, who doesn’t love puppies even if SEAL-spec puppies are more than just a bit on the rambunctious side.
Source: SEALs quietly end relationship with PR firm behind ‘bad boy’ image campaign
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