For years now, branches of the armed forces have been visiting campuses hoping to land future recruits. But, this old-school process is rolling out a new approach.
"They go in, they get in a simulator, they get a dog tag with their information scanned on there and they really get to get immersed into kind of what some of our job capabilities are within the Navy," says Navy Chief Petty Officer Samantha Lee.
Yes, virtual reality. The Navy's been using it for years in their training. And now, it's a major part of recruiting too.
"The Navy is advancing in technology, so I think it's a great way to bring in new recruits," says high school senior David Lopez.
David tried his hand at the Navy's virtual reality, surviving as a Navy SEAL. But, the journey doesn't end when the game is over. For David, this is only the beginning.
"Interest really sparked last year when two recruiters came into my classroom," David said.
That interest is now an official commitment. David just signed a six-year contract with the Navy, and plans to stay on board well beyond that.
"I plan on doing the full twenty years," he said. "I'll retire at 38."
And while David's love of technology sealed the deal, it's really his love of country that steered his decision.
"When you join the service, you're giving up your life for your country so that people here have that freedom," said David.
