Tyler Butterworth (sergeant)
Tyler Butterworth | |
|---|---|
 Butterworth in 2011 | |
| Service | |
| Rank | Sergeant first class |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War |
Tyler Butterworth is an American sergeant first class in the Virginia Army National Guard and a civilian police officer. He posts humorous videos on social media depicting aspects of military life, which he uses as a recruitment tool for the National Guard.
Career
[edit]Butterworth enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard at 18 years old as an infantryman after being moved by the events of September 11 attacks.[1] His service included a year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraq Freedom, followed by a reconnaissance mission deployment in Iraq.[2] Upon returning, he attended community college while balancing a civilian career and part-time National Guard service.[2]
Butterworth is a civilian police officer. Based in Arlington, Virginia, he transitioned into the Virginia Army National Guard's recruiting and retention battalion, focusing on reaching potential recruits through digital media.[1][3] He later joined the National Guard Bureau's marketing team, using platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to reach a younger audience.[1][3]
Beginning in 2022, Butterworth's comedic social media videos under the handle @Butterworthdasyrup gained a large following. These videos humorously depict various aspects of military life, such as ASMR parodies and humorous takes on military meals.[1][2] The content became an informal recruiting tool, with approximately 90 percent of his enlistments coming from social media engagement.[2][3] Although his social media activity is personal and not officially endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense, he adheres to its social media guidelines.[2] In 2024, Butterworth started a ration-pack tasting series on YouTube, where he reviews military rations from various countries.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Sicard, Sarah (2023-10-20). "The secret behind this soldier's hilarious Instagram Reels, TikToks". Military Times. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ a b c d e Skitt, Laura (2023-11-17). "Meet the soldier whose hilarious TikTok parody videos are going viral". British Forces Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ a b c Simmons, Liberty (2024-11-11). "Virginia National Guard member rises to social media stardom". DC News Now. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ Brown, Larisa (2024-05-05). "US sergeant launches broadside at Britain's 'cat food' army rations". The Times. Retrieved 2024-11-13.