When I see a post on social media about “testing” I have to laugh. Taking a product out in the back yard or to a local range and putting a magazine through it isn’t testing. Neither is coming up with some one-off scenario like shooting a helmet with a threat it wasn’t designed for. Those demonstrations are often entertaining, but testing must be repeatable.
Machine developed at the National Bureau of Standards to test the endurance of women’s shoes, Washington DC, 1945.
FORT MEADE, Md. — Over 6,500 Soldiers are already hoping to be part of a new Army esports team that will compete in video game tournaments nationwide in an effort to attract potential recruits.
“It’s essentially connecting America to its Army through the passion of the gaming community,” said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Jones, NCO-in-charge of the budding team.
About 30 Soldiers are expected to be picked for the team and some of the first positions could be filled this summer. Only active-duty and Reserve Soldiers are currently allowed to apply.
Those chosen will be assigned to the Marketing and Engagement Brigade for three years at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where the Army Recruiting Command is headquartered.
While they will not become recruiters, team members will receive a crash course on Army enlistment programs to answer questions from those interested in learning about the service.
Once built up, the team will fall under an outreach company that will also include an Army rock band and a functional fitness team.
Not everyone on the team will compete. Those who will may train up to six hours per day on video games, Jones said, adding that gameplay sessions would be live streamed or recorded for spectators to watch.
Esports has ballooned in popularity in recent years with millions of followers.
In August, the Washington Post reported that esports could generate about $345 million in revenue this year in North America. In 2017, a major esports tournament in China also drew a peak of more than 106 million viewers — roughly the same number of those who watched last year’s Super Bowl.
“It’s something really new and it’s been gaining a lot of steam,” Jones said.
While on the team, Soldiers will still conduct physical training, weapons qualifications and other responsibilities that come with being a Soldier. They will also have to maintain certifications in their military occupational specialty.
“Outside of that, there will be esports training,” Jones said. “So whatever game they’re playing in, they’ll not only be playing it, but be coached in it to get better.”
The team, he said, shares a similar concept to that of other Army competitive teams that continually train, such as the Golden Knights parachute team, World Class Athlete Program and Army Marksmanship Unit.
“Esports is like traditional sports,” he said. “Nobody can just walk in and expect to play at a competitive level.”
The Army, he said, already has talented gamers out there who can compete in events.
Last weekend, a few Soldiers competed at PAX South in San Antonio as a way to introduce Army esports to the greater gamer community.
In one of the events, a Street Fighter V tournament, two Soldiers placed first and second.
“This is the perfect opportunity to showcase not only to the Army, but to the civilian populace and the esports industry that we also have what it takes,” Jones said of the events.
Recruiters from the San Antonio Recruiting Battalion also joined them and were able to generate some leads with potential recruits, he added.
There are plans to do the same at the PAX East exposition in Boston in late March.
As a gamer and a recruiter himself, Jones said the team can help bridge the civilian-military gap by breaking down misconceptions some young people may have about the Army.
Being able to play their favorite video games with others who share the same passion is also a bonus.
“For a lot of Soldiers, to include myself, it’s like a dream come true,” Jones said. “This is just one of those ways we can start the conversation.”
Story by Sean Kimmons, Army News Service
Photos by SSG Ryan Meaux
Not enough can be said for the men and women who fought in WW2. Right after the attack on Pearl Harbor, salvage divers started to rescue as many people as they could and raise as many ships as they could, so they could be put back into the fight.
19 ships were sunk or damaged on December 7, by the Japanese; the efforts of the greatest generation raised all but three (the Arizona, the Utah, and the Oklahoma).
Here are a couple of good articles about the salvage diver efforts.
warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/the-pearl-harbor-salvage-effort-keeping-navy-fighting
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Accept riding the BCB International, many visitors to their new HQ have been intrigued by the graphic of three soldiers towering over the camouflage production unit where they manufacture NATO issued camo face paints, camo nets and concealment systems.
Here is the story behind the image…
The image is not just an amusing reminder that BCB’s camouflage face paint formula is a closely guarded secret, it is also a poignant homage to an important figure in BCB’s history.
SAS legend…
The central figure in the image is none other than Barry Davies, the former British Special Air Service (SAS) Officer who was decorated for the part he played in the successful GSG9 hostage rescue operation at Mogadishu Airport in 1977.
After serving 18 years with the SAS, Barry joined BCB International Ltd where he worked on special projects for over 30 years until his passing away in April 2016.
Ivan felt inspired after reading the recent comments on Mil Spec Monkey’s pack.
Feel free to read the rest at kitbadger.com/the-grey-man-velcro-morale-patches
Gains new global defense and public-safety customers, and new portfolio of proprietary medical products
MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health, and medical practitioners, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire approximately 93 percent of North American Rescue (NAR), the leading provider of survivability and casualty-care medical products to the defense and public-safety markets.
Founded in 1996 by CEO Bob Castellani, NAR is headquartered in Greer, South Carolina, and has 105 full-time team members. With nearly 60% of its sales to the U.S. government, NAR generated record sales for the 12 months ended October 31, 2018, of approximately $184 million, reflecting a diversified portfolio of proprietary medical products. This transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019, at which time Mr. Castellani will continue in his role as CEO. NAR will be integrated with Henry Schein Medical, the U.S. medical business of Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein expects NAR will be neutral to the Company’s 2019 earnings per share and accretive thereafter. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“NAR is a successful, growing company with an exceptional team that has created the recognized leader in the markets the company serves,” said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein. “We are delighted to welcome Bob Castellani and NAR to Team Schein, and we look forward to expanding our Medical group’s geographic footprint, customer base, and product offering both in the U.S. and overseas. Furthermore, through this transaction, Henry Schein Medical will be well-positioned to benefit from a business with solid growth and attractive profit margins.”
NAR serves all branches of the U.S. military; various U.S. military departments and federal agencies; militaries of allied foreign countries; federal, state, and local law enforcement departments; emergency medical service providers and fire departments; and community preparedness organizations, including school districts and commercial and community centers. The company specializes in providing products to treat and overcome the three most common causes of preventable combat deaths, namely hemorrhaging, tension pneumothorax, and inadequate airway. NAR offers online education and training, which complements Henry Schein’s commitment to provide continuing education tailored to a customer’s specific needs.
“NAR offers a unique value proposition,” Mr. Bergman added. “The company’s ability to provide tailored, mission-enabling survivability products is critical to countering the rapidly evolving threats of the 21st century. We look forward to expanding our customer base, as well as to selling new, innovative, life-saving products and supplies that will keep us at the forefront of critically important military and civilian markets.”
This investment offers multiple areas for growth and potential business synergies for both NAR and Henry Schein Medical. For NAR, this includes the combined ability to expand market share in the growing public safety market place, as well as the ability to sell more Henry Schein Medical and Henry Schein-branded products through NAR’s existing channels. Additionally, NAR will have access to Henry Schein’s broad product offering.
“NAR has enjoyed considerable business success over the past 20 years and our future is bright by having access to the resources, expertise, and global presence of Henry Schein,” said Mr. Castellani. “NAR is South Carolina-grown, and it is extremely gratifying to reinvest in our community and grow the local economy by retaining 100-plus NAR employees and by investing in the next year to increase capacity at our facilities.”
Mr. Castellani also expressed his wishes to continue championing causes that seek solutions to a range of societal issues. This commitment mirrors that of Henry Schein, whose global corporate social responsibility program, Henry Schein Cares, works to “help health happen” for underserved communities around the world.
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