Random Open Thread
Uncle Sam wants you — to play video games for the US Army
The Army is putting together a team of video gamers from within its ranks to try to reach young Americans in the digital worlds where they spend much of their time.
More than 15 years after launching “America’s Army,” a first-person shooter game aimed at enlisting real world soldiers, the Army is calling for active duty troops and reservists to compete in video gaming tournaments, or esports, in one of its latest recruiting efforts.
The move follows the Army’s failure this year, for the first time in more than a decade, to meet the fiscal year target for bringing in new soldiers as it seeks to expand its ranks to more than 500,000 in the next four years.
The Army is also creating a “functional fitness” team to compete in CrossFit athletic events and is reportedly looking to spruce up recruiting efforts with more bonuses, more recruiters, better furniture and a new slogan to replace “Army Strong.”
The service plans to hold tryouts for a variety of electronic games, said Staff Sgt. Ryan Meaux, an Army recruiter, in a Facebook video on Wednesday.
Officials had highlighted the team on social media late last week, after a Twitter account was created in its name, and are expected to answer questions about it in an “Ask Me Anything” session on the social media platform Reddit on Friday at 6 p.m. Central time.
Webpages would soon be set up with details about joining the esports and fitness teams, but “the content is still in the works,” said Army Recruiting Command spokeswoman Kelli Bland, in an email late Thursday.
Members of the teams will be part of the Army’s Marketing and Engagement Team based at Fort Knox, Ky., and will operate much like the Golden Knights parachute team and Army Marksmanship Unit, traveling to various events and competing for the Army, Bland said. The Army will cover the cost of any certifications, competitions and other requirements, she said.
“They will be in a support role to help young people see soldiers in a different light and understand the many different roles people can have in the Army (and) help the Army address the growing disconnect with society,” she said.
Read the entire article here:
Uncle Sam wants you — to play video games for the US Army
Category: "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves"
Oh pleez.
Pay ua more money and you’ll see how you retain and/or hire more pipple
Random question:
Every time there is an election and the results get disputed, why is it only when a Republitard wins and a Demorat loses?
Is there any evidence to the contrary, as in disputed elections in which the Drats actually won for a change?
I can’t think of one out of the top of my head.
Because when a Democrat wins Republicans still have to go to work the next day and don’t have time for standing in the streets pissing and moaning like spoiled little assholes…
Regardless of who gets elected a lot of Republicans still have to pay for the shit everyone else wants for “free”.
When a Republican loses it’s the will of the people and democracy in action.
When a Democrat loses it’s Russian meddling, voter suppression, and corruption in extremis.
Florida will keep manufacturing dead voters and illegal aliens until the D-Rats win. I don’t want dead Nelson back in office, he is a corpse in a suit. He hasn’t done anything for 30 years! I sure as hell don’t want that damn socialist as a governor!
Saw a picture of him for the first time today. He looks freakier than Frankenstein’s Monster.
“…if the Meth in Breaking Bad was a person…”
Between the algae and red tide killing tourism and fishing, and the weather killing the towns, you Floridians haven’t caught a break.
Thankfully the hurricane season is almost over.
Amidst of the electioneering though is one other issue that could be important to you.
Authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program is due to expire 30 November without further action by Congress. Depending on your neighborhood you mileage may vary – but this issue isn’t getting much press and only a few weeks to crunch time.
Fourth.
Cold today at the compound and getting colder. Primary and secondary heating sources are secured. The AO will seldom include outdoors today.
Attract e-gamers? I don’t think they’ll be interested unless there’s cash involved. Video gamers who play for cash can make a good living at it. They won’t be interested in what the Army has to offer.
Sixth!
Waka. Waka. Waka. Waka.
Had a tire blowout while doing 80 on the interstate yesterday. Bang! tire pressure warning comes on. Right rear.
Kept my foot into it for two miles, took the next exit where there was a tire shop at the bottom of the ramp. Owned by a WWII veteran
wearing a blinged out ballcap. Had a guy change the tire to spare and I was on my way.
No charge for a vet from a vet on veterans day.
Oh, and the portable message signs along the interstate were displaying cute veteran phrases like “Hands on the wheel, hats off to vets”.
Back in ’89 when step son and step nephew were being recruited by the Army, I made mention to the recruiter that I didn’t know playing video games was a good qualification background. That was the main thing I had see either of them do in five years. The recruiter told me that some of the best Tank and Brad Gunners were gamers. Said controls and graphics were similar for training purposes. Must of been something to it, son’s Brad took out a boat load of Sodamn Insane’s rolling stock, including a number of T-72s. He was 24th Mech C 3/15. Their casualties came from “friendly fire” from an Abrams.
Step nephew, not as good a gamer, didn’t make the gunner quals. He ended up a truck driver; not that there is anything wrong with that.
Many years ago I made fun of a kid whose parents where long time friends of mine.
The kid would spend all day playing Nintendo games. I shared a Gary Larson cartoon with them:
Turns out the joke is on me and Gary Larson as well.
Initially mis-read and was real interested until I realized it did not say “escorts team”
Esports? Who knew?
Who won in Maine?
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/11/13/poliquin-campaign-sues-in-federal-court-to-stop-ranked-choice-count/
The Republican won on Tuesday but that was before the second round of voting.
“second round of voting” Let that sink in.
They still counting, lawsuiting, and bitching her in the Peach State over the Guvanator. I don’t do the in your book face page thingy but sister does. Did see one of those posts on now can a bank issue a debit card that tells to the second what we bought, from who, and for how much, then add it to our bank statement, but our over priced government can’t make a voter card. My answer, somebody somewhere wants to control an election and it’s not a foreign government.
I’d be happy with voting machines that worked and also produced a paper trail for verification. Be okay without a voting card issued by Georgia until it can do a better job not being hacked than the banks and credit bureaus do now.
SE GA coast representin’
Wait until they “find” a box of absentee ballots in the back seat of someone’s car after a week. That’s how Franken got into the senate.
They might have a morale problem with the voluntold recruiters.
There are recruiting centers that show the chain of command ending with generals and no civilian oversight.
TOW was writing about the S-2 Trackers the Navy sold as aerial tankers to fight fires. A bit before my time, but I know aircrew who flew in them. They were (are!) tremendously overpowered, and the C-2 version was the Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, shuttling passengers and cargo to and from the bird farm.
How overpowered? Ask the crew of the this S-2 launching off of USS Ticonderoga in 1971.
They landed back on the carrier with soaked seat cushions.
That sure beats my tire blowout story from yesterday.
You admitted to doing 80 mph. You need to surrender yourself to the state police. Clear your conscience. Do it today. You’ll feel better.
Speed limit is 75.
Thank you for the warning officer.
You be safe out there.
Lotta crazy mo fo drivers.
That is awesome. Can’t believe it flew!
The carriers take off into the wind and are moving pretty good when they launch you guys, right? So would it be correct to assume if you ditch right off the bow, you’re probably getting run over by the ship?
Cause that’d be my last thought watching that wave break over the deck.