Air Force Basic Training Honor Graduate Requirements

Air Force Basic Training Honor Graduate RequirementsAir Force Basic Training Honor Graduate RequirementsSelection as an Air Force Basic Military Training (AFBMT) honor graduate means you have far exceeded the standards of basic training. The training instructor (TI) is allowed to select a maximum of ten percent of his or her flight as Basic Training Honor Graduates. Those selected are permitted to wear the Air Force Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon for the rest of their Air Force careers. This ribbon is a one-time award and cant be awarded retroactively. Air Force Basic Training All Air Force recruits attend basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. This is where recruits become airmen, after 7.5 weeks of boot camp and Airmens Week. How to Achieve Honor Graduate Status To even be considered for honor graduate, youll need at least a 90 percent on your physical fitness exam during the Air Force Basic Military Training (AFBMT) fitness test. This is the most important consideration for honors status if you dont achieve at least Thunderbird fitness level, bedrngnishing else you do during basic training will qualify you for honors. For male recruits, this means a 2-mile run in 1415 minutes, a 1.5-mile run in 8.55 minutes, 62 push-ups in a minute, 70 sit-ups in a minute and 4 pull-ups in a minute. Female recruits need to run 2 miles in 16 minutes, 1.5 miles in 1133 minutes, 37 push-ups in a minute, 60 sit-ups in a minute and 2 pull-ups. Again, these are the minimum requirements to be considered for honors the minimum for basic training is slightly lower. If you can overperform on the physical test, your chances of being considered for honors designation increases. Written Exam for Air Force Basic Honors Additionally, you must average over a 90on all the written examinations, and never fail a graded inspection (graded inspections are conducted randomly after week three. You can never receive a negative mark in your written evaluat ions. These are done periodically, usually weekly or more often, by your TI. Just because you meet the above standards does not mean you will automatically be selected as an honor graduate. Regulations limit the number of selectees to no more than ten percent of the flight. So, how far you exceed the above standards can determinewhether or not you are selected for honors designation. Getting Ready for Air Force Basic Training Ideally, youll prepare for the physical portion of your basic training well ahead of the actual 7.5-week boot camp. In addition to getting familiar with things like military time and the chain of command, you should try to boost your time on a 2-mile run, and hone your push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups. Get familiar with the proper form for each exercise, and try to build up your stamina, adding a few extra reps with each workout. The better shape youre in when you report to basic, the better chance you have of earning that Air Force Basic Training Honor Grad uate Ribbon.

Logistics Plans (2G0X1) - Air Force Enlisted Jobs

Logistics Plans (2G0X1) - Air Force Enlisted JobsLogistics Plans (2G0X1) - Air Force Enlisted JobsDevelops, evaluates, monitors, and supervises logistics plans and programs including war reserve materiel (WRM), deployments, employment, and stab und sttze planning and agreements. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup 551. Duties and Responsibilities Performs logistics deliberate planning processes. Develops and supervises preparation of logistics annexes for operations plans and orders, programming plans, and general support, contingency, and exercise plans. Monitors and resolves logistics limiting factors. Prepares, evaluates, and supervises all aspects of deployment planning, dispersal, sustainment, recovery, reconstitution, exercises, and logistics support procedures. Conducts installation surveys to determine support capability. Provides planning support for associated units. Performs base support planning processes. Prepares and directs compiling, coordinating, publishing, distri buting, maintaining, and implementing base support plans. Analyzes and identifies plan supportability. Identifies limiting factors, shortfalls, and alternate support methods to enhance supportability of transiting and beddown forces.Performs deployment, employment, and logistics command and control processes. Prepares, compiles, coordinates, publishes, distributes, maintains, and implements deployment guidance. Prepares for and supervises deployments and redeployments. Establishes and operates a control center. Monitors deploying personnel and equipment products. Reviews planning documents to determine deployment taskings. Inputs, extracts, and interprets data in automated information systems. Assists in beddown of combat forces, analyzes emergency action messages, and recommends solutions. Develops crisis action procedures in conjunction with other employed organizations. Maintains a close relationship between operations, logistics, and support organizations to enhance support of the combat mission. Analyzes and recommends requirements for forward movement of forces to support theater commanders. Integrates redeployment planning actions with functional area representatives.Performs WRM functions. Develops guidance and supervises administration, surveillance, and management of WRM. Analyzes WRM reports to validate constraints and develop planning factors. Validates and monitors WRM deficiencies. Participates in WRM review board. Assists in WRM requirements determination process.Performs support agreement processes . Monitors preparation, negotiation, coordination, and maintenance of support agreements. Serves as installation support agreement manager. Specialty Qualifications Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of logistics planning techniques in functional areas of supply, maintenance, transportation, contracting, civil engineering, services, force protection, operations, personnel, comptroller, medical and legal as impacted by, and as they impact instal lation logistics planning Air Force operations and organization processes of deployment, beddown, employment, redeployment, and reconstitution command and control techniques techniques of conducting readiness assessments data processing and electronic data processing equipment basic budgeting techniques. Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school is desirable.Training. The following training is mandatory for award of AFSC indicated2G031. Completion of a basic logistics plans course.2G071. Completion of the advanced logistics plans course. Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated (Note See Explanation of Air Force Specialty Codes).2G051. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2G031. Also, experience in functions such as developing, evaluating, monitoring, or inspecting logistics activities, or preparing logistics plans and documents.2G071. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2G051. Also, experience performing or s upervising functions such as developing evaluating, monitoring, or inspecting logistics activities, or preparing logistics plans and documents. 2G091. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2G071. Also, experience managing functions such as developing evaluating, monitoring, or inspecting logistics activities, or preparing logistics plans and documents.Other. The following are mandatory as indicatedFor entry, award, and retention of these AFSCs Ability to speak distinctly and communicate well with others. Ability to communicate effectively in writing. For award and retention of AFSCs 2G031/51/71/91/00, eligibility for a Secret security clearance, according toAFI 31-501, Personnel Security Program Management. Strength Req G Physical Profile 333233 Citizenship Yes Required Appitude Score A-61 (Changed to A-56, effective 1 Jul 04). Technical Training Course L3ALR2G031 005 Length (Days) 24 Location L Possible Assignment Information

Tips About How to Get Your Bad Boss Fired

Tips About How to Get Your schwimmbadeanstalt Boss FiredTips About How to Get Your badeanstalt Boss FiredDo you have a bad anfhrer? No, not one of those bad ordinary anfhreres who fail to give direction and recognition. Those are low-stress bad bosses. Youve got the type of bad boss who bullies, insults, lies, changes your directions, blames others, and verbally assaults your self-esteem- every day. Youve confronted the boss with his behavior- nicely- but it didnt put a dent in his game. Youve talked to Human Resources, but they threw their hands up in frustration. The guy gets the job done and the higher-ups like him. But, theyve never seen him in action, you argued. Talk to more employees. Im not the only one complaining. Hes on his best behavior when senior managers or HR staff are around. So, its almost impossible to communicate what you and your coworkers experience every day. No pattern of employees leaving exists, youre told, which would set off red flags, but the boss has onl y been in this sttte for a year. Half of the office is looking for a new job. You Need to Take Action or Leave Your Bad Boss Behind You like your job, your company, and coworkers. The only problem is your current boss. Youre beyond self-pity and annoyance. Youre scared, but you cant take the bullying anymore. Youve decided that you either need to take action or get a new job. Those are your remaining choices. Maybe its time for you to take action to get him gone. The best way, if you can figure out how to set it up, is for senior management to see him in action. Theyve always treated you with respect, and you dont believe that theyd put up with his daily behavior if they could just see it. The Best Way to Get Them Fired So, the very best way is to set up a situation in which the boss will exhibit the worst of his behaviors publicly and in front of his boss. Its not as if his boss has not heard rumors before about his behavior, but he may have been unaware of how bad the beha vior is. In an organization, it is a powerful intervention to have the boss act out his worst behaviors in front of his own boss. Nothing else works as wellif its time to fire your boss, and other options are fraught with danger for the employee. How to Take Action Understand that danger exists when you decide it is time to fire your boss. If he is well thought of, you may bring trouble and insecurity to your own employment. You may bear the brunt of your organizations displeasure if your efforts to fire your boss dont succeed. In any case, your efforts draw a magnifying glass to your own performance. So consider other solutions before you decide that your only recourse is to fire your boss. If youre not quite brave enough or you havent yet thought of the perfect scenario for setting your boss up to exhibit his worst behavior, here are additional actions that you need to take. Check to See If You Can Talk to Hr in Confidence. Seek their confidential assistance to advise you abou t how to address the situation. Your company may have a formal complaint process. HR staff may know this bad boss and recommend ways to respond to him effectively. The heads-up may elicit some manager coaching by the HR staff. But, if your name is connected to the situation, a bad boss will retaliate. You can count on it.If You Belong to a Union or Work for the Government, Go to Your Representative First. Contractual rules and obligations may exist that you need to follow for best results. The union representative may even be willing to intervene. Document Everything. Document each incident of the bosss bad behavior with the dates and the names of witnesses. Bully bosses dont always have multiple targets you may be in the situation alone if the boss has taken a dislike to just you, for whatever reason. (If this is the case, you need to determine why you are the target of his worst behavior.)In Addition to Documentation, Make a List of the Issues Employees Have With the Boss to Go Al ong With It- a Condensed Version That Succinctly Identifies Each Behavior. And, if you can, ask other employees to sign it they may not. People are afraid of losing their jobs they may not experience the situation as intensely as you do, and they may want to avoid conflict. Develop a Safe Path to Your Bosss Manager. If you have developed a working relationship with your bosss boss, he is more likely to take your complaints seriously. With a bully boss, you must develop this relationship with care, or it will become another point in your bosss bullying. If the first time you speak to your bosss manager is to file a complaint, you have less credibility.Actively, Seek Witnesses. Following each outburst, note who saw the scene. Turn to these coworkers to build alliances. Ask your coworkers to document their experience with the bad boss, too. You will find safety in numbers and the more employees adding their voice to the complaints, the harder it is for senior managers to ignore or deny the problem. An Employee Who Attempts to Remove a Bad Boss, No Matter How Bad the Boss, May Lose His or Her Job. So, be prepared to lose your job, if your boss turns it around and you lose the battle. Even if you are 100 percent right, you still may end up losing. Your company may back your boss.Your organization had reasons to assign your boss to his management role. Perhaps he has skills and produces the results that the company needs. If you are his sole target, it is easier to remove you. By the time the organization realizes that he always has a target, you will be long gone. Preparation Is the Key If You Attempt to Have a Bad Boss Fired. You need your ducks in a row to get a bad boss fired. Documentation of incidences, statements from witnesses, and the names of co-workers who have also been bullied and are willing to speak up are critical. So, think of your chances of succeeding. Your best route may be to secretly job search, so you can quit on your schedule and your terms, rather than battling a hopeless situation. Whether you can successfully fire your boss depends on who and what your organization values and why. It depends on the culture your organization has developed and how it values employees. Additional variables include what you and your boss bring to the table. Right or wrong, he or she is, after all, the boss for reasons, and is probably in a stronger position than you are. Employers have fired the boss when employees made known to senior managers the extent of the problem, the treatment, and the damage. But, realistically, your company has to care about employees, and desire to create a particular environment for employees, to take action quickly to resolve the bad boss problem. In most cases, even if the company believes you and takes action, the company will have a disciplinary policy and process that they must follow to remove the bad boss. So, the process will take time and you will experience harassment and retaliation unless your sen ior managers and HR have put the manager on notice that they will tolerate neither.

Consider Becoming a Project Manager If You Want to Lead

Consider Becoming a Project Manager If You Want to LeadConsider Becoming a Project Manager If You Want to LeadProject managers are the quiet heroes of todays organizations. After all, just about any major new initiative in an organization takes place in the form of a project. From new product development to implementing a new software system to executing on key strategic initiatives, we live and work in a world of projects. And, its the project managers who shoulder much of the burden for bringing ansicht initiatives from paper and presentation to reality. It also turns out that the role is one of the most challenging leadership positions in any organization. For anyone interested in developing as a leader, getting involved in project work and eventually taking on the role of project manager is a great way to pursue your goals. Here are some of the core leadership tasks of todays project manager, along with ideas to help you get started. Here are the core leadership challenges of a p roject manager. Dealing With Uniqueness Projects by definition are temporary and unique. They are all of the work done once to create or complete something new. Every new product development effort is unique implementing a new software system is a one-time affair and executing on a strategic initiative requires different initiatives this year than the strategy three years ago. While project managers learn lessons from past projects, they are leading and guiding something new and unique every time. Assembling a Team in a Hurry In many organizations, project kollektiv members are drawn from different functional areas and assemble as a group to focus on a new initiative. From assessing and negotiating for resources with functional managers to assembling the team and bringing it to life, this is a challenging leadership issue for the project manager. Navigating Complex Customer and Stakeholder Needs Project success is often a function of how effective the project manager is at assessing and meeting the needs of all involved parties for project quality, timing, budgets, and resources. A stakeholder is any individual or function touched by a project, and managing these stakeholders, including executives, is a full-time job in leadership, negotiation, diplomacy, and communication. Helping the Team Move From Forming to Performing According to Tuckman, teams move through a number of phases in their lifecycle, from forming to storming and then on to norming and performing. If youve been a part of a hastily assembled team, you can relate to the storming phase in particular. Project managers are effectively team coaches, helping members define roles, understand their work and then navigate key discussion and decision points- all challenging leadership tasks. Scheduling the Resources If youve ever attended a circus or, if like me, youre old enough to remember the Ed Sullivan show, you may have seen the plate spinner who strives to start and keep as many plates spinning on sticks as possible. Most project managers describe feeling like this circus performer from time to time, and striving to gain the right resources at the right time and place is their equivalent of plate spinning. Creativity, negotiation, and diplomacy are once again key attributes of the effective project leader. Forming an Environment for Success Teams like individuals do their best work in a healthy environment where they are trusted and trust their co-workers. Yet the pace and demands of schedules create stress points and can foster disagreement and even dissension. The project manager owns the hard work of ensuring a healthy environment where issues are resolved respectfully and efficiently so team members can proceed with their work and provide their creative best in the process. Managing the Money With leadership comes financial responsibility, and the project manager is accountable for not only the quality and timeliness of the work but the cost of the work. Ensuring Quality and Delivery At the end of the day, the team is delivering something new and unique to a customer or group of customers. The project manager is accountable for ensuring the completeness and quality of the offering- on time and at the budget. Project Management as a Career Every year I teach an MBA elective course in the fundamentals of project management. When we started this course, enrollment was typically 14 to 20 students. Now, the class has exploded to fill the 48-student maximum with more on the waiting list. One year, I agreed to teach two combined sections with over 80 students. The word is out- project management is a great career and a great way to learn to lead. It also offers a non-traditional entry point into a leadership opportunity. Instead of competing for the limited number of functional leadership and management roles, you can pursue the nearly insatiable need for project management skills in most organizations. Im incredibly pro ud of the number of my former students who have moved on to earn the challenging and important Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. Often, their pursuit of this role and designation starts with a discussion and assignment around exploring what it means to be a project manager.Here are some ideas to help you get started. 5 Ideas to Help You Explore the Role of Project Manager Interview a project manager in your firm and learn more about the role and your firms formal practices. Ask about how he/she moved into this role. Indicate your interest in supporting a project team and learning more about the role of project participant and project manager.Meet with an executive and learn more about some of the key project work in the firm. Are there innovation initiatives underway? These are most definitely projects. Is the firm installing a new software system? How are new products developed? Let it be known that you would like to work on a project team to contribute and to gain experience. Explore the resources available at the Project Management Institute.Read. My favorite source of information comes from an eminently readable and inexpensive book entitled, The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management by Eric Verzuh. Ive used Verzuhs book in lieu of an expensive text for many years and the students give it glowing reviews for its clarity, ease of reading and usefulness.Volunteer to lead an initiative. Theres no shame in volunteering to head up the holiday party or company picnic. The same project management practices apply and you gain valuable project experience in the process. The Bottom Line Developing as a leader doesnt require you to follow a traditional path of supervising and then managing a function. Projects and project management offer a great way to learn and practice leadership while actively contributing to the success of your firm.

What You Dont Know About Microsoft Office Skills on Resume Could Be Costing to More Than You Think

What You Dont Know About Microsoft Office Skills on Resume Could Be Costing to More Than You Think The Basics of Microsoft Office Skills on Resume If youre uncertain if JIRA is appropriate for you, the absolutely free seven-day trial will be able to help you decide. By way of example, you may have used Microsoft Word for years, but you need never done a Mail Merge. Next, select your project type. Just take this Senior Digital advertising Manager job ad, for example. The Basic Facts of Microsoft Office Skills on Resume By way of example, as a social networking whiz applying for a branding role, you might have a natural inclination to consider how a corporation can continually strengthen its brand, an obvious portion of a big-picture theme. Show the employer you have the skills the business requirements. Because of this, its essential to include computer skills on your resume. In addition, it is going to help you show off your very best PC skills effortlessly This computer s kills are amazingly valuable at the moment across a wide array of industrieswhich means having them on your resume will cause you to be a more attractive job candidate. To begin with, here is a table of the greatest computer skills for resumes. Soft abilities, on the flip side, arent simple to quantify. Those basic skills arent listed there as a test to make certain youre paying attention, but instead becuase theyre less basic as you may think. Back in the old times of the web, only someone with big-time tech skills could update a site. Not bow hunting abilities or nunchuck abilities. Because some level of software knowledge is needed for most candidates in the modern job market, it is a great idea to devote a section of your resume exclusively to your computer abilities. Accounting computer software skills are important if youre applying for positions in the finance or company sectors. Standard understanding of productivity software suites may add value to your resume. If yo ure applying to work for a little company, accounting computer software skills could be useful when youre expected to assume numerous roles in the enterprise. The perfect office assistant resume will exhibit various talents, such as managerial abilities, organizational abilities and data analysis and processing abilities. You dont have the fundamental computer skills you will need to acquire the job that you desire. Each job will call for various abilities and experiences, so ensure you read the work description carefully and center on the appropriate job skills listed by the employer. If you understand how to use all the programs in Microsoft Office and its listed as an essential skill in the work description then you are able to include it. Hard skills are quantifiable and frequently learned from school or at work. They are not skills that are hard to learn. They can be categorized in different ways, depending on your job title. 3 First, you should pick the best skills for yo ur resume. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Microsoft Office Skills on Resume Level 4 is for sub-tasks, where you are able to manage the more compact pieces of complex difficulties. Setting up screens can be time-consuming, but it might spare a lot of work in the very long run. Along with the normal fields, you can even add and edit customized ones in the Custom Fields settings. Perhaps your skill set is totally different. For instance, you might want a particular screen to be shown once a problem is made, and a different one when its viewed. Each has great examples so that you can write the ideal bullet points. After selecting your theme, youre prepared to compose the skills section. There are styles of preparing your skills section that may still show you in the ideal light.

Why Everybody Is Dead Mistaken Regarding King County Career Support Resume Writing Guide

Why Everybody Is Dead Mistaken Regarding King County Career Support Resume Writing Guide We guarantee youll be 100% satisfied with your new resume or well re-write it until youre happy. Move your resume to the cover of the pile Two parties will use your resume. Possessing a well thought out current resume on hand whatsoever times can help you save you a good deal of anxiety, and could help you save you a missed opportunity. The Master t he Interview guide can help you understand and apply key strategies, which means you always leave an outstanding impression. You will need to compose your own mind and could break any rules if doing so makes your resume far better. This guide to resume writing can help you when you begin this important endeavor. Remember that the time that it requires to compose a good resume is time well spent. By putting in the time and effort needed, youll be showing the employer that youre a professional, that youve got the desire required to become a n exceptional employee, and that youre a good fit for the job which he or shes offering. 1 way that will help you decide if you must incorporate a skills section is to refer to the work description. Tailoring your resume to suit each kind of job that you apply to can look like a good deal of work, but, especially in a competitive labor market, it can definitely allow you to stick out from your competition. One of the absolute most important and intimidating actions in the work search procedure is writing a solid resume that gets the attention you need and need. The Benefits of King County Career Support Resume Writing Guide After all, the most essential purpose of a resume is to allow you to find an interview. This extra information better illustrates the degree of your responsibilities. Youre applying for that job since you believe you can be of value to the business. This example should provide you a notion of the way to word information about a specific position youve he ld. Prospective employers frequently do not open attached resumes because they are sometimes infected with a virus. Be certain to describe any additional computer training that you have together with your very own special set of talents. You will obtain the information and knowledge that will help you to blast in front of your competition, command greater fees, and boost your client referrals. Its the preferred format in the majority of modern resumes. The purchase price for your Resume is dependent on your years of experience. Resume Content Areas The subsequent categories can act as guidelines to help you in organizing a resume. In the majority of cases, this isnt how you approach resume writing. Just be ready to compose several drafts and stick to the tips outlined in the subsequent paragraphs.

Why Absolutely Everyone Is Talking About Create Resume from Linkedin

Why Absolutely Everyone Is Talking About Create Resume from Linkedin From that point, the work description details can be pre-populated with a couple clicks, utilizing the ideal wording as determined by Resume Builders experts. The easy resume builder provides you prompts and tips as you go along so that you know what things to put in each individual space. All you have to do is select a template and publish your travels. For a certain sort of retail sales and military to offer a standard resume writers ksa. Top Create Resume from Linkedin Choices So in a way, it could be a really considerable letter for the individual youre writing about. The first thing you need to do whenever you arent looking for employment is definitely learned how to begin a resume. Naturally, a young person coming right out of school is unlikely to have a credit score report. A great deal are also mobile friendly. The best thing about premium membership is you may download the resume in formats apa rt from PDF, which means that you can maintain a working, editable version of your resume on your own computer. You can select from different templates on the left-hand side of the site. Or DoYouBuzz, which is a really user-friendly website with both free and paid plans, providing you a lot of template options and is an extremely smooth process too. There are a few options to create your resume. Finding Create Resume from Linkedin Online Youre just easing their task. The ideal technique is to choose the support of Job application builder for publishing a resume therefore you wont loose the work prospect. Just follow the easy steps given below. Ok, I Think I Understand Create Resume from Linkedin, Now Tell Me About Create Resume from Linkedin A CV is an important component for successful job. Provide a top cv will vastly enhance your own. International standards, linkedin profile to create a totally free on-line cv. Ask expert CV writing tafelgeschirr to aid with your CV. New Step by Step Roadmap for Create Resume from Linkedin Thus, this protection doesnt appear to work. You can add information regarding how its possible to transform the department or maybe organization in a far better means. Follow these few straightforward things to do to help you choose the ideal service available. Be careful to construct the lines. LinkedIn has an integrated function to permit you to conserve a profile to PDF. Or all you have to do is click the word Profile itself. Click the Me link on top, then View Profile. Youre able to work offline great if you need to review some profiles on the plane on the following business trip. You will be whipping up resumes on the fly in almost no time. Becoming in a position to put your very best foot forward online is becoming more and more important and can benefit your whole career. Clean, doesnt have to necessarily mean serious. The Basics of Create Resume from Linkedin You have to be sure all the social networki ng platforms represent your own personal brand positively and consistently. This could prove to be a fairly practical service for people whove built detailed LinkedIn profiles. These sites can create online resume along with offline resume. Now rather than having to work with various tools to create a professional image, you can make LinkedIn your professional hub on the net. Its just two clicks away in the event that you use Google Chrome browser. First off ensure youre logged in to LinkedIn. LinkedIn know their platform is where to be for all things career and skilled networking. Your resume has to be simple to read. There are many academic assignments students will need to deal with on daily basis. Your CV is your opportunity to display your future employers that youre the ideal candidate for. Professional CVs are 3 times more inclined to be looked at by employers. This tool will take the info youve already spent your time providing for your profile and make a PDF tha t you are able to send or print. Visual information is crucial. It is vital that you should have each of the informations in advance before you place in the info. More information relating to this is here.

This Robots Mission is to Solve the Worlds Water Crisis

This Robots Mission is to Solve the Worlds Water Crisis This Robots Mission is to Solve the Worlds Water Crisis This Robots Mission is to Solve the Worlds Water CrisisTheres a finite supply of water. Were running out of it, and we cant manufacture more. That means we have to do a much better job at managing and preserving what we have. A Boston startup is trying to do just that with a new robot.WatchTower Robotics has created a soft-sided autonomous robot about the size of a softball that when inserted into a length of water pipe can find and detect leaks of nearly any size. Its carried along by nothing more than the force of the water moving through the pipe.Lighthouse (left) and Daisy, two earlier versions of the leak detecting bot. Image WatchTower RoboticsWater loss is a big problem. Theres money to solve it but no solutions in the marketplace, said Tyler Mantel, the companys product strategy lead, adding that company co-founder You Wu first began developing the robot as his thes is at MIT. So six years of development lumineszenzdiode to the product we have today, which is able to find leaks in all pipe materials, looking for leaks the same way youd feel the suction on the end of vacuum cleaner.Given the severity of the pending crisis, experts in the field say, solutions like these cant hit the mainstream fast enough.Nearly 1.8 billion people will be living in absolute water scarcity by 2025, meaning there are inadequate natural water resources in their area to support local demand, according to the United Nations. This differs from economic water scarcity, which is the result of poor management of water resources. Even today, water scarcity of both types impacts around 2.8 billion people worldwide at least one month out of the year.That number grows steadily. The problem is global, and its going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.For You The Moral Beauty of a Disobedient Robotfruchtwein of the worlds water supply goes toward agriculture, which use s about 70 percent of the total. That number increases regularly. The global population is on track to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050, meaning there will soon be far more mouths to feed and much more strain on our already-stressed water supplies.Despite the large number, heavy agricultural use is only part of the problem. Much of the water infrastructure in the U.S., such as underground pipes and treatment stations, is old and outdated. Materials that have been in use that long naturally break down over time, and when that happens they leak.In the developing world this is an even sharper problem. In Saudi Arabia, the most expensive water market in the world, up to 30 percent of the countrys water is s-lost due to leaks and maintenance issues. Whats needed, then, is a device that can travel through water pipes and feel for leaks, notifying authorities when it finds one so that they can fix it.That is what WatchTower Robotics built.The current prototype is conical and built with sof t robotic components including a series of small wings on all sides that are attached to sensors. As the robot travels through the pipe the wings pull in the direction of a leak due to the force of the water leaving the pipe, registering that tug at the sensor. The robots internal tracking mechanism then geotags the location and stores it for later analysis. Traditional GPS technology doesnt work that well since most water pipes are underground, but the tracking this robot uses can typically pinpoint a leak down to an area of about a foot for every 500 feet of travel.That kind of accuracy is new to most utilities, which often dig up large sections of a street to find and fix a small leak. The reason for that caught Mantel and the rest of the development team off guard.Early on we were sitting with a customer and showing him how the geotagging could pinpoint a leak on their GIS map within a couple of feet, and he looked me in the eyes and said, Hey, can you help me find my pipe?It tu rns out that much of the water infrastructure in this country and elsewhere is more than 70 years old, making it difficult for utilities to know exactly where some of their pipes are located. They have a rough idea of the path theyre taking, but in some cases very limited knowledge of exactly where to dig in the event of an emergency.Autonomous sensing robots like this one are helping make those limitations a thing of the past.One of the major innovations in robotics in recent years is the advent of soft robotics. Soft tactile materials replace the rigid metal frames typically used in hard bots to provide them with more lifelike and flexible movement. For Mantel and Wus prototype, this means a device that functions better than rigid smart PIGs, or pipe inspection gauges, for their purposes.Not being on a rigid frame allows us to compress and go through pipe geometry that other Smart PIGs never were able to, Mantel said. The other pipe inspection products are all smaller than the pip e diameter, which means they lose a lot in being able to isolate to the center of the pipe and being able to operate as a plug flow. Being compressible also allows it to stay oriented. I can turn and go through pipe geometries like a control valve or a tuberculation or anything thats diameter restricted without any problems.Although WatchTower is still in the startup stage, it is already thinking beyond water pipe testing for its robots and looking into gas line testing and other scenarios where liquids are flowing through pipes. But right now they feel that the biggest impact they can have is in water pipes.When Dr. Wu and I founded this company we had a conversation about what we wanted to do and we both agreed that we wanted to create something that made a positive impact on the world, Mantel said. That has driven a lot of decisions including how were going to price ourselves moving forward. The closest product to ours in function and form is a $25,000 a mile product, which only makes sense for large municipalities if they have a localized problem. We want to get down to $2,000 a mile on average so that we can help with preventative maintenance and in the developing world. Thats where were going next.Tim Sprinkle is an independent writer.Read mora Robots Use Environmental Clues to Build Structures Sensors Allow Robots to Feel Sensation Submersible Robot Harpoons Reef-Damaging Lionfish For Further Discussion Water loss is a big problem. Theres money to solve it but no solutions in the marketplace.Tyler Mantel, WatchTower Robotics

How the U.S. Army Is Organized

How the U.S. Army Is OrganizedHow the U.S. Army Is OrganizedThe elements in the organizational chart for the U.S. Army span from the individual soldier all the way to the largest building block commonly used, the Corps. In between are the intermediate elements of Army organization, including the squad, platoon, company, battalion, brigade and division. As you move through the organization, the elements become larger and also encompass more combat support units. Typically, a company is the smallest Army element to be given a designation and an affiliation with higher headquarters at battalion and brigade level. U.S. Army Military Organization Here is a rundown of the various elements of command in the U.S. Army A Fire gruppe is comprised of 2 Riflemen, one being the Team Leader, a Grenadier, and an Automatic Rifleman used when small recon or special missions are required. Led by a sergeant.A squad, which is the smallest element in the Army structure, is typically made up of four t o 10 soldiers and normally is commanded by a sergeant or staff sergeant. Some units have two squads that made up a section, commanded by a staff sergeant.Normally, a platoon includes 16 to 44 soldiers and is led by a lieutenant with an NCO as second in command. A platoon usually consists of three to four squads or sections. A company contains three to five platoons and a total of 60 to 200 soldiers. Its commanded by a captain with a first sergeant as the commanders principal NCO assistant. If the element is an artillery unit, its called a battery rather than a company. If its armored or air cavalry, its called a troop. A company is a tactical sized unit and can perform a battlefield function on its own.This encompasses four to six companies and between 300 and 1,000 soldiers. A battalion normally is commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and a command sergeant major serves as principal NCO assistant. A battalion can conduct independent operations, if theyre of limited scope and duration , and operates its own administration. An armored or air cavalry unit of equivalent size is known as a squadron. A brigade includes 1,500 to 3,200 soldiers, and a brigade headquarters commands the tactical operation of two to five combat battalions. Brigades normally are employed on independent or semi-independent operations, and normally are commanded by a colonel with a command sergeant major as senior NCO. In some cases, a brigadier general may assume command. Armored cavalry, ranger and special forces units in this size range are called regiments or groups instead of brigades.A division, with 10,000 to 16,000 soldiers, usually consists of three brigade-sized elements and is commanded by a major general, who is assisted by two brigadier generals. It can conduct major tactical operations and sustained battlefield operations and engagements. Divisions are numbered and are assigned missions based on their structures. Divisions perform major tactical operations for the studentencorps and can conduct sustained battles and engagements. A corps includes 20,000 to 45,000 soldiers and is made up of two to five divisions. Its normally commanded by a lieutenant general, who is assisted by a command sergeant major and an extensive corps staff. The corps provides the framework for modern multi-national operations.A field army combines two or more corps, with 50,000 or more soldiers, and is typically commanded by a lieutenant general or higher-ranking officer. An army group plans and directs campaigns in a theater of operations, and includes two or more field armies under a designated commander. Army Organizational Elements The Army hasnt set a specific size to any specific element in its organizational chart. Instead, the number of soldiers in any given element of command depends on the type of unit involved and its mission. For example, an aviation company would have a different number of troops assigned than an infantry company because it has a different mission, different equipment, and therefore different requirements. The usual Army structure is battalion, brigade, division. Battalions that are organized into regiments are the exception. An example of this exception would be cavalry regiments. Cavalry is unique in that battalions are called squadrons and companies are called troops. Unit NameAlternative NamesComponentsCommanders RankFireteam4 SoldiersStaff SgtSquadSection (Cavalry)4-10 SoldiersSgt or Staff SgtPlatoon16-40 Soldiers in 2 or more SquadsLieutenantCompanyTroop (Cavalry), Battery (Artillery)100-200 Soldiers in 3-5 PlatoonsCaptainBattalionSquadron (Cavalry)4-6 CompaniesLt. ColonelBrigadeGroup (Logistics or Special Forces)2-5 BattalionsColonelDivision3 or more BrigadesMajor GeneralCorps2 or more DivisionsLt. GeneralField Army2 or more CorpsGeneral (or Lt. General)Army Group2 or more Field ArmiesGeneral