Three SWORDS, the world's first weaponized robot, have been deployed to Iraq. The Army has ordered 80 more of these remote controlled machines. Wow. (To think that I was impressed by the video camera mounted pistol in The Bourne Ultimatum!) See the the Wired article for humorous (?) quotes about development bugs and an amazing video.
Chicago Tribune reports (free registration required) on the army's "quick ship bonus," a $20,000 bonus for new recruits if they are willing to begin basic training within a month of enlisting. I think the promise of a SWORD would be much more effective. I wonder how much they cost?
Chicago Tribune reports (free registration required) on the army's "quick ship bonus," a $20,000 bonus for new recruits if they are willing to begin basic training within a month of enlisting. I think the promise of a SWORD would be much more effective. I wonder how much they cost?
1 comment:
As actor Will Smith says, " I just got to get one of them!" Pretty impressive!
As far as the soldier shortage problem, the military is having to deal with that with a creative bonus program and, shall we say, new recruitment requirements.
According to:
Ken Fireman, Bloomberg News | June 12, 2007
"To maintain recruitment and retention during a time of extended combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US military has resorted to measures such as higher bonuses and loosened standards.
The Army last year paid $1.09 billion in bonuses, a three fold increase from 2002, according to Army data.
It also increased its maximum age to 42 from 35 and is taking more recruits with lower aptitude test scores or criminal backgrounds."
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