Infantry Scouts ExperiencesA Firsthand Account

Infantry Scouts ExperiencesA Firsthand AccountInfantry Scouts Experiences- A Firsthand AccountWhen theyre on the front lines with the U.S. infantry, its often been said that there are two kinds of people- the quick and the dead. But its a different story for infantry scouts. Theyre the ones the enemy aims for, according to Spc. Serrano Brooks, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force 2-9, scout. If they take us out, then we cant relay their location or tell our headquarters how many soldiers they have, Brooks said. What Do Scouts Do? Infantry scouts have the thrilling and often very dangerous task of getting eyes on the enemy. We leave before the rest of the unit to go out and find the enemy, Brooks said. We should never be seen by the enemy and we dont engage the enemy in direct contact. For Brooks and his team, the mission puts a lot of pressure onthem. Its a big weight on our shoulders, said Pfc. Daniel Warner. An entire team, squad, platoon, company, or battalion cou ld be affected by the decisions you make. The SALUTE Technique The scouts use a technique thats memorized as SALUTE to inform headquarters of what they see. SALUTE stands for Size The number of troops and the approximate size and type of each unitActivity The observed activity of the enemyLocation The position of the enemy using map grid referencesUnit Identity of enemy unit or description of markings, uniforms, equipmentTime The date/time/group of the sightingEquipment The number and description of weapons or equipment According to Brooks, The SALUTE report is a guideline so we can give an exact report on enemy activity. What Equipment Is Involved? For the most part, scouts carry the same equipment as non-scout soldiers. We take the normal stuff that a line soldier would take, Brooks said. The only difference is that when we go out, the only contact well have with headquarters is on the radio. Other than that, were on our own, so its important to ensure that we have all of our equipment. In other words, there wont be any opportunity to collect forgotten items later. It doesnt matter to the scouts what the weather is like. The mission still has to be completed. Rain, sleet, snow, or a clear night, we have to do our job, so the rest of the unit can do theirs, Brooks said. Whats the Best Part? Brooks said the best part of being a scout is the camaraderie that builds with the other members of the team. We spend a lot of time together, so we get to know all about each other, he said. And thats important because you want to know the guy next to you is someone you can trust. And after spending enough time with them, I know they have my back, and they know I have theirs. When he was asked about the most important thing to remember while out on patrol, Brooks had an immediate response. Dont be seen, he said. Reprinted with permission from the Army News Service and the cooperation of Spc. Chris Stephens

Dragon Bridge Breathes Fire into Economy

Dragon Bridge Breathes Fire into Economy Dragon Bridge Breathes Fire into Economy Long-span bridges, especially signature crossings like Californias Golden Gate Bridge or its new cousin, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, are noted for their architectural grace and engineering prowess. In Vietnam, there now is a bridge that can be celebrated for what its designers call a unique interpretation of a single-arched bridge that doubles as pergestaltance art.Da Nangs 666-m-long Dragon Bridge is just that A design of hybrid steel box girders supported by undulating central rib steel and concrete arches modeled after a dragon hovering over the Han River. The dragon is formed by decorative steel plates attached to the arches that represent scales and a head on the eastern side that breathes fire and water.It is certainly an unconventional arch structure, says Radu Dragan, senior associate for Ammann Whitney, the New York City-based firm that won the design contract. In terms of design, it satisfies the visual impact requirements. Structurally, its not the best approach.Steel tubes for the central arch are held in place by spider frames.ArchesThe design team worked through the challenge, arriving at arches formed of 4-foot-diameter steel tubes unconnected to each other and held in place with horseshoe-shaped steel spider frames. Steel suspender cables connect the arch with the deck at 8-meter intervals. Below the deck, the arch structure becomes reinforced concrete and is integrated into the piers.The deck is wide, stretching across 35 meters to accommodate three lanes of traffic in each direction and pedestrian walkways.The center three spans are hybrid steel box girders supported by the arch. For the suspended portions, the deck superstructure is a box girder of a triple-cell steel box prestressed twin-cell boxes are used for the sections over the piers. Further, 10.5-meter cantilevers extend from the box girders to bring the superstructures width to 35 meters. It extends another meter to meter and a half to accommodate the walkways.Typically in bridges of such width, the deck is supported by arches on the outside of each deck, says Chris Gagnon, AW senior vice president. During the design competition, the designers offered up the single-arch option in addition to a cable-stay design and the ownerthe Da Nang city governmentopted for the dragon.The arch was really different from everything else, notes Dragan. And we were able to land the bridge directly at street level. That was very important to them.Steel cables connect the arch to the bridge deck and ornamental metal makes the dragons scales.OptionsThe Dragon Bridge, which opened in April of this year, is Da Nangs fifth crossing of the Han River and is expected to provide quicker and easier access to the seacoast, boosting local tourism. Gagnon points out that a typical cable-stayed bridge, which many cities around the world are using for signature bridge projects, requires abutments and el evated ramps to accommodate its height. The arch design allows the bridge to transition at street level in the heart of the city at its historic Cham Museum Square.While they investigated the site, Gagnon says the team realized that river traffic did not require a high clearance. Most boats using the river are local sampans or other vessels with low clearance. That realization sparked the option for the arch bridge, which has a 12-meter clearance over the main shipping channel and preserves scenic views of the square.But the main channel had to be moved to the eastern side of the crossing because the at-grade approach to the city center resulted in limited vertical clearance. The westernmost span is a variable depth cast-in-place prestressed concrete structure integral with the first pier. Competent rock on which to found the piers was found about 43 meters below the waterline so the piers are fitted within a partially left-in-place cofferdam to provide a permanent fixture below the river bottom and prevent scouring of drilled shafts.AW used 3D models and both proprietary and off-the-shelf software to review the design, which meets both local and international codes. The deck is a hybrid, with a concrete deck and below, steel box girders, says Dragan. It is a complex structure, but not unique or unusual.Fire belches from the head of the Dragon Bridge.UniqueDesigners believe its uniqueness rests with the five steel tubes that form the arch. There are no interlocking members, points out Dragan. It is certainly unusual and an innovative approach, especially having to connect the spider frame and the steel tubes.For the connection to work, the design team decided to use a layer of neoprene usually associated with material used in expansion joints and bearings, says Dragan. It allows for movement and can be easily replaced during the course of the structures 100-year design life, he adds.Construction was done by two Vietnamese contractors, one for the substructure and the other the superstructure. The steel spider frames and tubes were fabricated in China and erected by crane with supporting falsework.FireSince its opening, the bridge has become a tourist attraction in its own right, says Dragan. Its arches are illuminated with LED lighting after dark and every weekend, the dragons heads spews fire and water. That system was developed and installed by local engineers.Gagnon says the original design called for a two-headed dragon but the owner opted for one head, facing east. With a final cost of $86 million, he says, Its a low cost compared to its complexity. For Further DiscussionThe arch has no interlocking members. It is an unusual and innovative approach.Radu Dragon, Design Engineer, Ammann & Whitney

How to Become the Candidate Recruiters Cant Resist

How to Become the Candidate Recruiters Cant ResistHow to Become the Candidate Recruiters Cant Resist Recruiters are constantly searching for amazing candidates to fill the millions of open jobs in the U.S. And the search can be hard After all, reading thousands of resumes and talking to potential candidates about a particular role can be time-consuming. So why not make it easier for recruiters to find and hire you?How do you do that, you ask? By being the most informed candidate possible.Sure, skills and experience matter, but according to HR insiders, a candidate who is knowledgeable about the company and is highly engaged is a must-hire.Your goal as a job seeker should be to stand out from the crowd for all of the right reasons, and at all of the pivotal moments, from application to negotiation and, ultimately, on the job.One employer said, An informed candidate is someone that knows about the company - thats done research and that has read the job description, w hounderstands the opening so that when youre contacting them, theyre essentially meeting you half way. It also shows me that that person is motivated because they are doing the work they need to do.With a depth of information that job seekers cant find anywhere else, Glassdoor is the only place where employers can source truly informed candidates. Job seekers who use Glassdoor fully - from job listings and company reviews to salary reports, interview questions , and even photos - are mora engaged, knowledgeableand have the right expectations of an employer. Recruiters know this, and were here to reveal the steps you need to take to become the informed and irresistible candidate of their dreams.1. Learn The Ins & Outs of the CompanyHere at Glassdoor, we believe that shotgunning an application to a company that you sorta know about through friends or reputation is no way to job search . Do your homework by reading recent news articles about the company, check out their Twi tter page to get a sense of what they stand for , click around on Google to read about executives who work there, and be sure to look for any red flags like recent lay-offs, public scandals, or public uncertainty. Do this to get a holistic view of the companies youre interested in. Dont cross any company off your list just yet, because one red flag or corporate mistakedoes notnecessarily point to poor company culture.Once you have looked at the companies youre interested in from a 100-footlevel, dig in for a closer look. Head to the companys Glassdoor profile to investigate things like their company rating (3.3 is the average on Glassdoor), reviews about the CEO , insights and feedback from current and former employees , and be sure toscroll through the photos, videos and mission statements. Click on the salaries tab to dive deeper into thecompensation specifics. After all, money matters .Glassdoor has salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, and hourly pay based upon employee report s and estimates.Next to theSalaries tab, youll spot all of the available jobs at that company. Dive in, not just to the jobs youre interested in, but also to see what else and where else the company is hiring. In some cases, youll notice estimated salary ranges in job listings to help people instantly know what they could be paid before applying to a job. This way, if a companyis majorly misaligned with your expectations, you can rethink whether or not theyre worth applying to after all.Now that you have done your homework, youve likely narrowed down the list of companies that interest you. Go a level further by diving into the company mission and culture - once you get a sense of these, youll be able to strategically narrow down your list in order to apply more thoughtfully. From here, youll be able to dig into what you should highlight fromyour work historyin order to show that youre a perfect fit for this company - customizing your resume to the job and the company is key.4. Prepare for the Interview Before You Get ItSearch interview questions and get insights into the exact questions recruiters and hiring managers at your ideal company will ask. You can often browse dozens of interview questions that are asked of candidates applying to the specific role that you are. Preparing in advance and over time will prevent last-minute cramming and get your mind churning about the specific anecdotes and examples of excellence you want to share. Plus, learning about the interview experiences of others offers additional insight into what the company is really like.5. Continue to Learn Throughout the Recruiting ProcessAs you progress through the interview and recruiting process, continue to fact check the information youre being told by hiring managers and recruiters with the reviews of employees on Glassdoor. This will inform the questions you ask and allows you to dig even deeper into the company culture as well as to the dynamics of the specific team you will join.Its important to understand that negotiating your salary is a perfectly modell part of the employment process, and recruiters expect it According to studies by Glassdoor , men are more likely to negotiate salary than women. But studies show this negotiation gap disappears when information about other job applicants negotiation experience is public information. Therefore, knowledge is power.Before heading to the negotiation table, make sure you7. Ask As Many Questions As Necessary93% of job seekers today want to be informed about all aspects of a company prior to accepting a job offer, according to a Glassdoor site survey, so dont think youre nagging the recruiter. Its their job to answer your questions and help you make the best decision. After all, they want to hire the candidate best suited for the job to improve retention and the company ranks.Cant think of any more questions? Read these first8. Say Yes If the Job & Company Are Right For YouFeeling 100-percent sure? Go for it Say yes and start living the life youve always wanted with a job that you love. And remember, just like you benefitted from all of the reviews, insights, and feedback from millions of people on Glassdoor, be sure to return the favor. Leave a review on Glassdoor about your experience .Now that youve got the tools to become a candidate that recruiters cannot resist, get out there and find a job that fits your life Dont forget, were here to help every step of the way.