SIGNAL Extras

Over the next two days, hackers from across the globe will team up on nearly every continent for the second Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) event aimed at finding solutions to real-world problems in areas affected by natural disasters.

The SIGNAL staff and all of AFCEA extend our gratitude to our military members and veterans this weekend and always. Thank you for your service to our great nation.

SIGNAL Magazine and AFCEA extend heartfelt sympathies to the Polish people for the loss of President Lech Kaczynski, Gen. Franciszek Gagor (PAF), chief of the Polish Armed Forces General Staff, and other leaders. We stand with the Polish people during this time of grief. Just two months ago, Gen. Gagor shared his views on the future of Poland's military with SIGNAL readers in a special report on Poland.

This month's SIGNAL Connections survey asks readers to weigh in with the main reason they joined AFCEA. Feel free to discuss the value of your AFCEA membership here, whether your affiliation is as an individual member or a corporate associate. And if you have suggestions on benefits you'd like to see, share them here as well.

Student Katherine Ackerman blogs her experience at this morning's launch of Space Shuttle Discovery: "There was a giant rush of air, an enormous flame, and-kaboom-blastoff! I'm torn between saying that it looked like the world was ending and that it looked like the world was being created anew."

For my February 2010 article, I interviewed members of the Defense Department's Human Spaceflight Payloads Office and Space Test Program about the experiments they help put into space. The projects impressed me, as did the sources' firm belief in the importance of what they do to help warfighters. At the end of our interview, I asked the gentlemen to indulge me on a personal question: "What would you recommend to a child like my son, who wants to grow up to become, as he calls it, 'a space scientist?'"

Wondering how you can get your business' news published in one of SIGNAL's publications? Executive Editor Maryann Lawlor will be hosting an event at West 2010 for PAOs, business development managers and PR folks to help you learn how. "The Secrets Behind Getting News Published" in SIGNAL's media will be held Wednesday, February 3, at 9 a.m. PST.

"Armed With Science" is a weekly podcast from the U.S. Defense Department that highlights the importance of science and technology to modern military operations and the DOD. Interviews with scientists, administrators and operators are conducted to inform listeners about the cutting-edge research and development happening within the defense community.

A fallen soldier has been honored in an unusual way. Lance Cpl. Ryan McCurdy, USMC, was killed by a sniper in Fallujah, Iraq, in January 2006 when he attempted to save a comrade who was also injured. In recognition of his sacrifice, a portable armored wall system has been named "McCurdy's Armor" in his honor.

The first American Heroes Challenge will take place in Las Vegas Nov. 7-8, 2009. The event features four-man teams comprised of military, law enforcement and security personnel who will compete in a six-stage, live-fire firearms and tactics competition. Each stage is named in honor of a fallen American hero. The contest is designed to test technical, tactical and physical skills as well as the ability to evolve with the mission.  The American Heroes Challenge organization is a nonprofit created to benefit and honor members of the military, law enforcement and first-responder communities through the challenge event. All proceeds will go toward the goal to raise $1 million in 2009. That money will be donated to the construction of a veteran's memorial in Las Vegas. More information about the event, the troops after whom stages are named, sponsorships, donations, team applications and the entry fee is available on the Web site. The programs listed on these pages are not affiliated with our publication or association. We highlight these independent efforts as a service to our military and our readers. For more information about these programs, please contact the organizations directly.