text: WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR), in partnership with the U.S. Army Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) G-38 – Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), announce the 2017 Raven's Challenge XI Interoperability Exercise, a national training event to prepare and counter the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
  The Raven’s Challenge began in 2004 as an ATF-led training exercise for both military EOD teams and public safety bomb squads (PSBS) in Seattle, Wash. The exercise matured into what is now the largest EOD/PSBS training exercise in the world. The Raven’s Challenge is funded by the U.S. Army and is executed by ATF and partner agencies including the U.S. Army, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country.
  This annual, interagency counter-IED (C-IED) exercise incorporates scenarios focused on capabilities between public safety bomb squads and military EOD teams in operational environments. It involves EOD teams from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), Army, Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC), including their active duty, reserve, and guard components; state and local PSBS; Departments of Defense; Department of Justice; DHS; international law enforcement; and military and industry partners. The close collaboration and participation of these organizations is a testament to the C-IED expertise and professionalism of all involved and the importance of the subject matter. The Raven’s Challenge objectives tie directly to guiding policy regarding C-IED national preparedness efforts.
  The 2016 Raven’s Challenge X Inoperability Exercise was an overwhelming success which resulted in the training of more than 800 law enforcement and military EOD technicians from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Bahamas and United Arab Emirates. Participants trained in select IED challenges; including IEDs encountered in diverse environments, vehicle-borne IEDs, and IED attacks on transportation systems. The training increased the interoperability and familiarity of local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and prepared military participants to fight and win on today’s global IED battlefield. This year’s event promises to be just as challenging.
  The Raven’s Challenge continues to grow public safety partnerships between international, state and local jurisdictions for the prevention, protection, mitigation and response of man-made threats our nation and communities face. This exercise is also in direct support of the National Preparedness Goal formed out of the Presidential Policy Directive-8: National Preparedness, which describes the nation’s approach to preparing for the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to the security of the United States. This full-scale exercise embodies the highest level of effort to achieve the overall goal of national preparedness.
  ATF provides outstanding training facilities and the unmatched expertise of its training staff in the delivery of life-saving advanced explosives and arson training for our nation’s explosives handlers, bomb technicians, criminal investigators and military EOD teams. The main NCETR facility and explosives ranges in Huntsville make this center a unique resource in the fight against explosives-related violent crime and the government-wide C-IED effort.
  No matter where I’m playing or the level of the game I’m involved in, I’ve always tried to never take it for granted.
  Growing up in Buford, Georgia, I had a love for Tech and wanted to be around the program, but I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to play here. Honestly, until I got into high school, I thought it was silly for me to even think about playing in college.
  And really, until I started to work with former Major Leaguer, Michael Barrett, I wasn’t even sure that baseball was my main sport.
  Then, as a freshman, I started to see I might have an opportunity to keep playing if I stuck with it.
  Receiving a few offers, I was honored at having the opportunity to continue my baseball career. And this also helped with getting some attention from Tech.
  For a few years, I had been playing ball with Coach Hall’s son, so once his staff got word that UGA had offered me, I had an invite to a basketball game to come see what Tech was all about.
  Surrounded by a few of my other high school teammates, I was blown away by the program and the feel of campus.
  The work that my recruiter, former assistant coach, and Tech catcher Brian Prince, had put in along with the relationships I was already building with the rest of the coaching staff, left me one step closer to knowing I wanted to be a Yellow Jacket.
  I know a lot of guys struggle with the process, but for me, the tough part wasn’t choosing a school, but if I was going to attend school at all.
  Waiting around during the 2015 MLB Draft, I honestly wasn’t sure where I would end up. Obviously, every kid dreams of being drafted by a professional team, but I knew how great of an opportunity I still had up at Tech.
  Ultimately, I felt blessed to be selected by the Tampa Bay Rays, but I knew I needed to head off to college.
  It was a family decision, one where I knew my value and more importantly the value we saw in getting an education at one of the best schools in the country.
  Heading off for my first year, I now set my sights on earning my spot on the roster. I didn’t care that I was just drafted or had been highly recruited, I wanted to prove to my team that I deserved to share the field with them.
  By the start of the season, I had worked my way into splitting time with one of our senior leaders at catcher, but I still felt like I had more to prove.
  I was happy to have earned a spot, but I wanted to make the most out of my decision to come to school. So in the offseason, I set my goals even higher.
  Coming in that second year in 2017, even as I knew the starting job was all mine, I didn’t look at it any differently. Just because I had success my first year, didn’t mean I had proved myself.
  With each day, I felt like I had a new opportunity to earn my spot once again and lead with my effort.
  Sometimes, it might be easy to think we have earned something, or that you’ve put in enough effort, but I try to remember that there is always some area I can get my game to the next level.
  Whether it’s working on my defensive side as a catcher or tweaking my swing during my work up in the Cape with Coach Jerry, I want to keep earning my spot through my work, determination, and efforts.
  Looking back on my time here so far, I’m so thankful for making the decision to come to Georgia Tech. The amount I’ve learned living in the Atlanta area and being a college student, I couldn’t have found anywhere else.
  But no matter where I end up going forward, I plan to take that Tech mentality with me. Whether it’s helping our team compete in the ACC or playing at the next level, I’m always going to work to earn my spot.
  Houston, we have a problem. Too many companies are fixated on the definitions of ITIL and problem management instead of actually getting value out of them. When you don't have a bonafide problem management policy, plus the training and skills to back it up, your team is likely to spend too much energy on ineffective activities. But there's hope. IT veteran John Custy will introduce the concepts you need to understand, dispel a few misconceptions, and explain the different problem management methodologies. He'll also cover the pros and cons of each methodology, and when to use each of them.