(NAPSA)—Today, the U.S. Army is composed of over 675,000 Active Duty and Army ReserveSoldiers. And while these brave individuals are an essential part of our national defense, as well as peace- keeping missions throughout the world, their relatively small numbers—making up less than a quar- ter of 1 percent of the population— mean that Army life remains something of a mystery to hun- dreds of millions of civilians. Many Americans support the military—and honor those who have perished on the battlefield— by observing with reverence such holidays as Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day. Others sport “Support Our Troops” ribbons on their homes andcars. Still others contribute to charitable organiza- tions, such as the American Red Cross, which help see our soldiers through combat and peacetime. Yet there is another approach to supporting the American military: putting yourself in a soldier’s boots, so to speak, and discovering what day-to-day Armylife is while living by the codes of honor and integrity. By learning to appreci- ate the rigorous training and enormous sacrifice made by the men and women in uniform,it is possible to gain a greater respect for the job they do at home and abroad. Surprisingly, one of the best ways to accomplish this goal is through a video game—onethat accurately portrays the values that guide soldiers in the U.S. Armyby specifically incorporating gameplay based on mission accomplishment, teamwork, leadership, rules of engagement and respect for life and property. Developed with the military’s cooperation, “America’s Army: A new video game is expected to appeal to hardcore gamers, military fans and those who wantthe ability to play through an authen- tic U.S. Army experience. True Soldiers” is the most realistic U.S. Army experience on a console. Just as in real combat, honor and respect must be earned. As a soldier in single-player mode, each player advances through his or her career and takes on various roles. Teammates can award points to other team members who play honorably and jump in when the mission is on the line. A unique feature is how the single-player experience integrates into the multiplayer aspect of the game. Single-player accomplishments and skills earned in categories such as Valor, Marksmanship, Stealth and Conditioning are upgradable and immediately utilized to dominate online. And parental controls allow par- ents to determine the settings at the level they feel appropriate, tailoring the gameplay action for novice or seasonedplayers. Developed by Ubisoft, “America’s Army: True Soldiers”is rated “T” for teen by the ESRB and is available exclusively for the Xbox 360". To learn more, visit www.truesoldiersgame.com.
