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The America’s Army Real Heroes Program Fact Sheet 

America’s Army Real Heroes Program Mission: 
To inspire young adults and the American public to explore the U.S. Army’s values, as well as Soldiers’ attributes of teamwork and personal courage, by mass communicating Soldiers’ stories, both heroic and personal. 

America’s Army Real Heroes Program Overview: 
Heroism. Honor. Leadership. Courage. There are more than 450,000 Soldiers in the U.S. Army who exemplify these noble traits, on a daily basis, as representatives of the world’s premier land force. The America’s Army Real Heroes program tells the stories of Soldiers who have exhibited courage under fire in the War on Terrorism, and have received awards for valor (Bronze Star for Valor or higher) for their actions. 

The Army is creating an entirely new and inspiring message about personal heroism through the America’s Army Real Heroes Program, by leveraging its significant America’s Army brand equity. The America’s Army action game (www.americasarmy.com) is one of the most successful and most-played computer games in the world. The America’s Army brand is extensively recognized in PC games, console games, on TV and other pop-culture venues. 

The America’s Army Real Heroes program presents to Americans, and the world, an inside perspective into lives of several U.S. Army Soldiers who exemplify the Warrior Ethos. This ethos, which states that a Soldier will always place the mission first, never accept defeat, never quit, and never leave a fallen comrade, is the set of principles by which every Soldier lives. 

There have been more than 2,103 Silver and Bronze Star Medal for Valor recipients from the Global War on Terrorism. The America’s Army Real Heroes program features real Soldiers by incorporating their likenesses and stories into one integrated public affairs effort. This effort includes presentation of Real Heroes in the America’s Army PC game as virtual mentors, licensing of Real Heroes action figures and production of Real Heroes stories on various Army websites including the America’s Army site and GoArmy.com. 

Major Jason Amerine real-life photo, in-game screenshot and Web site 

America’s Army Game — Background 
America’s Army is an innovative PC action game that provides civilians with an inside perspective and a virtual role in today’s modern Army. The America’s Army game provides players a virtual portal into the Army, from exploring the development of Soldiers in individual and collective training to their employment in simulated missions in the Global War on Terrorism. The first installment of the game, America’s Army: Operations, was released on July 4, 2002. The next chapter of the game America’s Army: Special Forces highlights the critical and specialized role of the Special Forces in the Global War on Terrorism. America’s Army: Special Forces builds upon the incredibly popular America’s Army: Operations game in terms of player progression, and expands gameplay from the original game to let players gain an inside view in the world of the Army’s elite Special Forces Soldier. More than 8 million registered users have played America’s Army for more than 200 million hours since its debut. On average, players complete more than 120,000 hours exploring the Army in America’s Army each day. The game is available for download at www.americasarmy.com or on free DVDs distributed at Recruiting Offices or Army events. 

Real Heroes Selection Criteria 
The Real Heroes program highlights Soldiers who have exhibited courage under fire and whose military occupation fits well within the realm of the America’s Army brand. The program focuses on enlisted Soldiers, from varied backgrounds and career paths, who have been recognized for heroic action as evidenced by award of a Bronze Star with V device or higher award. The program also focuses on Soldiers who are reasonably available to work with the program to tell their stories at America’s Army–sponsored events. 

America’s Army Real Heroes Soldiers* 

* Soldier ranks are listed at appropriate rank and unit when they received the Bronze or Silver Star.