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You can pronounce it "endia" if you want to, but
there's no acronym for the National Defense Industries
Association. Founded in 1997, the NDIA traces its
history to the American Defense Preparedness Association
(ADPA) founded in 1919 and the National Security
Industrial Association (NSIA) founded in 1944. A
non-partisan, nonprofit educational association, the
NDIA is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and is
dedicated to keeping America strong, free and safe. For
information, contact the NDIA at: 703-522-1820 (www.ndia.org).
Held each year at different locations around the U.S. is
the NDIA Show, but don't count on attending it, as the
NDIA Show is closed to the public and the association
has strict and controlled membership. Many members are
military personnel, as are those who work in the
industries that support them.
In the summer of 2006, the NDIA Show, awards ceremony
and lectures were held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was
invited to attend and was one of only three writers
present.
The first two days included what can be described as a
SHOT Show of products with either exclusive or special
military application. These products included everything
from accessories and uniforms to small and not so small
arms, at some of which SOF got a first look. Speaking at
looks, as I'm fond of saying, a picture is worth a
thousand words, so let's have at it..........
One of the highlights of the NDIA show is the Awards Ceremony,
namely the Carlos Hathcock Award for excellence in precision
shooting contributions and the Col. George M. Chinn Award for
outstanding contributions made to the Military in weapons and other
materiel. The 2006 Carlos Hathcock Award went to Major Allen
Boothby, USMC, and the Col. George Chinn award went to Mr. Richard
Swan, of A.R.M.S. |
