SAN DIEGO — June 16, 2010 — Merrill Marketing/Communications (MMC) has been retained by Strategic Operations (ST/OPS) to develop and implement an international marketing public relations program. ST/OPS is the worldwide leader in providing Hyper-Realistic training services for military organizations, such as the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and the U.S. Coast Guard as well as SWAT teams, governmental agencies responsible for Homeland Security. ST/OPS defines Hyper-Realistic as “the achievement of battlefield conditions in the training environment that enable participants to willingly suspend disbelief so as to emotionally (and physiologically measurably) become totally immersed and eventually are stress inoculated.”

Over the last six years ST/OPS has provided pre-deployment training support to more than 300,000 military personnel using its Hyper-Realistic environments. ST/OPS is part of San Diego-based Stu Segall Productions, one of the largest independent TV/movie studios in the country. ST/OPS introduced “The Magic of Hollywood” to live military training in 2001 by employing all the techniques of film and TV production integrated with military tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

Military personnel undergo live Hyper-Realistic training at various sites across the U.S., including on ST/OPS’ 22-acre San Diego campus. ST/OPS deploys state-of-the-art movie industry style special battlefield effects (including Hollywood style pyrotechnics — gunfire, explosions, etc.), role players, proprietary techniques, approved training scenarios, faux facilities like the Tactical Training Lab and Maritime Interdiction Training Site, Hyper-Realistic MOUT (military operations in urban terrain facilities), mobile structures (RHUs, or Relocatable Habitat Units, currently styled as Afghan huts), sets, props, and mobile equipment like the BUG-V, lifelike combat wound medical special effects. The training achieves dramatic results in the areas of Stress Inoculation and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — improving resiliency and treatment. ST/OPS also employs After Action Review using state-of-the-art audio-video to monitor and record live training to quickly provide objective review to ensure improved military and law enforcement performance.

For more information on Strategic Operations, visit www.strategic-operations.com