In late 2013, ADS restructured our sales and business development teams to align more closely with the way our DOD customers classify their missions and areas of responsibility to provide better overall support for their requirements. Six teams were created to focus on developing more targeted solutions portfolios – Organizational Clothing & Individual Equipment (OCIE), Medical, Combat Support Equipment (CSE), C4ISR, Weapons & Optics, and last but not least, SMS.
The first five categories are fairly well known, but what about the sixth? What exactly is SMS? Among others, we’ve heard “Specialty Mission Stuff”, “Specialized Mission Support”, and even “I don’t remember what it stands for, but they handle everything else”. While these attempts to define SMS always garner a laugh and serve as an invitation for our SMS team to break out their elevator brief, it also means we haven’t done a good enough job educating people outside of the company. The breakdown below will help to clear things up.
SMS = “Special Missions Solutions”. Our SMS Team is focused on supporting customers whose missions require unique and specialized capabilities, including:
First Responders
Think Fire & Emergency Services and disaster response. We provide solutions ranging from turnout gear, respiratory protection, and gas detection, to gear washers and dryers. Additional solutions include storage, thermal imaging, extrication, rescue, and breaching equipment. We also offer training services such as recertification courses as well as the equipment and aids required to support our customers ongoing readiness efforts.
Maritime & Dive
Rooted in the diving community, ADS was founded as an offshoot of Lynnhaven Dive Center in Virginia Beach. Our first customers were Navy Seals who required supplemental dive gear for their mission. For more than a decade, we have continued this tradition and expanded our diving and maritime portfolio to include apparel, equipment, compressors, underwater communications, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), subsea equipment such as lifting bags, watercraft, and maritime motors.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, & Explosive (CBRNE)
Three words: Detection, Protection, and Decontamination. Threat detection and identification tools, personal protective apparel and equipment, a wide variety of solid and liquid decontamination systems, as well as training equipment – If your mission involves CBRNE threats, ADS has all the solutions your readiness requires.
Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) & Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD)
This category includes solutions required to locate, identify, evaluate, render safe, recover, and dispose of CBRNE ordinance and devices.
Robotics
ADS is at the forefront of providing robotics solutions to DOD, federal agencies, and law enforcement. As robotics technology advances, new and innovative capabilities are being developed that significantly reduce loss of life, mitigate threats to first responders and warfighters, and make their missions dramatically safer. In many cases, robots can take the place of humans in dangerous environments which is why the military has incorporated robots into virtually every aspect of combat operations.
Now you know! If you have requirements that fall into these categories – ADS has a team dedicated to your mission. To learn more about how we can help support your SMS mission, grab a copy of our new Special Missions Catalog or learn more here.
GET YOUR SMS CATALOG TODAY!
The ADS Special Missions Equipment & Capabilities Catalog features products and solutions from industry-leading manufacturers that meet your mission requirements.
- Cases & Containers
- CBRNE Detection
- Custom Kitting
- Decontamination
- Extrication & Rescue
- Fire Suppression & Containment
- Specialty Kits
- Lighting Equipment
- Personal Protection
- SCBA & Respiratory
- Tools & Instruments
- Training & Services