The Balisong, otherwise known as a butterfly knife, was first invented in the Batangas region in the Philippines. The handles of the knife fold around the blade to conceal it. It gets the name "butterfly" because the handles resemble a butterfly's wings as they open or close. In a combat situation, the Balisong can intimidate an opponent with the dramatic manner in which it is deployed. It can also be quickly closed with a flip of the wrist and concealed from view.
Army Reserve service entails many responsibilities and demands. It does come with perks and generous benefits, however. The G.I. Bill provides soldiers with educational benefits including tuition assistance for its members after discharge. The Army also provides scholarships to both enlisted and officers in its reserves, and private scholarships are also available specifically tailored to military personnel.
The United States Army offers scholarships to help enlisted soldiers become commissioned as officers. Once commissioned, Army officers can compete for scholarships that will help them further their educations. Some private foundations make scholarship money available to officers. In addition, some colleges and universities offer scholarship assistance specifically to members of the military.
Members of the Army National Guard or civilians wishing to enlist are eligible under certain criteria for selected scholarships. Many of these scholarships can be applied to course work leading to a degree from an accredited public or private college, university, technical or trade school. The goal of the Army National Guard scholarships is to assist soldiers and potential soldiers with self-improvement ambitions in their professional and personal lives.
Paying for college can be an overwhelming financial burden for most families. For the families of a soldier serving in the Army, other avenues of financial support are available to ensure that a college education is attainable. Spouses and children of Army soldiers can qualify for scholarships for college through the Army Emergency Relief program. This annual scholarship program provides money for undergraduate college and technical school programs.
The first step in making a Swiss Army Knife is making the individual components. Brass rivets hold machined steel parts together. The rivets are made by cutting appropriately sized solid brass. Stamped aluminum spacers ensure that the blades and other tools pivot properly and don't interfere with other blades and components. Stamped steel springs hold the blades in place while folded and keep the blade safely open when the knife is in use. Steel blades are stamped and sharpened before assembly. All components are polished before final assembly.