Content provided by Casio
Introducing the G-SHOCK Master of G MudMaster GG1000. The G-SHOCK name is synonymous with rugged and durable where watches are concerned. For decades they’ve been the standard by which the durability of other watches, as compared to price, is measured. The balance is crucial. We’ve gone back across the past decades to find stories about the G-SHOCK line and how well it’s performed in less than friendly situations. We’ve no reason to think the MudMaster won’t continue this fine tradition.
October 1982 – Ft. McClellan, Alabama – Military Police training:
The recruit was pretty sure that what he was about to do wasn’t going to be comfortable. He was also pretty sure that he had no choice about whether or not he did it. It was “move and shoot” day. The recruits had been issued their M16s with live ammo. In a bounding maneuver, two buddy-teams (two men per team) were moving forward, under fire, toward an objective. As one team would shoot, the other team would move and vice versa. The trainees were wearing “full battle rattle;” a term used to describe full combat uniform to include their Kevlar helmets and equipment vests. What was going to be uncomfortable was the movement from position to position. A number of positions had been laid out on the course where the trainees were able to have cover from incoming fire. They were made of concrete and the trainees had to move from one to the next as fast as they could… which meant not slowing down as you approached the next one. You dove into it… slid into it… sometimes FELL into it as quickly as you could to take cover from the incoming bullets.
The Drill Sergeant had earlier commented about the trainee’s watch: a G-SHOCK that had been a gift immediately prior to entering basic training followed by MP school. The sergeant’s concern was whether or not the G-SHOCK would take the abuse it would surely receive if the trainee wore it every day. The trainee had and at least several times each week the sergeant commented on being impressed by the fact that the watch was still functioning. Except to take it off to clean it in the shower, the trainee had worn it since checking in at the reception station. A watch (and a wedding ring, which the trainee didn’t have because he was single) was the only piece of jewelry a trainee was allowed to wear.
When it was his buddy-team’s turn to move the trainee made sure his rifle was on SAFE and then launched himself to his feet from a prone position. He lost his balance and banged into the concrete wall as he did so, the G-SHOCK making contact with the concrete as he caught his balance and began to run for his next spot. As he approached it he lost his footing on a small dip in the dirt and fell into the next barricaded position of cover, landing hard on his arms from elbows to wrists. Once again the G-SHOCK impacted the concrete fairly roughly but the trainee didn’t have time to think about it until after the drill was over. Then he looked to see what time it was; not bothering to see if the watch still functioned, but to see how long until lunch chow. He ASSUMED the watch was still working; it hadn’t let him down yet. 25 minutes until lunch chow. The G-SHOCK hadn’t let him down this time either.
December 1986 – just outside Washington DC – foot pursuit by police officer:
Less than one year out of the police academy - just six months actually – Patrolman David Faircliff was in another foot chase. While senior officers made fun of him for the number of foot pursuits he got into, none of them would deny that he caught the suspects at the end. He wasn’t the fastest runner, but he’d run cross country all through junior and high school; he could run fifteen miles if need be. Suspects weren’t getting away from him if he could just keep them in sight.
This suspect, a small-time drug dealer named Henry, was learning the hard way that a foot pursuit wasn’t just a race. In any urban area, a foot pursuit was an obstacle course with hard obstacles like brick walls, steel fences, automobiles and more. If you were running an unfamiliar course – which all back alleys and residential blocks were – you often ran into things; things that would hurt you. Henry was confused. He was SURE he could outrun this cop. He was younger, quicker and wasn’t wearing all that stuff. Patrolman Faircliff was SURE he could catch this dealer. Even wearing his vest and gunbelt he was confident in his fitness levels and sheer stubbornness when it came to refusing to give up.
Henry rounded a corner into an alleyway and bounced off the far brick wall as he did so. Faircliff was right behind him. Hit hard on that wall… shoulder, elbow and wrist… Faircliff’s mind was racing. Crap, Henry went around that dumpster; gotta slow down just enough to make sure he’s not waiting in ambush. Nope. Pour on the speed again. Over this chain-link fence. Catch Henry just as he’s starting to hop up on the hood of a pick-up truck to get over the next fence. Yank him down by his belt… damn it – he landed on my arm. Drag that out – QUICKLY – and get him off the hood. Down to the ground… arms behind his back… handcuffed. Start the search.
As Patrolman Faircliff searched Henry, he looked at his G-SHOCK and saw that it had dust and assorted yuck on it. Some of that yuck was Henry’s sweat. Some of it was Faircliff’s sweat. Some of it was debris from the dumpster as he’d brushed against it. Later, after Henry was processed, Faircliff took the G-SHOCK off and washed it in the station bathroom. Warm water and some hand soap and it looked as good as new. He was silently thankful for the G-SHOCK his father had given him as his police academy graduation present. It still functioned flawlessly.
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Two stories; both based on reality and actual events. Will your watch put up with such common every day abuse?
