Originally named Varsity Rifles, members renamed the organization in honor of their mentor and patron, then- Lieutenant John J. Pershing, upon his departure from the university in 1895. -General of the Armies of the United States John Joseph Pershing -1860. Official Colors Blue and white are the official colors of Pershing Rifles. Military-oriented honor society for college-level students, Joe Amschler, EKU Company R-1, performing a solo exhibition drill routine, A Pershing Rifleman practicing an exhibition drill routine in, A Pershing Rifles color guard competing at the 2004 NATCON drill competition held at. To foster camaraderie and esprit de corps among all three Reserve Officers Training Corps programs. Pershing Rifles. The only real consistencies within companies are the wear of a Pershing Rifles rank shield and, on dress uniforms, a shoulder cord and the Pershing Rifles Service Ribbon, which is blue with six vertical white lines, symbolic of the six core values held by a Pershing Rifleman. A total of 39 picked cadets and alumni met in the university's armory to hold their first meeting, Lieutenant Pershing consented to act as temporary drillmaster for the organization. Description. Where is the national headquarters located? Army First Lieutenant Vasser W. Hurt III Company O-4 Died of wounds on May 2, 1970, in Quang, Vietnam as a result of an explosive device (buried at Arlington National Cemetery), Army Captain John J. Kalen Company A-12 Killed in action on September 16, 1969, when his helicopter was shot down during a low-level reconnaissance mission near Pleiku, Vietnam, Army Second Lieutenant James P. Kelly La Salle College Killed in action on September 27, 1965, while serving near An Khe, Vietnam. Several have died in the service of their country during wartime. Blue is symbolic of Loyalty, Devotion, Friendship and Truth. (date) Pershing awarded Silver Star Medal. The most rewarding part (of Pershing Rifles) is definitely the camaraderie that we have within our organization. Our website includes a list of all of the colleges or universities that host Pershing Rifles Companies, and a method for contacting each unit. Over the next several decades, the Pershing Rifles continued to grow. The purpose of the National Society of Pershing Rifles is to develop, to the highest degree possible, outstanding traits of leadership, military science, military bearing, and discipline within the framework of a military oriented, honorary fraternity. Co C, 2d Bn, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. The structure of the National Society of Pershing Rifles virtually ensures that members are faced with the challenges of leadership earlier than their fellow classmates, which allows them to excel in their chosen branch of ROTC. We are a family honestly. My brother was in Vietnam and I believed I would wind up there, too." Company G-7 is K-State's premier rifle drill team. Interest in the Pershing Rifles, and the success of its leadership development program, would not be possible without the organizations external focus: exhibition rifle drill. The National Society of Pershing Rifles is the only co-curricular organization available to all ROTC cadets. [5][6], The following year, Company A won the Maiden Competition at the National Competitive Drills held at Omaha, Nebraska, earning the "Omaha Cup" and $1,500 for the group. National Headquarters used 1928 to plan the foundation for an expansion at the company level which would ensure a strong national organization. Membership was considered a great military honor. In 1961, the Society had 139 active units with nearly 4,100 initiates for that year alone. Army Major David R. Mackey Company B-3 Killed in a helicopter crash near Long An on September 17, 1969, while serving in South Vietnam, two Silver Stars, seven Bronze Stars with V Device recipient. Army First Lieutenant Richard Douglas Hogarth Company D-1 Killed in action on May 6, 1966, in Binh Dinh, Vietnam as a result of small arms fire. In addition, most Pershing Rifles units serve as regulation and exhibition drills teams, color guards, and honor guards for their respective host universities and R.O.T.C. 30 Sept 1886. The 1930s were the first Golden Age of Pershing Rifles, which saw so much sustained growth that it had expanded its structure to emulate the organization of the World War I US Army Infantry Division. Pershing Rifles was formed initially by General Pershing in 1891 as a crack drill organization that would set an example to the rest of the drill unit on how to conduct themselves. Compare Choose Options. It was a solid-fueled two-stage theater ballistic missile designed and built by Martin Marietta to replace the PGM-11 Redstone missile as the primary nuclear-capable theater-level weapon of the United States Army and replaced the MGM-1 Matador cruise missiles operated by the German Air . The coat of arms was adopted at the 1932 National Convention by the National Legislative Body. Members may be either male or female and while a majority have affiliation with the military (especially ROTC), it is not a prerequisite for membership. departments. Army Captain Matthew C. Mattingly Battery G-1 Killed in action on September 13, 2006, in Mosul, Iraq, when he encountered enemy forces using small-arms fire during combat operations. Bill education benefits. It is worn on the left breast of the uniform. Then Pershing Rifles disappeared from many college campuses during and following the Vietnam War with the dissolution of ROTC programs and the end of compulsory ROTC basic courses. (year) Pershing transferred Ft.Stanton. Army First Lieutenant David B Wainwright Company F-1 Died near Tuy Hoa Vietnam on October 4, 1967, when the MEDIVAC helicopter he was flying crashed, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal recipient, Army First Lieutenant Sterling A. Compare Choose Options. The Pershing Rifles was founded on October 2, 1894 by a dedicated, and well trained group of cadets at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Pershing Rifles was founded in 1894 as a drill unit at theUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln. What is the nomenclature of your rifle? Pershing Rifles was founded in 1894 as a drill unit at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jewel There is no official Jewel of Pershing Rifles, however both pearls and diamonds were used in early Pershing Rifles badges. Currently Pershing Rifles has a combined Regimental structure where two or more Regiments are grouped under one Regimental Commander who may be selected from any unit in the combined Regiment. Under Pershing's leadership, the organization won the Army Silver Cup for drill team competition, coming in second place after West Point. These traits are put to work on a regular basis by Pershing Rifles units which typically perform as color guards, exhibition drill teams, honor guards, funeral details, or ceremonial duties. It is the supporting corporation to Pershing Rifles which furnishes the Society with basic services such as insurance as well as legal, regulatory, and fiscal oversight. [8][bettersourceneeded]. [2], Pershing Rifles is a leadership development program with a foundation in close-order and exhibition rifle drill. Excellence in drill, whether armed or unarmed, is a function of discipline and dedication that translate into other endeavors in life. All are qualities in which Pershing Rifles looks for in its members. Upcoming Events . The late 1970s through the 1990s was a period where the number of Pershing Rifles units continued to decline. Pershing Riflemen: Seton Hall Legacy 1,204 views Jul 2, 2013 16 Dislike Share Save Seton Hall University 11.5K subscribers Three former members of Seton Hall University's national championship. The spirit, strength and traditions of the Society continued on in a few strong Pershing Rifles units across the country. Most Pershing Rifles companies use older battle rifles (especially the M1903 Springfield or M1 Garand) in performing routines. Pershing Rifles became a national organization in 1928 expanding to include several other universities, with companies consisting of drill teams as well as tactical units. The mission of the National Society of Pershing Rifles is to: Development of successful officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. To foster camaraderie and esprit de corps among all three Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs. Fostering of camaraderie and esprit de corps among all three Reserve Officers Training Corps programs, Furthering the purpose, traditions, and concepts of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force. These cadets represented the best the battalion had to offer. I enjoyed the perfection and the esprit de' corps." Together, these units form what is known as the National Society of Pershing Rifles. Pershing Rifles 1951 Pledge Manual, "For the first time in my life I was a member of a brotherhood," [Colin], "It was The Pershing Rifles and Army ROTC at Fordham that got me interested in the Army as a possible career and I have maintained an association with many of them all these years." Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Army First Lieutenant James A. Merrett Company D-10 Killed in action by small arms fire on December 12, 1968, in Hau Nghia Province, Vietnam, Army First Lieutenant Emory George Mikula Company N-8 Killed when his jeep drove over a Mine, October 13, 1966; Gallantry Cross w Palm; Bronze Star; Purple Heart; National Order Medal Fifth Class Buried Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ First St Peter's College Graduate to die in Vietnam, Army Captain Michael R. Odum Company M-16 Killed in action by small arms fire on September 11, 1969, in Phong Dinh Province, Vietnam (Buried at Arlington National Cemetery), Army Captain Christopher J. O'Sullivan Company D-8 Killed in action in Vietnam on May 30, 1965, hit by shrapnel while helping carry wounded men to safety and directing strikes, O'Sullivan Plaza in New York City was named in his honor, Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star recipient. The fall event is for the leadership of the organization to discuss the plans for the New Year; conversely, the spring event is attended by the Societys entire membership, and centers around competition and the implementation of any legislative changes. Together, these units form what is known as the National Society of Pershing Rifles. Finally, the national headquarters supports two major events each year: its Commanders Call in the fall, and the National Convention and Drill Competition in the spring. The National Society of Pershing Rifles is a military-oriented honor society for college-level students founded in 1894 as a drill unit at the University of NebraskaLincoln. Excellence in drill, whether armed or unarmed, is a function of discipline and dedication that translate into other endeavors in life. Army Captain Kafele H. Sims Company G-8 Died June 16, 2009, in Mosul, Iraq, of a non-combat-related injury. Army Captain Richard J. Hock Company F-1 - HHC, 2 Bn, 501st Infantry, 101 Airborne Division. [1], The mission of the National Society of Pershing Rifles is to aid in the development of successful officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Army Captain Charles F. Thomas, IV Company B-3 Killed in action on April 8, 1971, as a result of enemy mortar fire in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. Through all of these activities, in addition to the skills gained by the students, positive publicity is also received by the unit's host school, host ROTC detachment, and ultimately the military in general. Company C-4(Clemson University) practices and focuses on regulation D&C, and a mastery of exhibition drill. The Pershing Rifles is a military fraternal organization for college-level students, founded by then 2nd Lieutenant (later General of the Armies of the United States) John J. Pershing in 1894 as a drill unit at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Coat of Arms The shield, crossed rifles and torch design with "P" and "R" had been used by Pershing Rifles as early as 1928. [10], The first decade of the 20th century saw the Pershing Rifles reach the height of its existence prior to the First World War. Founded in 1894, the National Society of Pershing Rifles is the Nation's oldest military fraternal. Welcome to the official website of the National Society of Pershing Rifles, the nations premier undergraduate military oriented honor society. [8][bettersourceneeded]. A Pershing Rifleman is an individual who thinks and acts for him or herself, but gives up a portion of that individuality for the benefit of the group. SKU: 450PERSHING. He, wishing to improve the morale of the ROTC unit, formed a select company of men, thereafter known as Company A. Fatally wounded January 16, 1972 in Thua Thien, South Viet-Nam from injuries received in a non-combat related helicopter accident. Wall Company A-12 Killed in a helicopter crash on August 24, 1967, while returning to his forward operating base in Pleiku Province, Vietnam, Army Second Lieutenant Jeffrey C. Graham Company C-1 Killed in action in Iraq on February 19, 2004, when a bomb exploded as he was warning others in his platoon. Army First Lieutenant Gary Dennis Fernandez Company Q-8 Killed in action on January 7, 1968, by a landmine in Binh Duong Provence, Vietnam. Finally, after a year of negotiations, Nebraska's Pershing Riflemen approved Ohio State's formal application of 13 May 1925. Company G-7 of Pershing Rifles represents a union of some of the best and brightest the university has to offer for competitive rifle drill and ceremonies . What is the purpose of Pershing Rifles? Over 120 years later, the Pershing Rifles remains dedicated to the ideals espoused by our patron, General of the Armies John J. Pershing. We do many of the color guards for UK sporting events and around the local tri state area. While additional companies of Pershing Rifles were formed in the first half of the 20th Century, after World War II, Pershing Rifles rapidly . The Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles (CAPERS), established in 1966, were the first officially recognized female auxiliary to the Society which established units alongside Pershing Rifles units for decades until it was disbanded in the 1980s. It was this nucleus of WWII combat veterans that spearheaded the rebirth of Pershing Rifles. I received a lot more exposure to weapons and military discipline than I would otherwise have obtained. programs, providing positive mentors to high school students, hosting and judging drill competitions, and getting involved in community service activities. It was one of the most important features of University of Nebraska military and social life. Pershing Rifles Shoulder Cord with Tip. With the establishment of a separate US Air Force on 18 September 1947, Air Force ROTC cadets joined the ranks of Pershing Rifles. In 1955, Pershing Rifles produced and released a documentary, "The Highest Ideals". - John Lemons, P/R Company E-4, Virginia Tech, graduated 1960, "I waited until my junior year to pledge The Pershing Rifles. Some units study and train in basic military tactics. Colonel James Gallivan Company M-16 Chief of Staff, 1st Cavalry Division, Brigadier General Arnold N. Gordon-Bray Company R-7 Deputy Commanding General, US Army Cadet Command, Major General Kenneth D. Gray Company H-1 first African American Judge Advocate General officer, Brigadier General Edward F. Gudgel Company C-1 Pledged in 1942, entered West Point in 1945, Field Artillery officer who retired as a BG in 1974, Major General Patrick Higgins Company Q-8 Commanding General, Joint Forces Special Operations Command Africa; deputy director for Requirements J8, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major General General George A. Horkan Company E-4 Served as the Army's 34th Quartermaster General 195154, Major General Donald L Jacka Company G-7 Commanding General, 3rd Corps Support Command and V Corps (Rear); deputy director, J4, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, First Lieutenant Richard O. Joyce Company A-2 Pilot in Doolittle's WWII Tokyo Raid on 18 April 1942, Brigadier General Timothy Lake Company N-4- Virgin Islands National Guard, Deputy Commander Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Brigadier General Thomas Maffey Company N-8 Vice Director J7 Joint Force Development, Joint Staff; US Army Director of Training G-3/5/7; service in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Colonel William H. Oury Company A-2 A-2 Commander 1897, Nebraska Football Pioneer, Commander 314th Infantry Regiment 79th Division WWI, University of Nebraska Commandant of Cadets 193039, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Medal, Brigadier General Guy Sands-Pingot, Company D-8 Commanding officer, 573rd Civil Affairs Command, Lieutenant General Michael Spigelmire Company G-15 Commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Brigadier General Ernest Talbert Company E-8 Vice Commander, Delaware Air National Guard, Major General Eric Nelson Company E-8 Air Force program executive officer for command, control and communication (C3) programs, Hanscom Air Force Base, Colonel Robert W. Vincent - Company C-7 - 35 combat missions in WWII as a B-24 Pilot, managed infrared satellites, U-2 support. The Cord has been purple and white with the tip bearing the Pershing Rifles Crest since the late 1950s. Over time, the Pershing Rifles organization was expanded to include several other universities, with companies consisting of drill teams as well as . These breeches were cut into small pieces and were worn on the uniform as a sign of membership. General of the Armies of the United States, "History of the National Society of Pershing Rifles", "Ebbesen named civilian aide to the Army Secretary", "Can women kill like men on the front line? This includes events such as the annual Pershing Rifles National Convention and Alumni Reunion (NATCON) and various regimental drill competitions and alumni reunions. The first step in the achievement of this objective is the creation of a closer and more efficient relationship within the ROTC programs on a campus. While the organization maintains a board of advisors that helps provide guidance and mentorship, the daily management of a national organization consisting of over 60 chapters is placed in the charge of undergraduate students. Compare Choose Options. Army First Lieutenant Phillip Lewis Lee A-1 Died of wounds in a stateside hospital on June 17, 1971, as a result of wounds from small arms fire in Vietnam to month earlier. Our basis flows through armed regulation and trick drill as it has for over 120 years. [4], In 1891, General Pershing, then a 2LT in Troop L, 6th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, became the Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of Nebraska. Through its organizational structure, the Society affords its members an excellent opportunity for command and staff experience. The Headhunters are a cooperative effort between Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC, and K-State students. General John M. "Jack" Keane, Former Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, "As part of the ROTC program, I joined the Pershing Rifles because they seemed more confident and accomplished than the other participants in ROTC." The Pershing Rifles is a tri-service organization, and consists of members enrolled in the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force R.O.T.C. Whether it's tuning up your factory rifle or a full-blown custom bolt action rifle build, our experienced team takes pride in applying our many years of machining practices into each and every firearm. - Stephen J. Candela, "We are amongst the most prestigious military organizations that you can join. Members may be either male or female and while a majority have affiliation with the military (especially ROTC), it is not a prerequisite for membership. By tradition the National Headquarters is at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal, the Air Medal x6, Army Lieutenant Oscar H. Alexis Company A-2 Killed in action on June 25, 1944, at Montieri, Italy, Navy Lieutenant William S. Devereaux Company A-2 Killed in action in March 1943, in the Russell Islands while serving as the operations officer on a PT boat, Army First Lieutenant Archibald C. Dudley Company C-4 Killed in action on December 6, 1944, near Pachten, Germany while serving as an infantry platoon leader in C Company, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, Army Air Corps First Lieutenant Robert Gehle Jobe Company F-1 Killed in action over Altenkirchen, Germany on February 22, 1944, while serving as a B-17 bomber navigator, Army Air Corps Second Lieutenant Wallace Hembrough Company F-3 Killed in action on February 21, 1945, while flying over north-western Germany as a bombardier-navigator, Army First Lieutenant George S. Koushnareff Company A-8 Died of wounds on 16 November 1942, during the invasion of North Africa, Army Air Corps Cadet Robert A. Nelson Company A-2 Died April 28, 1941, in a plane crash during pilot training, Navy Ensign Brooks L. Potter Company A-2 Died on May 24, 1944, near Seattle, Washington in a plane crash, Army Second Lieutenant James J. Kiernan Company D-8 Killed in action in North Korea on August 18, 1952, Marine Corps Second Lieutenant Jesse Rutledge Baker Company C-4 Killed in action on August 18, 1967, when the jeep in which he was a riding detonated a box mine in a road near Da Nang, Vietnam, Army Major Anthony J. Broullon Company Q-8 Killed on September 8, 1969, in Long An, Vietnam while serving as a military adviser, he was shot by a mentally disturbed South Vietnamese soldier. In 1919 the Pershing Rifles was reborn. This group, which was originally called Company A, in 1892 went on to win the Maiden Division in the competition held in Omaha, and the success drove the cadets even . In what year did this individual enter the United States Military Academy? See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. Traditionally, this flower represents the most important man or family of the era. Company A University of Nebraska 1894, Company C University of Tennessee 1927, Company E Northwestern University 1929, Brigadier General Walter J. Bickston Company A-8 Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps and Sixth US Army, Silver Star x 2, Soldier Medal, Bronze Star V Device, Lieutenant General Bob Coffey Company A-1 Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Europe, Major General Arthur Dean Company J-8 Director of Military Personnel Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff. Through its organizational structure, the Society affords its members an excellent extra-curricular leadership-training environment This is important for civilian professionals as well as the military. Ultimately, the purpose of the National Society of Pershing Rifles isto develop, to the highest degree possible, outstanding traits of leadership, military science, military bearing, and discipline within the framework of a military oriented, honorary fraternity. About the founder of Pershing Rifles. Atlanta. More information about the expansion process can be found under theStart a Companymenu option above. Company/Squadron F-15 George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Company G-15 Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland, Company H-15 Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland (now J-8), Company Q-15 Pennsylvania Military College, Chester, Pennsylvania (was Q-5), Company P-15 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (1960s, later E-15), Company R-15 University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, Company X-15 University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (Founded: May 1969), Headquarters University of Tampa, Tampa, Florida/ Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, +Company A-16 Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia, +Company B-16 Morehouse College. The Society was reactivated in January 1946, heralding the second Golden Age of Pershing Rifles which lasted to the early 1970s. Active membership is restricted to college students enrolled at an institution that hosts a Pershing Rifles company. If youre already a member, I challenge you continue to live up to the standard set by our patron, General Pershing. They include: + Craig Zagorski was promoted to Major General and National Commander for one day immediately following the end of Christopher D. Scheuermann's term in 2008. Pershing Riflemen have served in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces in every conflict since the SpanishAmerican War. Vision [ edit] It was temporarily replaced by the Students' Army Training Corps (SATC) which had a mission of rapidly training and commissioning new officers for service in World War I. Excellence in close-order drill, whether armed or unarmed, is a function of discipline and dedication; these traits are put to work on a regular basis by Pershing Rifles units. While stationed at the University of Nebraska, this individual served in . 7, April 2007. preamble to the 1939 Pershing Rifles constitution, "To foster a spirit of friendship and cooperation among men in the military department and to maintain a highly efficient drill company." This 27-minute Technicolor film discussed the history, traditions and missions of Pershing Rifles. It regained its status as a fraternal organization for ROTC basic course cadets. Pershing Rifles Company W-4 at The College of William & Mary may wear uniforms based on those of the Scots Guards as recognition of their role as the Queens' Guard, the college's ceremonial guard unit, twice mustered upon visits by Queen Elizabeth II to the college. By the 1920s, the prestige of the organization was once again on the rise, in no small part due to the popularity of General of the Armies John J. Pershing, then one of the most famous people in the World as the result of his skilled leadership of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. [7] On 2 October 1894, former members of Company A formed "Varsity Rifles". Pershing Rifles became a National organization in 1928 expanding to include several other universities, with companies consisting of drill teams as well as tactical units. They vary from company T-shirt and BDU or ACU pants to more formal uniforms, like the Army's service uniforms, or "Class A's". The Pershing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Pershing Riflemen elect their own leadership at each echelon of command. Who is the founder and patron of the National Society of Pershing Rifles and what year was he born? Pershing riflemen are experts in drill exhibition, marksmanship, and tactics. To aid in the development of successful officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Special drill units across the nation began to seek admittance into the Pershing Rifles. The 1970s saw the introduction of women into the National Society of Pershing Rifles as full members, with the first female pledge at Company L-4 (North Carolina State University) in 1971 and the first female active member from M-16 (Florida State University) a year later. Appointment at West Point. Membership Ribbon The Membership Ribbon, adopted by Pershing Rifles in 1951, is identical to the Army Good Conduct Medal (except it is blue rather than red), which denotes exemplary conduct at all times. [9] When Pershing left Nebraska in 1895, at the request of a committee, he gave to the company a pair of his cavalry breeches. Quantity: Add to Wish List. Another is Army Air Corps Lt Richard Joyce, an alumnus of Company A-2 at the University of Nebraska, who piloted a B-25 that bombed Japan as part of the famous Doolittle Raid on 18 April 1942. By 1918 the Reserve Officer's Training Program (ROTC), that had just been established two years earlier in 1916 was suspended. It is the oldest continuously operating U.S. national women's college organization dedicated to drill. The National Society of Pershing Rifles has active chapters at over 60 colleges or universities across the United States and Puerto Rico. In the summer of the same year, a number of circulars were sent to universities that did not hold a Pershing Rifles units, inviting their crack drill units to apply for charters from the national headquarters. The 9/11 attacks created a groundswell of support for the US Military brought on by a new spirit of patriotism in the American public. Such awareness among the Pershing Rifles members, coupled with the improved officer-cadet relationship fostered by the Society, leads to a stronger and more efficient corps of cadets. [8][bettersourceneeded] On 1 June 1895, the organization, in appreciation of the initiative and cooperation of LT. Pershing, changed its name to the "Pershing Rifles." Georgia, +Company B-16 Georgia State University. Regiments, which normally encompass a number of states, are supervised by a Regimental Commander and a staff organized similarly to the staff of an active duty Army battalion or brigade headquarters. In 1892 this company won the maiden . These cadets represented the best the battalion had to offer. Active membership is restricted to college students enrolled at an institution that hosts a Pershing Rifles company.