Day: October 29, 2025

• Future wars may “be won and lost in the synthetic environment,” a Royal Air Force officer said.
• Militaries are investing in synthetic training using AI and virtual reality.
• Air Vice-Marshal James Beck said the victor of future wars may only be “validated on the battlefield.”

Future wars may be fought and won in virtual and augmented reality before they are ever fought on the battlefield, a Royal Air Force officer said recently.

Militaries increasingly see advantages in who can model, simulate, and learn faster — not just who can build more tanks or fighter aircraft. Air Vice-Marshal James Beck, the RAF’s director of capabilities and programs, said that it’s “possible that the future will be won and lost in the synthetic environment and it’s simply validated on the battlefield.”

The UK, like most of Europe, is worried about Russia and anxiously watching its war against Ukraine. Beck called Russia the UK’s “pacing threat” and said it “must be our primary focus for many years to come.”

Speaking at the UK’s Royal United Services Institute event last week, he said that in the future, the UK will “need to live every minute thinking how we’ll behave, operating at wartime levels of risk.” As a result, he continued, “much will need to be undertaken in the synthetic environment, and this is why the RAF will remain at those developing synthetic systems.”

“We must assume that our military is being watched all the time. They can see what we can do,” he said.

The synthetic environment is a simulated, digitally-created space used for training, planning, and experimenting. The UK has invested heavily in this technology, and the Royal Air Force has a system called Gladiator in a purpose-built facility.

Gladiator completed its first major international exercise in 2023 and is integrated with systems like the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, who was the RAF’s chief of the air staff at that time, said in February 2023 that it would “enable our forces to trial, test, and practice their tactics in a secure environment, linked across all operational domains.”

“It is an invaluable training tool for the next generation of warfighters across air, space, land, cyber, and sea, he added, explaining that it wouldn’t replace live exercises but would complement them.

The US military, likewise, has been investing in this kind of capability. A key project for Army Futures Command, now merged with Army Training and Doctrine Command, was the Synthetic Training Environment. Prototypes have been put to the test by soldiers.

Brig. Gen. George C. Hackler, then the commander of Army Operational Test Command, said after a 2024 test of training systems for armored vehicle crews that the advantage of the Synthetic Training Environment system is that “we can put people in simulated aircraft, ground vehicles, dismounts, and units can train and hone their warfighting skills.”

Marwane Bahbaz, the chief technology officer for the US Army’s Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, said previously that the STE project aims “to revolutionize Army training” by merging live, virtual, constructive, and gaming platforms “into an interoperable training experience that provides real-life immersion for combat training.”

The Army said that this kind of training reduces wear and tear on equipment and also lets soldiers practice high-risk moves, like flying a plane, “with more confidence and less risk than in real life.”

NATO has also recognized its importance for training.

Gen. Philippe Lavigne, then NATO’s supreme allied commander for transformation, said last year that the way the alliance’s Joint Warfare Center housed simulations and “360-degree synthetic scenario generation” showed how it was mixing “training, conceptual advances, new ways of thinking, experimentation, doctrine, and wargaming — all contributing to the Alliance’s strength and safety.”

These, he said, work “to make NATO better!”

NATO has also launched its Distributed Synthetic Training project to link synthetic training systems among allies so they can train on them together, something that is easier and more cost-effective than the real, physical events.

Beck said that the UK and its allies “will need to evolve. We will need to deliver more” as the capabilities of adversaries have advanced dramatically, from drones to missiles. “To meet these challenges, we must remain agile and adapt at pace,” he said.

While militaries have invested heavily in developing synthetic training solutions, realism and integration remain stubborn hurdles. Systems can be hard to link, can be unrealistic in combat effects, and are sometimes constrained by security demands. Such challenges haven’t deterred efforts to modernize training, though.

Beck said the Royal Air Force’s new chief of the air staff “wants a searing spotlight on fine-tuning what we already have, to maximize our lethality today.” At the same time, he shared, “he’s equally focused on accelerating modernization, such that we can credibly deter.”

“It needs to be done at pace and within this decade,” Beck said, adding that “time is our most pressing threat.”

• Dylan Chamberlain, 24, got a full-time job with Jake Paul’s body care brand, W, after an internship.
• He stood out in the application process by creating a two-week video series on why he should get the job.
• Chamberlain suggests going above and beyond and showing up with confidence when job hunting.

This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Dylan Chamberlain, a 24-year-old content creator and extreme sports athlete for Jake Paul’s body care brand, W. After landing a summer internship with the brand, Chamberlain competed with two other candidates for a full-time position. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

I got into TikTok about four years ago. I started posting Snapchat memories of the crazy things I would do with friends, and at some point, I started to get a following, and brands reaching out to me.

For a couple of years, I worked as a video editor for content creators. After that, I started doing my own stuff full time. It was going really well, and I didn’t want to work for anybody else because I had my own goals.

Then I saw Jake Paul posted a callout for a summer internship. I thought it was too good an opportunity to pass up, so I applied.

I ended up getting the internship, along with two others, and drove across the country in an RV for the next two months, creating content with Jake Paul while promoting his men’s body care brand, W.

The three of us competed for a full-time job while driving around on what felt like a free road trip vacation. On our first stop, we went boating with alligators at Jake’s nearly $40 million ranch. We met famous boxers and MMA fighters like Sean O’Malley. We also went to MrBeast headquarters and toured the facility.

At the end of the internship, W’s head of content reached out and asked me to work full-time for them.

Now, I’m working full-time as a W content creator in Puerto Rico and will be tailing Jake as he trains for his fight on November 14. In the first couple of weeks on the job, Jake and I went to Florida, New York, and the Netherlands on his private jet. Most of the time, though, we’re making content in Puerto Rico or at his ranch in Georgia.

Looking back, there were two things that made me stand out from other applicants for the internship — and land the full-time gig.

Go above and beyond

After people sent in initial videos of why they should work for W, Jake narrowed down the list to 10 people, and we had to compete for a spot to work for him.

Over the next two weeks, they wanted us to post three videos a week promoting W and showing them what we can bring to the table. I thought, since everyone’s going to make six videos, how can I stand out? Then I realized three videos a week is not that much. I decided to post a video a day for two weeks.

I made this series “promoting W until I work for Jake Paul,” and apparently, he really liked it.

My advice to people who want to extend a contract or turn an internship into a full-time job is: Go above and beyond. Put yourself in your boss’s shoes and see what they would want and expect from you — and then do that.

Don’t be afraid to to do things other people wouldn’t normally do. Even if you fail, somebody will see you trying to do something different. As long as you’re showing that you’re passionate and care about what you do, people are going to respect you for that.

Show confidence

I feel like most people are afraid to step outside of their comfort zone, or they’re afraid to go for something, because they might not get it. But you can get it — and as long as you believe that you are valuable and bring something to the table, people will also see that.

For example, at the end of the two-week series I made for the internship, I went to Anaheim, California, which is where Jake’s team said they would fly the winners. I flew myself out there, acting like I already won. I made my very last video of the series, saying, “All right, Jake, I’m outside of the Honda Stadium. I’m here and I’m ready, so I’ll wait for your call.” The next day, I got a call saying I got the job.

Even before the internship, I didn’t have that much experience when I started offering video-editing services to content creators. But I came in with confidence and worked my way up the ladder as a creative producer and videographer. I think what helped me stand out in the internship and get the full-time job with W was that background.

A few years ago, I would get nervous to meet a YouTuber, but I realized that all these people are just people. Rather than trying to please them or make them happier, it’s about showing your personality. If they accept that, then perfect. You know you’re compatible.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Krishna Kaliannan, the 35-year-old founder of Catalina Crunch, based in Austin. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I’m the founder of Catalina Crunch, a low-sugar, high-protein snack company. Inspired by my experience with type 1 diabetes, I started the company in 2017, a few years after leaving my career in finance.

As of 2024, I’m no longer the company’s CEO, but I’m still part of the team, working toward the company’s long-term vision.

Here’s what a day in my life looks like.

I wake up every day at 6:45 a.m.

Consistency is the key to living a predictable life. The first thing I do each morning is shower, which gives me space to think about the coming day and what I want to accomplish.

From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., I’m with my two-year-old daughter and four-month-old son, making and eating breakfast. Every morning, I have plain Greek yogurt with Catalina Crunch cereal on top. I like having the same breakfast to minimize the number of decisions I make since I know I’m going to make a lot of other decisions throughout the day.

Recently, however, my daughter has decided to change up what she eats for breakfast, which is a bit challenging for me since it’s different from what I’m used to. Depending on what she’s feeling, she sometimes has Catalina Crunch cereal with almond milk or oatmeal with the cereal on it.

I read the news and take a quick walk

During that time, I’ll also spend a few minutes reading the news to better understand what’s happening in the world. I usually like to read conflicting news stories to get different perspectives and cycle through some international news outlets as well.

I also try to spend 15 minutes outside in the sun, taking a quick walk around the block. It helps me reset my body and get ready for the day. I also find I sleep more easily at night when I do it.

Since I have type 1 diabetes, walking after meals really helps to contain the amount my blood sugar rises, so it’s important to me to walk throughout the day.

Then, I get into my workday

When I’m not traveling, I work from home in a separate office. My daughter goes to preschool and spends afternoons with my parents, while my son spends the day with my wife, which allows me to focus in a quiet environment.

For me, getting a productive start begins the day before. Every day, I make a to-do list for the next day so that when I start working, I already know what I want to focus on and accomplish.

I also try to avoid morning meetings as much as possible so I have more time for deep work. When I don’t designate that time, it’s easy to get caught up in responding to emails, talking to people on the phone, and getting things from the refrigerator.

Around 10:15 a.m., I usually take another 15-minute walk. I also use this time to check my blood sugar and see if I need to take more insulin, since it’s about two hours after I finish breakfast.

I eat lunch while I work

From 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. I eat while I work, which helps me to get more done in less time.

Like I do for breakfast, I almost always eat the same thing for lunch: four slices of turkey breast, baby carrots with hummus, and a little bit of Catalina Crunch snack mix.

I try to meet with people every week

In the afternoons, I try to focus more on creative work, brainstorming, and meetings. Since the brain gets a bit foggy as the day goes on, I find that this is the best use of my time.

One thing I like to do each week — usually on Friday afternoons — is to meet virtually with someone at the company I haven’t talked to in a while to see what’s going on with their role. It’s a good way to hear people’s great ideas and learn from them on what’s being done well, where we’re struggling, and if there are risks I might need to be aware of.

Around 3 p.m., I check my blood sugar again. Since I typically have the same breakfast and lunch, it’s generally about the same — but I still like to check.

I usually wrap up work around 5 p.m.

I typically go for a three-mile run, and then do some sit-ups and push-ups before dinner.

Dinner is when my family and I will indulge and mix up our meals, so I don’t always have the same dinner. Sometimes, my amazing wife cooks dinner. Other times, we’ll walk to a food truck. We really like a Thai food truck that’s about a 30-minute walk from our house.

On the weekends, we spend as much time as we can with our parents. My dad grew up in India and really enjoys Southern Indian food, so we like to go to a restaurant called Sangam in the Austin area.

I sometimes continue working after dinner

Depending on the day, I might work another two to two-and-a-half hours after dinner. Other times, I’ll go on a walk.

After that, I set my alarm for the next day and don’t use my phone for the rest of the night. I’m a workaholic who likes to be productive all the time, so it’s helpful to physically separate myself from my phone so I don’t see emails and notifications coming in.

I then put our daughter to bed while my wife puts our baby to bed. I give my daughter her bath and brush her teeth, we read some books and sing some songs, and then she goes to sleep.

My wind-down routine includes brushing my teeth in the dark

My wife and I come back together and watch a show. I hardly watched any TV when I was growing up, so we’ve been enjoying watching a lot of older shows like Better Call Saul and The Office.

The other thing I do to prepare for sleep is brush my teeth in the dark. About four years ago, there was a big freeze in Austin, and the power went out for several days. It was pitch black when I was brushing my teeth, and I realized how much easier it made getting a good night’s sleep, so I kept up the habit.

I make sure I’m asleep by 10 p.m. I need a full 8 ½ hours of sleep, which allows me to wake up the next day and start my routine again at 6:30 a.m.