OSHA 10 Hour Maritime Course #7615

Teaching the OSHA 10 hour maritime course?  Yes, Valkyrie does that!

Contact Wes Foy for more information!

Want to make waves? Just press "start"!

A very interesting article from Smithsonian Magazine highlights efforts to precisely recreate open-water conditions.  

Our U.S. Navy tests ships in an indoor ocean....yes, you read that right. In the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, a 12-million-gallon, football-field-size pool is the world's most sophisticated scientific wave-testing basin.  

Take a look for yourself...

Switching testing scenarios used to take 20 minutes.  Rolling waters can now be calmed in just 30 seconds.                         (Photo credit: Ryan Hanyok, U.S. Navy)

2014 Run for the Fallen August 23-24

This weekend, August 23-24, we invite you to run/walk one mile for a fallen service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.   You can even download a race bib to indicate who it is that you'll be honoring.  


If you are unfamiliar with Run for the Fallen, we encourage you to check them out, making sure to watch the video on their home page.  

We'd love to see your photos, too, so feel free to share them with us on our Facebook page.  

And mark your calendars for the 2015 Virginia Run for the Fallen, taking place April 30-May 3.  

Interesting....convenient, TMI or perhaps both?

We live in world where technology is everywhere.  Our smart phones, for many of us, dare we admit it, are like appendages.

And because we tend to be creatures of habit, patterns in our behaviors are becoming increasingly evident, especially if you use the app Google Now.

This article from Nextgov.com sheds light on the convenience of technology and after a relatively quick read, will probably leave you pondering a myriad of things....privacy, convenience, or even whether or not you are really as spontaneous as you'd like to think you are!

My how far technology has advanced in a few short years; I remember when my phone was just a phone.

We're hiring

Yes, Valkyrie is hiring!  

Be sure to check out our available opportunities and share:

http://www.valkyrie.com/opportunities/jobs/

In awe...

We just had to share this photo from MSC's Facebook Page:

Their caption reads, "RIMPAC 2014: Forty-two ships and submarines representing 15 partner nations manuever into close formation on Friday! #PartnershipsMatter"

And our very own Beth Vinson said it best in her comment on our Valkyrie Facebook page when she said, "Gives you chills to look at all that power and the men and women on board.  So great to see NATO countries coming together!"

High Speed Race Track on a Carrier? Say what?!?!

So we're all huge fans of our U.S. Navy, right?  And who doesn't love a fast car that handles well???  If you haven't already seen this awesome clip, you'll want to watch it....again and again,  Enjoy!!!

A message of thanks from our President and CEO

Fellow Valkyrians,

Do you recall this past Spring when you were asked to take an online survey for the “Best Places to Work in Hampton Roads” competition? 

Inside Business announced the honorees last week at a luncheon held at The Westin and Valkyrie was named the #2 mid-sized company to work for in the area!  THANK YOU for taking the time to participate and submit your responses.  As a result of the positive feedback received, Inside Business created a special recognition category this year and honored 3 companies.  Valkyrie was one of them. 

The feedback that you all provided led the judges to name Valkyrie as an “Employee Choice” Honorable Mention Company!  I am humbled and honored by the responses that were submitted.  And what I’m most excited about is the passion with which the responses were written.  Please take the time to read the attachments.

When I set out to create this company, I always knew I had to hire top-tier talent.  You’ve heard me say it time and again:  We Hire the Best to be the Best.  And by now, you know that it’s not just a slogan; it really is the very foundation of our corporate culture.  I don’t take my job as President and CEO lightly; I know that there are  225 families who count on the decisions that we make and I am aware of that each day. 

Again, I thank each and every one of you for what you bring to the Valkyrie team.  Keep up the great work!!!

All the best,

Gary

P.S.  To our corporate partners who subscribe to our blog, thank YOU all for your role in our success as well!

Update!

Just a follow-up to our June 30 post.  Photos from NAVSEA have made their way to us and we are able to share pictures that were taken at the June 23 event held at the Washington Navy Yard.  

If you missed it, be sure to check out the original post!

   

The Honorable Juan Garcia III, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, pins the medals on Mike (above) and Chuck (below).  Admiral Hilarides, Commander, NAVSEA, awards Mike and Chuck with their certificates.

Helpful reminders to stay safe online and check your credit report

Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, retail shops, airports, libraries, and on educational campuses are often very convenient, but they aren't always secure.

Here's a link to some tips that will help keep your information safe when using wireless hotspots while out and about.

It's a quick read that will prepare you from that convenient, free Wi-Fi connection costing you more than you'd ever imagined!

Nobody ever wants to have to deal with identity theft.  Speaking of which, don't forget to take advantage of your three free annual credit reports.  For more information or to request your copies, visit: http://www.usa.gov/topics/money/credit/credit-reports/bureaus-scoring.shtml or https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

A brief look at the LCS program

In a recent post by RDML Brian Antonio, Program Executive Officer, Littoral Combat Ships, he gives a brief look into many recent LCS program accomplishments.

As it stands, 20 ships are now either in service, under construction, or on contract.  Yes, twenty!

Read more about what he had to say.  And click on the video below for an in-depth look at LCS.

The Warrior Games: Team Navy Announced

This Fall, two Paralympic-like competitions will be taking place.  The 2014 Warrior Games will be held from September 28-October 4 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the INVICTUS Games, an international athletic competition for wounded warriors hosted by the U.K.'s Prince Harry, will be taking place in London September 10-14.

To read more and to see the roster, click here.

Washington Navy Yard Honors Shooting Victims, Co-workers

On Monday, June 23, Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, spoke at a Navy Yard ceremony held to honor the nine men and three women who died on September 16, 2013, as well as to honor the courage and sacrifice of numerous others, after a contractor entered the base and opened fire.

Valkyrians Mike Lombardo and Chuck Irwin were among those who were awarded Civilian Service awards and medals for their actions during the course of the tragic day.

Congratulations and thank you, Mike and Chuck; your Valkyrie family is beyond proud of you.

Mike Lombardo, NoVa Division Mgr.

Chuck Irwin, Senior Consulting Manager

RIMPAC Begins Today

RIMPAC, the world's largest maritime exercise, begins today.  More than 25,000 service members from 22 nations helped kick off the 24th Rim of the Pacific exercise.

To read Vice Adm. Kenneth Floyd's RIMPAC post, click here.

Newly Retired Veteran's Home Remodeled for Him While He Was Stationed Overseas

http://abc13.com/news/friends-and-volunteers-refurbish-combat-veterans-home/138388/

Inside Combat Rescue

Have you seen National Geographic's show "Inside Combat Rescue"?!  Wow....

We're a little late in finding this gem, but better late than never.  And thankfully, videos are available for viewing via the show's website and there's a lot of information on their Facebook page, too.

The Air Force has offered an unprecedented look behind the scenes of the elite Combat Rescue members of the U.S. Air Force, Pararescuemen, or PJs.  Their mission: to rescue American or Allied forces in extreme danger.

Nat Geo takes viewers inside the harrowing world of brave pararescue airmen on the front lines of Afghanistan.  They put their lives on the line so, as their motto states, "that others may live."

Sometimes it's easy to take what we have for granted.  Watching these two clips, we hope you'll find a reignited appreciation for those who serve and we're sure you're already a patriot, but we hope you also sense a slightly deeper appreciation for our great nation.

Show Trailer

Inside Combat Rescue Deleted Scene:  For Fallen Soldiers

WE ARE HIRING!

Join our team!

See our available opportunities posted on our website 

and feel free to share the link!

Then and Now

May 28, 2014:  On this day 97 years ago, the USS Maumee (AO 2) became the first ship to refuel another vessel at sea.  

According to a blog post from Mr. Jim George, Combat Logisitcs Force Program Manager for MSC, here are some interesting figures regarding UNREP from last year alone.  

In 2013:

• 118.8 million gallons of jet fuel delivered 
• 3,211 deliveries of fuel, food, mail, and other supplies at sea

Did you know that dry cargo/ammunition ships like the USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1) can carry 756,000 gallons of fuel (on top of their own gas tanks) and more than 8,300 tons of other cargo?!

Read the full blog post at http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/05/28/navy-underway-replenishments-past-and-present/

Memorial Day

Ahhhhhhh, Memorial Day!  Barbecues, fireworks, festivals and FUN, right?!

Well, yes, but let's not forget the true meaning of the occasion...originally called "Decoration Day" and born out of the Civil War, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of those who have died in service of the United States of America.

Here's a link to a Memorial Day tribute that we thought you would appreciate.

And did you know the proper flag etiquette for the day?

May you and yours have a safe Memorial Day weekend!

God bless America!!!

Warrior Week

Valkyrie is a proud supporter of the inaugural Warrior Week, happening in Virginia Beach, on NOB, and in Suffolk from May 26-June1.

Bringing together physical, therapeutic, and recreational organizations from across the nation that focus on the rehabilitation of wounded service members, Warrior Week 2014 is the first event of its kind!  Each wounded service member and their family will have the opportunity to participate in various activities from adaptive water skiing and kayaking to coastal fishing, and from a horsemanship therapeutic program to surfing.  There will also be national representation from the U.S. Sailing and U.S. Cycling organizations.

The event was designed to bring all levels of skills and interest together in one location, while creating lasting memories for all to enjoy.

Volunteer opportunities are still available and duties are straightforward, typically involving collecting sign-up sheets and activity waivers.  There will also be opportunities for volunteers to participate in some of the events, pending available space.  If you are interested in volunteering for a shift or two, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Elan, at elan[at]usohrcv.org.  Shifts last anywhere from 2-7 hours; weekday and weekend opportunities are available.

What better way to commemorate the Memorial Day week than with such an opportunity?! Thanks for considering and feel free to pass this post along to anyone you think may be interested!