I never say no to training.  So recently when the opportunity presented it self, to train with one of the FBI's Hostage Teams, stupid me couldn't say 'no'.  Needless to say, it was a whole new experience for me........especially when that flash bang was dropped at my feet.

Safety conscious people are few in this generation.  So when we encounter companies that truly are, it is a joy to bring to them the best that we can in the realm of training.  For the past six weeks, I have had the pleasure of meeting and training most eveyone at TETRA Technologies in West Memphis, Arkansas.  Several of them are veterans, as their industry goes, but many of them are as new to it as we all once were.  And young or old, management or chemical processor, these men and women work in unison to make sure that they all go home at the end of the day.  And that's what it's all about.....going home.  Thanks guys, for making these weeks a pleasure.  Thank you, Paula, for bringing in lunch each day....and for the acetone.  Thank you, Jeff Meier and John Bain for your imput and helping us as we applied a lot of what was taught to TETRA's specific processes.  And thank to all of you for your hospitality.  Hopefully we'll see you again soon.


Leland

     We can't seem to argue with the Army adage.  It has worked for them for years.  And those of us who are wise, have adopted it unto ourselves.  FEMA is no exception.  Recently, those of us who have taught FEMA's WMD curriculum within its USAR branch since 2001, spent time in Las Vegas retooling the course work.  Ancient acronyms were replaced, operational procedures revamped, and old learning styles revisited.  We had the chance to renew old friendships from 2001 and before, and find new friends who have joined our band since.  It still amazes me how broad and fluid the field of WMDs is.  It changes as often as those who choose to commit themselves to it.  It seems that as soon as we grasp the new information......it flips.  So, we continue to train because training is the cornerstone of preparedness for us.  We take new knowledge, and apply it to the fight, and hope our students apply it in the field.  Because one day, they will be the ones to teach others the way to battle.......
~Leland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep 27, 2012 - 
Aegis Dei, a training firm founded by Leland Hopkins, a 23 year veteran of the Memphis Fire Department Special Operations section & a founding member of Tennessee Task Force One – one of 28 federally funded FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Teams, announces its official opening. Aegis Dei will offer world-class training to facilities, focusing in the Tri-State area first. As Aegis Founder and Teaching Principal, Hopkins holds an adamant attitude in re-establishing “classroom based” OSHA Compliance and Public Safety training to the private sector.

With the onset of the ever popular “virtual training” model, Hopkins believes that the quality of the training has resulted in mediocre retention levels – creating safety hazards, lack of preparedness, and less-than well trained employees. Says Hopkins, “In recent years, virtual training became popular when reduced operating budgets limited opportunities for employees to travel & train off-site. Work cycles have also become so tight that employees cannot leave their worksite for days at a time, like they used to. The result? Employees who aren’t trained well as they used to be”. Aegis Dei offers the same training, often federally mandated for facilities, that is affordable and delivered in a classroom setting.  With a plethora of knowledge, training, certifications & most importantly - extensive experience, Aegis Dei instructors will “Bring the classroom to you”, as stated on the firm’s website, aegisdei.com.

Aegis Dei is dedicated to working alongside each potential client. The goal is to create an ongoing & lasting training partnership. Curriculum will be designed per client needs – resulting in affordable, needs-based training. This is all in an effort to meet the Aegis Dei vision of a safe and secure private infrastructure. According to Hopkins, “Aegis is committed to sustaining strong training partnerships, emphasizing preparedness, timely response, and rapid recovery as the building blocks of occupational safety education.” 

“What sets Aegis Dei apart from other training firms like it,” says Bree Harris, Vice President of Marketing, “ is the extreme dedication to deliver retainable, hands-on employee education back to its rightful place; A classroom. Virtual training will save a dollar in the short term. It will, however, potentially impact the safety conditions of the firms that put their faith in that platform. It is my view, that saving a dollar in the short-term will affect long-term sustainable productivity, efficiency, & profitability. We at Aegis want to change that for our clients. We want them to do more than just maintain – we want them to be a cut-above & out-perform their competitors in both local & global economies. What better way to do that than investing in the workforce on whom they depend?”
If you are the head of a facility, organization, or industry leader that needs the training offered by Aegis Dei – classes are now being scheduled. Visit http://www.aegisdei.com, call 901.881.5076, or E-mail support@aegisdei.com for more information.

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~Bree Harris

You can visit the Aegis Dei pressroom by clicking  here. 
Or Visit http://pressroom.prlog.org/aegisdei/ 

UPDATE! Aegis Dei press release has been publised by PR.com.  Visit additional links on the side bar of the Aegis Symposium to be directed to the Aegis announcement.