NSCA-CPT test prep - NSCA Certified Personal Trainer Updated: 2023

The education industry has been around in some form for centuries, and while it has seen many changes, there are still significant problems that persist. One of the biggest challenges today is that students often graduate from universities or certification programs with a degree or certification but are unable to find a job. This is especially true in the field of project management, where traditional education methods often fall short.

Enter Project Management Revolution, a project management training program created by Nick Stekovic. It helps people who are transitioning from existing careers, those who have gone through traditional education and can’t find a fulfilling job, and even those who have completed project management certifications or graduated with a degree or diploma in project management. The program caters to those who want to earn more money, have a future proof career, more responsibility, and feel recognized in their profession.

As a project management consultant for over 17 years, Nick Stekovic has managed teams, projects, and portfolios for Fortune 500 in pretty much all verticals. In having worked with top executives, and having a wealth of experience in the field, it has led him to identify a major gap in the educational system when it came to project management.

People typically become project managers by either obtaining a university or college degree or by getting certified. But, graduating doesn’t ensure you a job. While these graduates and certified individuals have theoretical knowledge, they lack the practical experience in managing genuine projects, teams, and being able to secure a job.

Without that valuable experience, they’re often unable to obtain the genuine position they’ve hoped for. This leaves them feeling confused, paralyzed, and unsure of how to proceed.

Nick Stekovic saw this problem and decided to do something about it. He created Project Management Revolution as a project management training program that focuses not only in teaching individuals project management theory, but providing genuine practice that is typically seen in the day to day  project management activities.

His program’s innovative approach centers on theory and technical skills as well as personal development and soft skills. “Successful project managers need to be able to understand and manage their own emotions, communicate effectively with others, and adapt to different personalities and work styles. Our approach is vastly different from traditional education methods,” Nick Stekovic shares.

The program is delivered through a combination of e-learning modules, live workshops, and 1-ON-1 coaching sessions with Nick Stekovic. Students are guided through the program in a step-by-step process, starting with self-mastery and mastery of others with a complimentary personality testing before moving on to theory, virtual project simulations, and job interview/resume preparation.

“We have a strong focus on practical experience because that’s what gets you the job,” Nick Stekovic states. “Our students work with simulated, virtual projects that cover all project management delivery frameworks, including Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid. They learn how to apply theory they have learned to real-life situations. It’s the best way to gain confidence and experience that they can use to succeed in the real world.”

One of the biggest differences with Project Management Revolution is that it doesn’t just push information at its students. “Any certification program or college/university can do that. What sets us apart is our coaching and support. We teach marketable skills that you need in project management.”

Among the program’s personal touches are 1-ON-1 interview preparations for genuine jobs, hands-on skills, custom resume writing, weekly Q&A calls, and more. At the end of the program, students receive 35 PDU credits and a certificate of completion, which they can use to qualify for the PMP certification test if they choose to pursue it.

However, the main goal of the program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the field of project management, whether or not they choose to pursue certification.

The program takes an average of 14 weeks to complete, and Nick Stekovic only works with individuals who truly want to make a change in their career. “Certifications and degrees don’t necessarily equate to success in project management,” he affirms. “Our program is the missing link that can help you overcome the challenges of finding an genuine job in this industry.”

Project Management Revolution is disrupting the education industry by providing comprehensive training in practical skills and preparing students for a career in project management.

“My goal is to change the way project management is taught and learned,” he says. “It’s an educational program that actually prepares attendees for a real career as soon as they complete the program. It’s more than just a book – it’s practical application. And that is the real game changer.”

Learn more: https://projectmanagementrevolution.com

Nick Stekovic’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectManagementRevolution

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A former software CEO has his eyes set on his next big project: competing in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

With no professional sports experience to his name, the task at hand is unlike any office job Max Valverde has done and far from any skill needed in a boardroom meeting. 

"I just love the idea of lofty goals, impossibilities," Valverde tells Inside Edition Digital. "I love the internet trolls who are like, ‘You'll never make it.’ Because while they're probably right—there's a probable chance I do not make the Olympic team—the fact that there is a chance, I find that tantalizing."

Valverde, 39, started on this journey only a year ago. The father of three family moved to Park City, Utah, two years ago from Amsterdam after he sold his business, FareHarbor. He seriously considered starting another software company, but ultimately decided to go down an alternative path.

“Sometimes you got to look deep down [ and think] what do you really want? I found this old desire to see what the human body can do,” he says. “I had this unique opportunity to say, "What if I could actually train like a pro-athlete 30 hours a week, devote my entire workday to training?’ 

Growing up, Valverde considered himself an “above average” athlete. He played sports as a kid and rugby in college, “but was never a beast, or the fastest guy. I had to fight every year to make it into the starting lineup,” he says. When Valverde watched the Olympics on TV, especially the sports that draw in less of a viewership, he often wondered: had he had grown up with the time and access such a world, could he have been a contender? 

His favorite movie as a kid was "Rudy" because he loves underdog stories. “I just love the idea that Rudy Ruettiger was probably not smart enough to go to Notre Dame, much less large enough to play a minute on the practice field with the Notre Dame football team," he says. "So I used to fantasize about all those things."

But Valverde was also a realist. "I'm also very pragmatic, and didn't let those dreams go too far,” he says. 

Valverde went to college for mechanical engineering, and after graduation, got a job in 100% commission credit card processing sales with Heartland Payment Systems in Boston. “I really wanted to get into sales," he says. "I thought that it was a great way to get your face bashed in, and trial by fire, learn a lot about business. And I did. That's what allowed me to eventually be pretty good at building sales teams.”

After appearing on "Shark Tank" to promote an idea, he eventually joined FareHarbor, a company of about 500 employees. Six years later, he became CEO. “When I stepped down from that, that's what kind of freed me up to start pursuing some of these earlier passions,” Valverde says. 

But there was one hurdle to clear: He needed to ask his wife.

“She's like, 'Dude, why can't you just say, 'I'll work out for a couple days,' and then check back in?' I'm like, 'No. No. I'm thinking Olympics,'" he says. "She's like, ‘Dude, just exercise for more than two days in a row, and then let's chat.’”

Describing himself as overweight, Valverde says he was out of shape. 

“Going up a flight of stairs would kind of wind me a little bit," he says. "If we had to walk on vacation a half a mile or a mile, I would show up at the lunch completely drenched in sweat, and it wasn't even that hot out.”

And yet, Valverde finds himself training for a sport that will be introduced in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Ski mountaineering, or skimo, is popular in Europe, but hasn't quite caught on yet in the United States. 

“It’s definitely a first,” USA Skimo president Jerimy Arnold says of Valverde's mission to make it to the Olympics. “I am also a 40-year-old dad, so I definitely understand where he is coming from. It’s great he is pursuing this so vigorously and he has the opportunity to pursue this dream.”

According to the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association, the sprint race is a short, fast-paced, fixed-course format consisting of an uphill ski section, a booting section, which involves hiking, and a descent around race gates. The races ascend up to 262 vertical feet and typically last around three minutes in duration. The relay race is a format based on the sprint, which consists of a team of athletes taking turns to complete the course in a continuous circuit.

To make it on the team by 2026, Valverde has to build up his endurance and speed by weight lifting, mountain biking and skiing. He trains five days a week. Everyday, he gets to soak up nature. He’s been documenting the journey on TikTok.

“I love being in the mountains. I love skiing. I love skiing under my own power. There's no chair lifts. You're just running up mountains, skiing down. You can go anywhere," he says. "I'm in the Rocky Mountains here. You can go anywhere. So when I see a peak, it takes me back to early primitive humans.”

The most challenging part, he says, has been losing weight. He says he is about 15 pounds heavier than the current European World Cup winners who are his height. He averages about 4,000 calories a day. 

“Because when you train four or five hours a day, you really need to eat," he says. "So sometimes I'll do a four-hour ski or four-hour run, I'll run 15 or 20 miles up through the mountains or something, and I need to eat over 1,000 calories during that, otherwise my glycogen stores get too low, and then I can't do it again tomorrow."

His training is paying off. So far, he's placed 12th at Nationals in the sport.

To make it on the Olympics, Valverde has a few more paths to cross. Skimo spots are limited to 36 athletes total from around the world. Of those competitors, 18 are men. Those spots will be assigned to National Federations based on the performance from sprint athletes in the 2024-2025 World Cup Ski Mountaineering season, which runs from late November through April. The number of spots the U.S. gets to send to the Olympics is based on performance from the 2024-2025 season, though it will max out at two male and two female athletes, according to Arnold.

“The U.S. has to perform that well to get any quota allocation,” Arnold says. To participate in that World Cup season, which will be used to deem the allocations for the Olympics, Valverde will have to be one of the top athletes of the 2023-2024 season.

“I still have a long way to go," he says. "The fastest guy is still 20% faster than me, but I'm getting faster every week, and it's a really great signal, only one year in, to be in the orbit of the World Cup guys.” 

Even if he doesn’t make it to the Olympics, Valverde says his experience is helping teach his kids a valuable lesson. 

“I wanted to show our kids after selling the software company what hard work is," he says. "I could take a couple years off, just drink a ton of beer, play golf all day, and that could be fun, I guess. But, I also want them to know what hard work is and what working towards a goal looks like.”

The Spring 2023 Paramedic graduating class: Front row (l to r): Matthew Vinson, Callie Worthy, Stephanie Robison; Back row (l to r): Dusty Richards, Tanner McConvery, Anthony Shuta II, Brandon Whitmire, James Burnham, Donald Hillis III, WCCD Paramedic Lead Instructor Christopher Herrell.

MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – It is necessary to step up the practical training of medics. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave the relevant instruction at a government conference held on 23 May to discuss the most pressing healthcare issues, BelTA has learned.

An interagency workgroup made of medical certified instead of government officials had been previously established upon the instruction of the head of state. The workgroup travelled all over the country and many of the negative facts pointed out by the general public have been confirmed. Head Physician of the Republican Clinical Medical Center Irina Abelskaya was in charge of the workgroup. She noted that the workgroup had encountered insufficient professional expertise of some medical workers. In her opinion, a pro forma and indifferent approach to post-graduate education and training of certified of medical universities is one of the reasons.

The president asked for a clarification: “Do you mean that universities and [the Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education] BelMAPO work poorly?”

Irina Abelskaya said: “Certainly, I cannot unambiguously say they don't work well. A lot depends on the motivation of students and medics, who attend courses and how many times these courses are held.” In her words, it is necessary to revise, update training programs for certified and the knowledge assessment processes. “I don't think any specialist, who have completed training or advanced training courses, gets a non-passing grade or gets expelled as a result of an exam. The same applies to students of medical universities, especially those, who are admitted as part of employer-sponsored education schemes,” she remarked.

It is also necessary to step up the practical training of specialists, Irina Abelskaya stressed. “It is impossible to learn modern technologies, which are bolstered by purchases of expensive medical equipment, if you simply stand next to the operating table and watch,” she said. “It is necessary to polish practical skills. And we hope that a national simulation and qualifying examination center will be commissioned soon after all to allow our certified to polish practical skills.”

The head physician pointed out: “The training of certified of practical healthcare should proceed in educational applied science centers where fresh thoughts and knowledge go hand in hand with modern theoretical and practical skills. And it is necessary to reinstate on-the-job training. It used to exist in the past. This legalized form of advanced training doesn't exist now.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I'd say: only on-the-job training. It will offer both theory and practice because, to put it bluntly, nobody knows more about the theory and practice of transplantology than [Director of the Minsk Applied Science Center for Surgery, Transplantology and Hematology Oleg] Rummo. I mention ‘Rummo' as a general term. He has a team of guys, who know more theory and practice [than anyone else in this field]. Why do you have to gather them in a school classroom or a university classroom and get them to supply a lecture? Who can talk about transplantology better than Rummo's team?”

Being a reconnaissance man means constant training and self-improvement. Servicemen from the Burevii (Hurricane) Brigade have shared their experience of serving under the conditions of the ongoing war.

The National Guard of Ukraine has reported that the officers have recounted the stages of preparation during the training period and the tasks they are facing.

"A reconnaissance man is a person who must be a little smarter than others and turn any unpredictable situation to his advantage," says the commander of the reconnaissance company, who goes by the alias Zbroiar (Armourer).

Zbroiar has spoken about the three stages that new recruits go through during their training:

This is individual and collective training, which is ultimately consolidated in practice during competitions between different units;

This covers movement with and without weapons using the latest software.

It also teaches a soldier how to use a weapon.

Zbroiar has said that the Bureviy unit has a company tactical exercise where small technical teams and technical certified practise their actions.

"All the people are trained to the maximum and then sent to the front line," said Scorpion, the company's deputy commander.

A reconnaissance man during his military service. Photo: The National Guard of Ukraine

He has added that the main goals and purposes of reconnaissance men are as follows:

The latter, as noted by Scorpion, is used when the previous methods have failed.

Background: Ukraine has launched a free online course on basic military training.

Sun, 28 May 2023 18:35:00 -0500 en-US text/html https://news.yahoo.com/unpredictable-situation-turned-advantage-reconnaissance-063504791.html

TL;DR: The 2023 Ultimate Amazon Web Services Training Certification Super Bundle is on sale for £23.93, saving you 75% on list price.

A career in IT may mean working with a variety of cloud computing solutions like Amazon Web Services (AWS). If you want to start mastering AWS, the 2023 Ultimate Amazon Web Services Training Certification Super Bundle could supply you the rundown of essential skills like designing AWS architecture, building servers, hosting applications, and more. For a limited time, this AWS training bundle is on sale for £23.93.

This training bundle gives you unlimited access to 10 courses and five projects that could help you master the basics of Amazon Web Services. If you’re a beginner, start at the beginning and see how to sign up for AWS. From there, you can learn more about designing AWS architecture. That familiarity with AWS architecture could be a valuable asset in various IT positions because you’d be equipped to manage cloud-based solutions on a cost-effective scale.

Be sure to check out the lessons on using command-line interfaces and building Windows and Linux servers. You can also explore popular services like EC2, RDS, VPC, and S3. Familiarity with these AWS services could help you find low-cost options for running web services through virtual computers, organise data with resizable databases, create your own private cloud, or store data in the cloud. All courses are taught by professionals from EDUCBA, and you can take or retake them as many times as you want.

The five projects included in this bundle put what you’ve learned to the test. You’ll practice building an ASP.NET website, creating an Internet of Things smart parking system, configuring a Simple Email Service, building a web application, and creating your own machine-learning model.

Ready to learn how to use Amazon Web Services for your future IT career? Get the 2023 Ultimate Amazon Web Services Training Certification Super Bundle on sale for £23.93.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2023

Contact:  Kimberly Lansdale

DAHLGREN, Va. – The Navy has authorized the delivery of the most advanced maintenance training systems to the waterfront.  To achieve this, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander, Naval Education and Training Command, and Navy Regional Maintenance Center and Naval Sea Systems Command Director, Surface Ship Maintenance and Modernization, have approved Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) to execute a six-month Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT) pilot program across the waterfront community. 

The VMT, an immersive 3D training tool built to support Aegis Weapon System (AWS) maintenance training, is part of the Director, Surface Warfare’s (OPNAV N96) program of record, Surface Training Advanced Virtual Environment-Combat Systems (STAVE-CS). These VMT solutions are currently delivering the right training, at the right time, in the right way in our schools, so Sailors are ready to maintain their equipment at peak capability and reliability to win the high-end fight. 

“In an effort to optimize this initiative, we want to test the effectiveness of standalone VMT systems to support maintenance skill, proficiency training, and maintenance support,” said SCSTC’s Commodore, Capt. George A. Kessler, Jr.  “Our goal is to get the SPY-1D(V) Radar and Aegis Computer Network Technician [ACNT] VMTs out to the fleet to learn how our ships, training teams, and maintenance teams might utilize the tools to support just in time training prior to a maintenance check, casualty troubleshooting support and maintenance training proficiency. SCSTC will then take that feedback to update the systems and provide a scaled-up plan to better support the fleet.”

From April 2023 through October 2023, SCSTC will collect and analyze data captured from two Baseline 9 (BL 9) Technology Insertion (TI)-16 ships, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121) and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123); Regional Maintenance Centers (RMCs) in San Diego and Pearl Harbor; and supporting SCSTC waterfront detachments. To facilitate the delivery of these tools, SCSTC loaded VMT capability on standalone laptops and provided them to each location for use. 

SCSTC and the manufacturer then provided training at each location to cover system specifics to include functionality, operation, employment, and data collection. The initial Train the Trainer (TtT) session was conducted with Frank E. Petersen, Jr., Hawaii RMC, and SCSTC Detachment Middle Pacific, 18-20 April. Separate sessions were conducted with Southwest RMC, SCSTC Detachment Southwest, and Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee. The training was well received and set the baseline for the execution of the pilot over the next six months.

Why have VMTs aboard ships? 

A knowledge refresher tool for technicians will be the primary use of VMT aboard ships.  The VMT will provide technicians an opportunity to refresh themselves on proper procedures, tools, skills, and techniques needed to support preventive maintenance efforts while at sea. 

“Typically, technicians have a number of infrequent maintenance tasks that they need to perform on their systems,” explained Mr. Christopher Odachowski, a management analyst for SCSTC HQ’s technical support directorate, N9, and primary lead for the pilot initiative.  “These tasks that support preventive maintenance can be challenging for technicians if they have not performed it in a long time, or have limited experience.  The VMTs can be used to practice maintenance virtually in a safe environment to refresh knowledge and build confidence prior to physically performing the check on the tactical equipment.  Technicians can also practice complex repairs to the system prior to execution.”

The secondary use of a VMT aboard a ship is for Combat System Training Team events.

“The VMT can be employed in the training environment to simulate system casualties the ships currently train to address throughout the basic and advanced phase of training,” Odachowski said. 

The VMT provides realistic casualty control and repair scenarios at a level not seen to date on the waterfront. The Combat Systems Training Team (CSTT) can shift from yellow sticky notes and talking through the casualty response to the technicians actually working through the symptoms, executing the associated work packages, and getting their ship back in the fight.

Execution of pilot aboard ships

The VMT hosts software that is a virtualization of the technical insertion TI-16 AWS hardware set along with a virtualization of SPY-1D(V).  Frank E. Petersen, Jr. and Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee were selected for this pilot to maximize applicability since both ships have the TI-16 hardware and AN/SPY-1D(V) with Multi-Mission Signal Processor (MMSP) radar.  The ships will conduct a six-month test period comprised of two elements; free play and specific training events, with 557 ACNT scenarios and 247 Aegis SPY-1D scenarios at their disposal. 

“DDG 121 and DDG 123 will use the VMT as desired and the system will record utilization and document technician proficiency,” explained Lt. Shane Ortiz, SCSTC HQ’s training directorate’s, N7, waterfront coordinator.  “During the initial load-out and training, the ships will also identify specific, upcoming infrequent maintenance checks to conduct targeted training prior to execution and collect feedback upon conclusion of maintenance.”

Why have VMTs at specific waterfront locations? 

Typically, technicians and Instructors at the RMCs and SCSTC’s waterfront detachments have been trained in earlier versions of the ACNT or SPY systems but do not receive the specific schoolhouse training on the newest systems that they will have responsibility for in their area of operation. 

“Having a VMT onsite, along with initial training on the use and operation of the VMT, will help technicians and Instructors expand their knowledge of these newer systems,” explained Mr. Ron Lavold, a management analyst for SCSTC HQ’s N9 and secondary lead for the pilot program. “The VMT is not solely for apprentice level technicians.  This pilot will assist us with our overall goal in expanding the VMT’s utilization across all skill levels.”

Another goal of this pilot is to evaluate the VMT as a potential distance support tool at the RMCs. The VMT is designed as a distributed training tool, with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and real time live student monitoring.  These built-in capabilities potentially could be employed to support forward deployed technicians with troubleshooting of their systems when casualties are beyond their technical expertise.

Execution of pilot at RMCs and SCSTC waterfront detachments

SCSTC and the RMCs will create a recommended training plan for technicians assigned to the RMC maintenance and SCSTC waterfront detachment teams to develop and maintain proficiency on BL 9 and SPY-1D(V) with MMSP radar.  RMCs will then execute the recommended training proposals, evaluate the VMT for viability as a potential distance support tool for the fleet, and provide focused feedback on VMT usefulness in preparation for maintenance actions. 

Feedback process

SCSTC has created a feedback team that will be collecting quantitative

and qualitative data from VMT users throughout the six-month period to determine efficiency of the VMT as a training tool. 

“Quantitative data will be collected from the VMT files recorded in each user profile, bi-weekly usage emails, and a user questionnaire,” said Mr. Eric Hall, a management analyst for SCSTC HQ’s N7.  “Qualitative

data will be collected during focused fleet feedback discussions.”

Post Pilot

SCSTC will provide a summary of findings to Navy leadership and recommendation for next steps if the VMT capability aboard ships and onboard RMCs and supporting SCSTC waterfront detachments proves to be beneficial.

“The launch of this VMT initiative is a result of an incredible amount of teamwork between headquarters and our learning sites and detachments, SCSTC AEGIS Training and Readiness Center, SCSTC Det Middle Pacific, SCSTC Det Southwest; Regional Maintenance Centers; and our industry partners,” said SCSTC’s Executive Director, Mr. Brian Deters.  “We are excited and look forward to the results of this important event.”

For information about the Surface Combat Systems Training Command, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/SCSTC    
 
Visit SCSTC on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/SurfaceCombatSystemsTrainingCommand

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Thu, 25 May 2023 03:55:00 -0500 Seapower Staff en-US text/html https://seapowermagazine.org/scstc-launches-virtual-maintenance-trainer-pilot-at-the-waterfront/

Bangladesh national team will kick-off their practice session for the solitary Test against Afghanistan on May 29.

Some of the players, however, had already started the individual training at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium while some others were busy with playing for the Bangladesh A team against the visiting West Indies A.

BCB selection panel sources informed that the squad for the national team is likely to be announced just a couple of days before the practice session.

Bangladesh will miss the service of Captain Shakib Al Hasan who sustained a finger injury during the ODI series against Ireland at Chelmsford.

The Tigers played their last Test match against Ireland at home two months ago. There is hardly any chance to bring up changes from that squad sans Shakib.

But since Shakib is a two-in-one player, the selectors need to call up two players to fill the Shakib-sized hole.

Wed, 24 May 2023 03:46:00 -0500 en text/html https://www.tbsnews.net/sports/bangladeshs-training-afghanistgan-test-start-29-may-637638