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January 26, 2007

Troy Brant -- Wackenhut employee and a really good guy!

Seems this month we're all about how Wackenhut Services Incorporated (WSI) is a great place to work. Other than the quality of training, the pay and benefits, one of the big things that makes WSI a great place is that both the company and it's employees care about the communities in which they work AND they care about other people.  Troy Brant, a WSI employee in the Vehicle Maintenance Section of the Savannah River Site is one of those people.  

The January 2007 edition of American Family Association Journal had a story on Troy Brant that highlights just what I'm talking about.   Here's just one quote to give you an idea:  "In a society that seems increasingly self-serving, it’s a rich and humbling experience to run across someone like Troy. Men like Troy are all too rare these days. I want to be more like him –  a man who just takes joy in giving up his own time, his own plans and his own goals in order to serve someone else."

You go Troy!  You can read the full artle by clicking on the line below. 

Real life and resolutions

By RANDALL MURPHREE | AFA Journal editor

It wasn’t reality TV. It was real life. And we were stranded on the shoulder of South Carolina Highway 461. Leaving the coast after a week’s vacation, my brother Lynn, sister Gail, their spouses Sharon and Luke, and I opted for the back roads. We were confident that our choice would trim many miles and even some time off the interstate route.  

Two hours later, we were pulling off the highway because the van was overheating. A burst hose, we were confident. Easy fix. Call AAA. Call 911. But not one of the three cell phones among us would let us call out. No one answered the door at the only house in sight.

Then along came Troy with his nephew Mickey. He stopped, prowled around under the hood with my brother for a few minutes, then announced, “I don’t think it’s a leaky hose; I believe it’s your water pump.  Let me go back to Daddy’s and get his tools and a jack.”

Lynn went with them and later told us that when they pulled up at Troy’s dad’s house, he was sitting on the porch in his rocking chair. He announced, “Your mama’s got breakfast on the table – eggs, ham, biscuits.”

“This man’s car is broken down,” Troy said, “and I need to borrow your tools.” From that moment on, neither Troy nor his dad nor his nephew seemed to give a second thought to breakfast. 

A few minutes later they were all three back on the roadside with us. After a little more diagnosing, Troy decided yes, it’s the water pump. Lynn asked if he could install a new one and Troy assured us he could. If we wanted him to, he’d do the job. We’d already spent more than an hour with the family, and we had a feeling that Troy was our best hope to get repairs made quickly. They went to the nearest auto parts store (nearly an hour round-trip) for a new water pump. Wrong water pump. The second parts store was still farther away.

 

Finally, four hours later, Troy had installed the new water pump and the van was again road-ready. “How much do we owe you, Troy?” Lynn asked.  “Aw, I can’t take money for that,” Troy said. “My life’s just been so blessed, it’s fun to bless somebody else for a change.” Troy, his nephew and his dad had spent four hours with us, giving up their time and their plans to serve us.

 In a society that seems increasingly self-serving, it’s a rich and humbling experience to run across someone like Troy. Men like Troy are all too rare these days. I want to be more like him –  a man who just takes joy in giving up his own time, his own plans and his own goals in order to serve someone else.

January 22, 2007

Wackenhut Services Incorporated is good corporate citizen

I've been talking about how Wackenhut Services Incorporated (WSI) is a great place to work, but did you know that WSI also takes its responsiblity to the communities in which it works seriously?  WSI employees are active in their communities, and the company contributes a lot of money to worthwhile causes.  For instance, in 2006 Wackenhut donated over $200,000 to Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) community organizations including, Toys for Tots, United way, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Children's Place, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Cancer Society and Heart Association. 

 Bud Isom, Senior VP and General Manager of WSI's Savannah River Site said that employees take their security role very seriously, but also are very caring and supportive of those in their community who need assistance.  Kudos to the WSI-Savannah River Site employees who are making a difference in their community -- protecting all citizens AND providing support to those in need. 

For those of you who may not know, Wackenhut is the U.S. government's largest contractor for professional security services with 8,000 employees protecting key sites in the U.S. and abroad.  WSI has provided security services at the Savannah River Site since 1983. 

Smile

January 18, 2007

Wackenhut Services Inc. is a great place to work

1
 An article in the Aiken Standard (South Carolina) on January 18, 2007 highlights the fact that Wackenhut Services Inc. is a great place to work, with the highest standards and ethics, the best training, and outstanding benefits.  Obviously a lot of people agree.  Here’s what the article said: 

Lt. Gary Slater proudly admits that he is batting a thousand when it comes to attracting a very select group of workers.  Slater, a supervisor with Wackenhut Security Services, said some 500 people applied for jobs with the Special Response Team at the Savannah River Site and from those 29 job offers were made and accepted.

 Last week those 29 recruits – who come from a varied background that includes the Army, Marines, Secret Service and law enforcement – started an intensive 14-week training program that will refine the tactical skills they have and turn them into members of an elite protective force, Slater said.

Those who survive the 14-weeks of basic training will then go through seven additional weeks of training on classified weapons systems before joining existing SRT units, Slater said.  

To select the recruits, Wackenhut personnel worked at job fairs at a variety of military installations. Many of those recruited to train for the SRT jobs have been deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The former Secret Service agents had been on White House detail.  

In addition to going through rigorous physical training the recruits are being trained how to shoot weapons. This might seem strange, especially for seasoned soldiers, but Wackenhut has very specific standards that must be met, Slater said. Each step along the way the recruits are evaluated, he said. They must meet specific standards in order to move on in their training. "Our instructor staff here is probably one of the finest in the DOE complex," said Slater, who is going through the training with those he recruited to be part of the program. 

 Included in the class, which was specifically selected for the SRT teams, are Thomas and Laurel Pazienza, a married couple from California. Thomas served a tour in Iraq as a Marine corpsman prior to accepting the Wackenhut offer. Laurel said she was largely a student who was interested in getting the type of training offered by Wackenhut. Both, by the way, have studied the Arabic language.
 

"The company actually offered us the opportunity of a lifetime to get this kind of training and experience," said Laurel, who is the only female in the class.

 Wackenhut spokesman Rob Davis said adding more women to the protective force at SRS is something DOE wants to see happen. As a result, Wackenhut is specifically seeking out qualified female cadets who can withstand the physical requirements of the job. 

Slater said Wackenhut plans to start the process of attracting a new crop of recruits in February. Those selected will begin their training in June. All told the 29 recruits in the class were selected over a five-month period and faced a variety of tests and interviews before being offered positions in the class. 

"We are looking for the absolute best for our company," Slater said.