The Correct Way to Display O-6 Rank Insignia

The Correct Way to Display O-6 Rank InsigniaThe Correct Way to Display O-6 Rank InsigniaThis may be a frequently asked question from a civilian, but if you are in the military service to make the rank as a Captain (USN or USCG) or Colonel (USA, USMC, USAF) you will know how to wear the o-6 collar or shoulder insignia on your uniform.Typically, those who make the sixth officer ranking (O-6) will have served in the military for over 20 years. However, there are some jobs like Chaplain, Medical Officer, or Legal Officer (JAG), who can make the rank of O-6 much faster depending upon their experience in the profession prior to joining the military. The Correct Way to Display O-6 Rank Insignia An O-6 is a Colonel in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and a Captain in the Navy and Coast Guard U.S. (See our Military Officer Rank Chart). There are three different types of commissioned officers - restricted line, unrestricted line, and staff korporation officers. Combat Arms Officer s Unrestricted Line Officers (Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, USMC) and Combat Arms Officers (Army) are the terms used to describe the type of officers who lead men and women in combat situations (boats, planes, tanks, infantry, special ops). The term line officer refers to an age-old term within the Navy and refers to the officer of the line. Within the Navy and Marine Corps, commissioned officers or warrant officers will be the chain of command for warfare operational positions.Marine officers are all line officers.From the infantry officer to the Judge Advocate General (JAG), Logistics, and engineering/supply officers are all considered line officers. There is no unrestricted line or staff officers. Since the USMC is part of the Navy, the Navy handles all the medical, chaplain, and dental staff corps jobs. As the saying goes, Every Marine is a Rifleman. Within the Air Force and Coast Guard the term line officer also refers to officers eligible for operating and commanding combat u nits such as pilot, battlefield airmen, and surface warfare/pilots of the Coast Guard. In the Army, the term line officer is not generally used, but the terms basic branch officer and special branch officer are used to describe officers who lead infantry for example (basic branch combat arms) and the medical corps will be in the special branch group. O-6 level officers in this field (Captain / Colonel) are typically warfare operational commanders of large warships, combat air squadrons, Navy SEAL Group Level Commands, and division level forces within their perspective branches of service. Typically Non-Combat Arms / Support Officers Restricted Line Officers (Navy), Special Branch Officers / tafelgeschirr Support Officers (Army, USMC, Air Force) are in combat support roles.Jobs like Restricted Line Officers in the Navy are considered line officers however, they are not eligible for Command at Sea which typically means combat units. These officers are specialists similar to Staff Officers. There are many different types such as Naval Intelligence Officers, Engineering Duty Officers, Cryptologic Warfare Officers, Information Warfare Officers, Public Affairs Officers, and Naval Oceanographers to name a few. O-6 level officers in this field (Captain / Colonel) are typically warfare support commanders of large shore-based facilities, ship, and air support activities, Engineering Commands, and Intelligence/Cryptologic Commands within perspective branches of service. Staff / Combat Support Officers Staff Corps Officers (Navy) or those who are not line officers (other branches) primarily have duties that involve non-combat specialties such as legal, medical, religious, engineering, and others. However, even though command security (military police) is not considered a line officer position, often they are involved in combat/dangerous situations when forward deployed in war zones. Professional Officers in the United States Air Force refers to those officers assi gned to the medical, nurse, medical services, legal, and chaplain corps are professional officers. In the Air Force JAG officers are also considered line officers and are part of the Line of the Air Force just like pilots, special ops, and other combat support specialties. O-6 level officers in this field (Captain / Colonel) are typically military-wide support commanders of large shore-based hospitals, legal support activities, and religious commands within perspective branches of service.All of the above officers are eligible for reaching the ranks of O-6 and above within their communities. Detail of Uniform and Insignia Appearance on Uniform O-6 Eagle insignia consists of a pair. On one insignia, the eagle faces the left, and on the other insignia, the eagle faces the right. This is because, when worn properly, the eagles are pinned on with the feet closest to the collar, and the head of the eagle turned to face toward the front of the officers body. The only way to accomplish this, on both sides, is to have mirror insignia (one opposite from the other). This is clearly illustrated, for example, in Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Figure 28-35 (Page 192). The eagle insignia which faces to the left is worn on the right shoulder (facing the front) and the eagle insignia which faces to the right is worn on the left shoulder (again, facing the front).

Some Questions to Ask During Your Job Interview

Some Questions to Ask During Your Job InterviewSome Questions to Ask During Your Job InterviewAt some point during a job interview, youll probably be asked whether you have any questions. Interviewers expect that you will- about the company, the group youd be working with, and the job that youre interviewing for. It might indicate to the interviewer that youre not prepared for the meeting if you dont have any, or that youre really not that interested in the position. Youll need questions, although which youll ask can depend on the tone of the interview as well as the position of interviewer within the company and the type of company youre applying to. Theres something in this for you, too. Youll want to know what youre getting into if youre offered and accept the job. In this respect, youre actually interviewing the company. Some Basic Guidelines Steer clear of questions that require no mora than a yes or no answer. Yes or no probably wont tell you much. By the same token, you do want your questions to be specific. Dont leave them open to too much interpretation. You dont want to bombard the interviewer with dozens of questions, but you do want to come away with an accurate picture of the position, as well as the company and group culture. Questions to Ask If Youre Interviewing With a Hiring Manager How would you describe your company culture?What is your vision for your department over the next two to three years?What makes your company better than your competitors?What can you tell me about the other people in the organization I would be working with?What are the most important skills and attributes youre looking for in filling this position?How will my responsibilities and performance be measured? By whom?Whats the next step in the selection process?Before I leave, is there anything else you need to know concerning my ability to do this job? Additional Questions to Ask of Peer Level Interviewers Tell me about a typical working day for you.What d o you consider to be your companys greatest strengths and weaknesses?Does the company support you in training and how?Will I be working with you directly?Whats the most challenging aspect of this position? Questions to Ask Startup Companies What round of funding is the company on?What kinds of investors does the company have?What is their current financial status? Are they showing a profit yet? If not, how big are their losses? How, and when, do they expect to become profitable?What are the top managements experience and track record? Have they successfully lumineszenzdiode a startup before?What benefits do they offer? Youll want to know if theres any kind of retirement plan in place and if the company matches any contributions. What about health insurance? Startup companies are a different breed. They can be riskier than more established companies, but they can also offer greater financial rewards and give you an opportunity to make an impact on a product and a company. Startu ps are usually aclosely-knit group. Employees are asked to wear many hats and they tend to work very long hours. Questions you might want to ask startup companies focus on the financial stability of the company, as well as the quality of life the employees enjoy. Dont Neglect to Follow Up Always ask if its okay to follow up with the company later if you have further questions. This is an excellent time to ask for a business card, which will also allow you to send each interviewer a thank you letter after the interviews are over.

Quickest Ways to Pick Up Skills for a New Job

Quickest Ways to Pick Up Skills for a New JobQuickest Ways to Pick Up Skills for a New JobDid you ever claim to do something on your resume that was maybe stretching the truth a bit? Even Richard Branson from Virgin has stated it is a good idea to tell a company you can do something, even when you cannotlage. You can always learn later, right?So, here are the quickest ways to pick up skills for a new job. This advice is also helpful for those job seekers who want to learn something new before a job interviewor need to pick up some new skills for a possible promotion.Establish goalsEstablishing goals helps you save time on learning random skills that will not help your career. If you want to move into a new department or industry or get a promotion, you need to establish what is required to learn.To do this, it is helpful to speak with people who are currently in positions you hope to one day achieve. Talk to managers and people with the skills you wish to possess one day. Once you ha ve decided exactly what you want to learn, try these quick ways to pick up skills for your potential new job.Meet with mentorsReach out to people you admire thathave achieved a position you wish to have one day. Politely ask them to lunch or for 30 minutes of their time. Explain to them what you are trying to do and be prepared for some humble pie. If you ask questions and do not like the answers, do not defend yourself with annoying statements like, I knew that already.Explain your course of action and then ask your questions. Once you ask your questions, keep your mouth closed and your ears open. This is one of the fastest ways to learn because your mind is focused on listening instead of what to say next.When your meetingwith a mentorends, always be thankful and aim to build relationships. Down the road, your mentors may become key players in your career success. Always be mindful of their time and never be pushy. Free advice from those who have succeeded is...well...priceless.Sh adow other workers and teamsIn order to learn a skill outside of your current role, job, or industry, it helps to spend time with people and teams. They are working in an area you hope to one day, so get to know the type of people who hold those jobs.Lets say you want to one day learn how to code or be an engineer, but you work in Customer Service Management. As you communicate with teams in Product Development or Quality Assurance, try talking with them and spending time finding out how they work. You may even have the time to shadow them as they work with you.Try being a supportive, silent participant in their meetings. Listen to find out what they consider important and what you need to deliver if you were in the same position. Just never shadow another team so much that you start to lose focus on your current job duties. And do not get in the way of others as they try to work. Many engineers got their start as children by helping adults with little things like handing them tools or asking questions like, What are you working on?.Take business courses and webinarsThere is an endless availability of business courses and webinars due to LinkedIn and email marketing. Some classes may simply be scams tischset up to make money while offering no information or value. Go through LinkedIn and see what types of webinars and business courses are trending and held by respectable business leaders.Other great resources for business courses are offered in places like General Assembly and Udemy. If you like meeting people face to face, you can find great information through Meetup.com.If you find nothing there, try resources like MediaBistro, CodeAcademy, and Coursera. Costs and time differ, but there is no shortage of information to be learned. Dont forget about the universities and community colleges near you They may offer coursestaught by adjunct professors.Read...read...readYes, the oldest method of learning might just be the most reliable. Reading eliminates all the dependencies that come with other ways of learning. You set your schedule for learning. You can pick up a book or read an article online anytime. You learn at your own pace, even if only a few pages a day.Build your way up on your reading list. Start with light reading and work your way up to the heavy in-depth books for experts. Getting in too deep before you know what you are reading will be discouraging and may lead you to think something is too hard to do.The fact is, you just approached reading materials before you were ready.

Know Your Rights as a Job Seeker

Know Your Rights as a Job SeekerKnow Your Rights as a Job SeekerWhen youre looking for a job, it can seem like employers and hiring managers have all the control. But did you know that, as a job seeker, you have certain rights as well? Read more to find out what they are- and ensure they are exercised the next time youre in the middle of a job interview.Heres what you are entitled toA confidential interview. When youre applying for any position, your potential employer should stay mum on your application. This is especially critical if youre job hunting while you still have a job. This means that a hiring manager shouldnt contact your current boss or share sensitive information about you (including what is written on your resume) to anyone else.An accurate job description. As a job seeker, youre entitled to know exactly what the job entails. This includes the job responsibilities, possible chances for advancement, and benefits that come with the position (including telecommuting opti ons and flex schedules) without any false information. Of course, job duties often morph after you start working, but important factors- such as the fact that you might have to travel twice a month- should be discussed at the time of the interview.A non-discriminatory interview. Employers are expected to follow non-discrimination policies when interviewing and selecting potential candidates for a position. This applies for people of all races, religions, and sexual orientation, without inquiry or prejudice. Potential employers should follow their companys policies on equal employment and affirmative action.Advanced knowledge of potential tests. Lets say youre applying for a position as an in-house writer. A writing test shouldnt be sprung on you right after shaking hands with the hiring manager. While this applies for proficiency tests in your area of expertise, it can also apply to drug testing as well. Not only should you know about any tests ahead of time, but you are entitled to know what they will be used for and the results of your tests, too.Reasonable treatment. Lets say that your interview went well and you were hired for the position. Then, a week before youre to start work, your new boss emails to let you know that theyve decided to hire someone else. Its horrible, but it happens. And if it does happen to you, you are entitled to some sort of recompense, which may come in the form of financial compensation or a referral for another position within the company.Knowing your rights as a job seeker will help you feel more confident as you continue your job search and get an at-home career that you want.Readers, are you exercising your job interview rights? Have they ever been violated? Let us know in the comments section below

Choosing the Right Words for Your Resume

Choosing the Right Words for Your Resume Choosing the Right Words for Your Resume With so little time to stand out, a candidates resume word choice can be aninterview-maker or adeal breaker. Achieved or excelled? Strong or superb? Here, hiring experts break down the dos and donts for each word you write1.Use Action VerbsAccording to Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder, recruiters prefer strong action verbs to define specific skills and accomplishments. In a survey of over 2,000 hiring managers, words such as improved, negotiated, and launched were considered standouts on a resume.Search your resume for passive verbs like did and welches and replace them with more specific and engaging terms, like oversaw and represented. For examples, University of Michigans career center provides acomprehensive listof strong resume action verbs.2. Make It Job SpecificDont send out one single resume to all possible employers instead, make your resume specific to eac h position. Eye-tracking software proves that hiring managers spend 20 percent of their time looking for specific keywords in resumes thatmatch the open position. Indeed, some HR departments even use software to search for keywords across resumes and those that dont have the keywords get trashed before a human being even sees them.According to Pierre Drescher, founder of job-databaseThe Creative Loft, its essential to study the job posting and look closely at the kind of words they use to describe the position. This means that choosing the right words for your resume ultimately comes down to the specific position that you are applying for.3. Address Three ThemesZipRecruiter, which boasts a database of over 3 million resumes, recently conducted a study to determine which resumes earned top rankings from hiring recruiters.Three main themes emerged. Tesumes that were fruchtwein sought after online used words that impliedmanagement skills (not necessarily as a manager, but skills such as time management)a proactive approach to working (providing support, or responsible for clients) andproblem-solving skills (data, operation).4. Watch Your AdjectivesThe adjectives you choose to use on your resume should stand out without making it seem like you overused athesaurus. Grammarly, a proofreading company, analyzed 500 active job postings from 100 of the most profitable U.S. companies. According to their studies, the most common adjectives used on corporate listings were strong, energetic, strategic, competitive, creative, and effective. In turn, your resume should mirror these terms without repeating them. Try productive instead of effective, or dynamic for energetic. Check out Grammarlys infographic for resume adjectiveshere.5. Avoid ClichsJust as important as the words to include on your resume are the words to leaveout. To avoid having your resume sent straight to the trash, avoid words that overhype yourself or words that are overused across resumes. For instance, t he word expert is an immediatewarning sign according to recruiting director Debra Gioeli, because no one person knows everything about one topic.Similarly, results-oriented is meaningless without hard data to back up a job seekers experiences. Finally, words like hardworking, loyal, and dependable should be avoided even if they are true because they are consistently overused. An employer might simply skip over the clichs a dangerous habit when every word on a resume should be used to your advantage.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

The Lost Secret of How to Right a Resume

The Lost Secret of How to Right a Resume The Ultimate How to Right a Resume Trick Possessing a strong resume will permit you find several great jobs. If youre attempting to acquire work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. A resume is among the main tools in your job hunting arsenal. Possessing a very clear and professional resume is vital in the medical field. No matter your approach, your target is going to be to make a chronological collection of experience thats pertinent to the jobs youre applying to. Well, regardless of what stage youre in your career, youre likely to should understand how to make a resume for a job interview and we will demonstrate how Your job (while youre attempting to find a job) is to make certain to fit what theyre searching for. Each time you apply to get a new job, check your resume to make sure that it is not only targeted, but in addition current. You should tailor your resume to each work application so that it responds to the particular needs of the job that youre applying for. Instead, you wish to only include the facts of your previous work that are especially pertinent to the work you wish to do next. There are a few things that dont belong on a resume for work. Whether you are searching for your very first job or attempting to earn a career change, the method starts with your resume. There are dozens and dozens of possible skills to look at using. When youve proofread your resume, you are going to be prepared to apply for jobs. Learn about the three kinds of skills you may highlight and the way it is possible to incorporate them into your resume. If you dont have the essential skills and experience, you may choose to refine your work search to discover a great match. Whether youre a recent graduate or a career changer, understanding how to compose a resume whenever you have zero work experience may appear daunting. So once youre considering how to compose a resume, dont forget that yo u need to be selling your abilities and accomplishments, not merely listing your work history and your old responsibilities. In spite of no experience, you still ought to show experience. You dont require experience to get achievements. Choosing How to Right a Resume Is Simple Take a look at our sample to find out what a good construction resume looks like. There are a couple guidelines to follow that may help your resume shine. Applications which dont use the proper keywords have a tendency to be automatically rejected. Ensure you highlight technical wisdom and certifications. What About How to Right a Resume? Note that there might be circumstances when including some of these information proves that youre a great fit for the job. The procedure for building your resume and applying online might take several hours. Taking the opportunity to work on your resume is critical. In various ways, your resume will be much more straightforward and easy to write. Your purpose is to make it simple for them to find that youve got the qualifications theyre searching for. An Objective at the start of a resume is pretty much passe, except in a couple of circumstances. Create a new expert email address in case you have a novelty email address The contact information section is really self-explanatory. Use the checklist to be certain you have included all appropriate data in your resume. You dont need to present any personal or private info on your resume. In the summary, David has used the proper words to create the most suitable picture of how he would like to be perceived on the market. Youre going to compose a resume summary which gets far more interviews. Take a look at our writing services reviews and find out how top rated essay writing companies get the job done. Speaking of unique, the most important purpose of your resume is to make you stick out from the remainder of the folks applying for equal job and another means to create that happen is to us e action verbs and power words (also known as resume verbs). Most people today look at writing a resume as just something youve got to do to have a job. The issue is, a great deal of people dont see it like an art formrather an obligation.

The Courtship and Marriage of Millennials and the Staffing Industry

The Courtship and Marriage of Millennials and the Staffing Industry According to studies by both Deloitteand the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, millennials currently make up 36 percent of theworkforce and will account for 46 percent by 2020 and 75 percent by 2025. The members of this millennialworkforce have their own thoughts and ideas aboutwhat they want in a career. Gone are the days of the traditional workplace, where employees started at the entry level and worked their way up through the countless rungs of the company ladder through years of hard work and determination along with some luck.Tenure was an integral part of your success, parallel to your overall production.Today, things are much different. Manufacturing has long been waning in the U.S., whereasjobs within the service and technology sectors have blossomed. The mindset of the employee has changed along with the econ omic landscape.Millennialsfrequently boast entrepreneurial spirits and prefer to see success much mora quicklythan previous generations. They want be part of environments where theyre allowed to combine their hard work and success in school with best-in-class training. They want to be productive after a shorter period of time than their Gen. X and baby boomer predecessors.Enterthe staffing industry, where millennialscan achieve speedy, entrepreneurial success within a well-established, corporate environment.Although they may have just met, millennials and staffing have quicklyfound themselves heading down the road toward a perfect marriage.The courting process begins with an interview, a company history lesson, the promise of development, and the understanding that, in staffing, there is no corporate ladder. Once interest has been raised and staffings entrepreneurial structure has been explained,the engagement ring is offered and accepted. Time to move on to the serious part of the relationship training and development.The most successful staffing firms understand that investing in people meansinvesting in the companys future. Not only must you hire the right people, but you must also have training programs that give every new employee what they need to succeed.Eliassen Group itself has invested heavily in technology and training resources to ensure those who are determined to succeed quickly develop along accelerated career trajectories. We hire only those coming in the door with tireless work ethics and relentless determination. When we find someone with behauptung traits, our regimen of personalized group training and the technological tools we provide them ensure their success. This Resource Specialist Program has been tremendously successful for the company.The millennial determines their own success through a combination of how hard they work, how savvy they are when it comes tonavigating the seas of company training, how well they leverage hands-on recr uiting technology (LinkedIn, Indeed, advanced social searches, etc.), and how much they understand about what makes people tick.So much goes into finding the right person with the right skill set for a position. To support the employees success, staffing organizations must offer consistenttraining that involves the userecruiting technology, the assessment of candidate skill sets and psychology, and the negotiations the often attend the recruiting process.Staffing rewards each and every start, so if a millennial is putting as many people to work as someone tenured in the industry or company, they are rewarded equally in praise and in dollars. In staffing, you do not have to wait to be successful you can do so right away. Goodbye corporate ladder, hello immediate successIt all starts with that initial conversation. The millennial learns that, in the staffing world,they can in become an entrepreneur in a corporate environment, reap immediate financial rewards, experience rapid career growth, be showered in company recognition, and take the much anticipated walk down the aisle toward the alter of career success.This article originally appeared on the Eliassen Group blog.

Thinking About Quitting Ask Yourself These 10 Questions First

Thinking About Quitting Ask Yourself These 10 Questions First Thinking About Quitting Ask Yourself These 10 Questions First Ask yourself these 10 questions first1.) What Specifically Annoys You About Your Job?Determine the exact issue with your job. Is it the people you work with? Is it the environment? Your boss? Your workload? Maybe it is the work itself? Once you have pinpointed your problem you might be able to fix it without quitting. However, if you have determined youre in the wrong geschftlicher umgang you will need to make a plan to change careers.2.) Is Your Current Work Setting Insufferable?Be honest about how bad your situation is. Are you suffering abuse (verbal, sexual, physical) at your current position? Are you being mistreated (not allowed to take breaks when youre supposed to, working overtime without pay, etc.) in any way? If so, make an appointment with HR and/or leave immediately. If its something minor stick it out with a plan to leave as soon as you have a ne w job in place.3.) Have You Done Everything Possible to Work it Out?If youre situation is manageable think about how you can work it out. What steps will you have to take to be happy with your job? Maybe you need to change your schedule, clear a task from your workload, take on a positive attitude, or more effectively manage your time. Perhaps a meeting with your employer is in order. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask for what you need.4.) What do You Want?Its unfortunate how many people never get asked this question, or never ponder it. What do you want for your work life? Define your career priorities. What do you want and how badly do you want it?5.) Do You Have a Realistic Plan for Your Next Job?Many people quit their jobs with no plan or thought, and then simply assume they can land their dream job. You have to be realistic about your goals. Do go for your dreams, but do it right. Make a plan. Think about your skills, experience, education. Do you need to take more classes? Earn a new degree? Develop new skills? You might have to take some classes or volunteer to gain extra experience and skills to be able to quit and go for your dream job.6.) Do You Have Enough Money Saved?If youre going to quit your job you may be job searching for up to a year or more. If you dont have a job lined up already you are going to need some savings to get you by until you land a job. Experts say you should have nine to 12 months of savings set aside so you can pay your bills while seeking a new position.7.) Are You Willing to Give up Your Benefits?If you quit you will lose your health insurance, retirement contributions, and other benefits. Find out how much it would cost to buy health insurance on your own. Plus, without your income you wont be able to contribute to your retirement fund, college fund, or any other savings you have. Research this and really think it through.8.) How Will You Cut Expenses?While you are in between jobs how will you earn some extra money and reduce your expenses? Create a detailed budget of your monthly income and expenses. Are your expenses more than your income? Are there any expenses you can cut such as cable TV, dining out, your cell bill, etc.? Will you be able to find some work in between jobs to keep an income coming in?9.) Do You Have a Support System?Are your friends and family going to support your decision? Quitting your job will affect those around you, especially your kids and spouse. Talk to these people about your plans before you quit and participate in cost-cutting.10.) Is This The Right Time?Are you in the middle of a big project or is it really busy at work? Honor your commitments before you quit. Dont leave your team and employer in a bind. Also, if youre going to get a holiday bonus, wait until the holiday is over.

Accessible Robotics Swarm

Accessible Robotics Swarm Accessible Robotics Swarm Accessible Robotics SwarmA few years ago, Magnus Egerstedt was walking through the swarm robotics laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he is associate director of research, feeling proud of the research spearheaded there, when a disturbing thought crossed his mind.I began thinking about the robotics laboratories where people are doing things that matter. Theres not even ten of them globally, Egerstedt says. Thats weird, because so many people are working on swarm robotics, but it takes money and people to drive research that matters. Its a resource competition, not a good-ideas competition.He immediately envisioned a way to give robotics researchers who arent with those top labs access to top-lab capabilities. And he knew students at all levels, grade school to graduate school, could benefit as well.I used as a model the Large Hadron Collider, Egerstedt says. Physicists realized large particle colliders were too expensive to build separately, so they share. I thought, Why dont we do that in robotics rather than spend time and money reproducing the same results in labs all over the country and the world?The Large Hadron Collider, which opened in 2009 near Geneva, is the largest and fruchtwein powerful particle collider in the world. Physicists from many locales test their theories about particle physics, high-energy physics, and the Higgs boson particle.Prof. Magnus Egerstedt is researching controlling swarms of machines that coordinate their own activities to accomplish tasks. Image Rob Felt / Georgia TechNow, only a few short years after Egerstedts epiphany, Georgia Tech has opened its first Robotarium in the Center for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at the university, where Egerstedt is associate director. At the Robotarium, global robotics researchers and students can conduct experiments remotely at no cost.The word Egerstedt coined for the facilityRobotariumis part robot, part audito rium, as researchers and students can watch the swarm robots theyve programmed perform. And one day theyll be able to sit in an actual auditorium to watch robotic activity if Egerstedt has his way.The field of swarm robotics (the focus of the Georgia Tech lab and the Robotarium) gets teams of robots work together for a common goal.The small swarm robots at the lab form and maintain a particular position to carry out tasks. Swarm robotics can be used in a number of fields. For example, they hold promise for disaster rescue missions in which teams of robots of different sizes could be sent to places rescue workers cant reach safely. They detect the presence of life via infrared sensors.Swarms of robots might also be able to perform some types of mining or agricultural work.Researchers with new ideas in swarm robotics should be able to see their algorithms deployed on real robots, rather than purely simulated, which is how researchers at smaller institutes receive test results now, Ege rstedt says.Students using the mini-version of the Robotarium in a test session. Image Raftermen Photography / Georgia TechMy humble idea when I started was to democratize the field of robotics so its not the people with the deepest pockets and the best access but the people with the best ideas who get to further them and test those ideas, Egerstedt says. If youre a junior faculty member or at the less well endowed university or if youre doing computer science or biology and have ideas relevant to robotics you dont really have a way to test your ideas.Middle and high school students can also upload their own programming code then watch how their robots perform in real-time via streamed video feeds. Theyll also receive information on their results, Egerstedt says.This current version of the Robotarium features 20 robots on wheels and a camera system that live streams their actions back to researchers and students. It also has the capabilities to store and disseminate data that result s from robotic movementsIn summer 2016, Georgia Tech will begin work on Robotarium 2.0, which will house 100 robots, including walking and flying robots. This version will be housed in the Van Leer building, home of the school of electrical and computer engineering departments at Georgia Tech. Students walking through the building will be able to watch the robots at work.Robotarium version 3.0 is just a dream for now, but Egerstedt envisions it as occupying its own central-campus building, complete with theater seating, in which students can lounge to study and watch the robots at work.The robots should always be on and always doing something interesting, he says. Thats part of the charm.Though the Georgia Tech Robotarium focuses on swarm robotics, Egerstedt can envision Robotariums of the future housed on other campuses and specializing in other types of robotics, such as industrial machines.To me this idea is bigger than the Robotarium, he says. Providing remote access to world-cl ass lab facilities is something we dont do. We have the ability and the instrumentation so why do all of us have to build copies of each others labs in this day and age?It slows us down and disqualifies large groups of people who dont have the ability to test and deploy the excellent ideas they have, he says.Learn more about the latest trends in manufacturing at ASMEs AM3D Conference Expo.Jean Thilmany is an independent writer. Providing remote access to world-class lab facilities is something we dont do. We have the ability and the instrumentation so why do all of us have to build copies of each others labs in this day and age?Prof. Magnus Egerstedt, Georgia Tech

5 reasons you need to dump your loser friends

5 reasons you need to dump yur loser friends5 reasons you need to dump your loser friendsHigh school was leid easy for me. I never cared for the teenage wasteland parties. An exciting Friday night in my little Wyoming town was to drag main and turn up the volume on our car radios. Girls got married and guys got drunk.I wanted to be somewhere else. I wasnt the only one. Most of us made the decision to leave sometime in middle school, years before the idea hit consciousness in our senior year. Those who didnt leave also knew by middle school that theyd never make the one-way trip out of town.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraAn interesting pattern started to develop among my classmates. Those who had a low opinion of their own worth chose new friends that confirmed it. Maybe they didnt believe they deserved any better. Perhaps they were too lazy to look for something better. Even wo rse, if they surrounded themselves with loser friends, they started to look like the winner of the bunch.Not everyone who chooses to stay behind is a loser, so lets define loser friends.They are people whoAre not supportive of you.Not there when you need them.Tend to be negative about everything.Agree with everything you say.Only show up when they need you.Have no desire to make their life better.Expect you to drop everything when they have a crisis.Tend to think everything that relates to them is a crisis.Most of us have loser friends, toxic people who disrupt our world as soon as they come onto the scene. Wimps are people who are too lazy and too timid to cut ties from loser friends and move on so they can improve their lives.We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with- Jim RohnSimply put, the law of averages tells us that the result of any given situation will be the average of all outcomes. We are influenced by the people with whom we spend the most time. T hey create the environment that influences the way we think, our self-esteem, and our decisions. We will interact with many people over the course of our life, but the few who are closest to us have the greatest impact on our way of thinking and our decisions.Plato once said, People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die.Pick the people you spend time with care- they create the environment in which you will either thrive or wilt. While we need different types of personalities in our life to bring out the best in us, only share your dreams and goals only with those who value them as much as you do.Here are 5 Reasons you need to dump your loser friends so you can1. Surround yourself with friends who will give you honest feedbackThe Journal of Consumer Researchrecently published a study that summarizes the difference between amateurs and experts. Amateurs focus on positive feedback and want to hea r what theyre doing right so they can continue on the same path.Experts do not care about what theyve done right. Instead, theyre more interested in how they can make progress. They dont surround themselves with sycophants and other bootlickers who dont have the backbone to be honest in their feedback.As entrepreneurs and geschftliches miteinander owners, your focus shifts as you become more of an expert in your field. Your confidence is not affected by negative feedback, just as long as its constructive and honest.How to make it work for you Its important to be surrounded by people who want the best for you and will be there when you need them. But, its also necessary to keep people around you who will provide you with constructive criticism and not just vacuous positivity.Theauthor of the study abovebelieves the onus is on the person who provides the feedback. Often negative feedback is buried and not very specific. Encourage your circle of friends to be specific and straightforwa rd with their critique.2. Establish a benchmark for your inner circleWe all have different friends for different seasons in our life. Its been said that the way we do anything is the way we do everything. So, be intentional about the people you select to be in your inner circle. If you have a friend you wouldnt recommend to a close family member, why do you spend time with them yourself? Remember, a wimp is someone who settles for loser friends because its the easiest path.Choose friends who are dependable and honest. Select people you admire, show you love and respect, and reciprocate your kindness.How to make it work for you Ask yourself whether spending time with this person will lift you up or drag you down? If you spend time with this person, will they help you to become your best self? Will you be happier after spending time with them? Will they help you achieve your most important goals? If not, find friends who will.3. Make room for a mentor or twoLoser friends are not known for or respected for their knowledge and skill sets. They do not champion your success nor have they expressed a great deal of confidence in your abilities. Turn that upside down and you have the perfect description of what you should look for in a mentor. You deserve to surround yourself with people who believe in you and are willing to build a relationship with you. Above all, good mentors will always challenge you and encourage you to take risks.One of the best moves you can make in life is to surround yourself with friends who see the eignung in you that you may not even see in yourself. These are the people who give you permission to follow your dreams.Enthusiasm is contagious. The best mentors are enthusiastic about what they do and believe their work provides both value and meaning. They want to share that excitement with you. Most of all, they encourage you to have the same goals.How to make it work for youIn your career you will meet people who are both younger and older. Dont always assume a mentor should always be someone who is older. While older friends can be a beacon of wisdom, younger friends can keep you from getting too jaded in your work. Its often refreshing to see the world through the eyes of those who are still anxious to learn rather than teach.4. Recognize narcissists for what they areLoser friends suck life out of your aspirations because they always shift attention and energy back to themselves. They may listen as you voice your concerns but notice how they manage to inject their own situation into the conversation. Suddenly, it becomes about them and their life experiences.Narcissistsare loser friends who belittle your problems. They may offer some level of sympathy and understanding at first, but theyll soon shift the conversation into 1) how their problems are so much greater or unusual, or 2) how they solved a similar problem in the past and how great it turned out for them. On top of that, narcissists expect you to show perpetu al appreciation for their assistance and presence in your life. All thats important to them is whattheywant and whattheyneed to do to get it.How to make it work for you Set boundaries. Its difficult to reason or argue with a narcissist because they wont listen or change. One of the easiest ways to get rid of loser friends is to limit meeting times. Limit contact with them. Everyone understands that the message youre too busy to catch-up, its code for youre off my A-list.5. Walk away from weaselsAnother type of loser friend is the weasel- the one who is sneaky, conniving, and always has a scheme. Weasels can adapt to almost any situation and manipulate it to suit their own needs. Not sure one of your loser friends is a weasel? Here are some characteristicsWeasels can appear as harmless to your face, which is why you need to watch your back. They love to take credit even when its not warranted and do not like to collaborate with others. Weasels also tend to be guarded so they can conc eal their true intentions or plans. They are not trustworthy and love to meddle in the business of others.How to make it work for you While narcissists are selfish weasels are mean-spirited little people.Run away from them if possible. They cannot be redeemed as friends so you waste your time if you plan to rehabilitate them. When you remove a weasel from your life, its not a sign of heartlessness it takesmental toughnessto kick these malignant people out of your life.This article originally appeared on LaRae Quy.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people