U.S. Air Force Emergency Management

The Emergency Management (EM) career field is the United States Air Force's (USAF) primary organization responsible for implementing an installation-level EM program. Emergency Managers, also known by the Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 3E9X1, are the Air Force's subject matter experts for all Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) matters.[1]

Emergency Managers check a C-17 for contamination.

Responsibilities

Occupational badge heraldry

Basic EM Occupational Badge, awarded after completion of technical training.

The Readiness Occupational Badge was introduced by the CSAF in February 2006 with an official wear date of 1 October 06. The badge uses the Air Force wreaths combined with basic insignia first adopted by the U.S. Army Chemical Service in 1917: two crossed retorts—glass laboratory vessels used for distilling, which has been in use for hundreds of years—placed behind a benzene ring, the molecular building block of many organic chemicals. The benzene ring signifies the molecular composition of the chemical benzene. It has six points for each atom of carbon and hydrogen, representing the basic elements of chemistry. These elements of design allude to their chemical-related functions and deeply rooted history in the U.S. Army AirCorps to today’s Air Force.[4] There are three different types of the occupational badge, which consist of basic, senior, and master. Time in position and expertise in the career field is what distinguishes the difference between them.

Technical training

Training for Emergency Managers starts at the United States Army CBRN School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, which trains US CBRN forces from all branches of the United States Department of Defense (DOD). The 364th Training Squadron / Detachment 1 operates the Emergency Management "schoolhouse" and instructs U.S. Air Force military, Civil Service and NATO students in a 55-academic day apprentice level prerequisite course.[5] This is also followed by a 12-academic day CBRN Responder course conducted at the Lieutenant Joseph Terry CBRN Training Facility. When the student is sent to the CDTF (Chemical Defense Training Facility) during the last days of the course students will actually use their skills to access the situation involving a live agent. The CBRN Responder course certifies students to respond to CBRN/WMD incidents at the HAZMAT Technician level.[6]

Specialized training

The Defense Nuclear Weapons School provides Emergency Managers education and training specifically in radiological and nuclear weapons, nuclear and radiological incident command and control, incident response, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) modeling.[7]

Emergency Managers receive contingency skills training on a recurring basis to remain proficient on their wartime tasks through attending Silver Flag training.[8]

Integrated Base Emergency Response Capability Training (IBERCT) is a workshop for CBRN, Hazmat responders, fire departments and emergency managers to train on best practices in a hands-on environment. MAJCOMs host these events to ensure their forces are prepared to the meet demands of a unified response operation.[9]

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) provides Emergency Managers the ability to perform essential work and skills in emergency operations during disasters. This is accomplished online through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's distance learning modules.[10][11]

Notable incidents

F-16 Crash during an Air Show at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho in 2003.

References

  1. Secretary of the Air Force "AFI 10-2501 AIR FORCE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (EM) PROGRAM PLANNING AND OPERATIONS". 10 May 2013. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  2. AFCEC/CXR "Be Ready". Tyndall AFB, FL. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  3. AirForce.com "Careers - 3E9X1 Emergency Management". 2014. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  4. U.S. Dept of the Air Force "3E9X1 CFETP". Washington D.C. 28 Dec 2009. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  5. 364 TRS/DET 1 "364th Training Squadron / Detachment 1 Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri". Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  6. U.S. Army CBRN School "Training and Educating for Full Spectrum CBRNE Operations" Fort Leonard Wood, MO. 2012. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  7. Defense Threat Reduction Agency "Defense Nuclear Weapons School (DNWS)". Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  8. Tyndall AFB "Unit Fact Sheet". Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  9. Alliance Solutions Group Inc. "ASG Integrated Base Emergency Response Capability Training (IBERCT)". Newport News VA. 2013. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  10. FEMA "Advanced Professional Series (APS)". Emmitsburg, MD. 21 Oct 2014. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
  11. U.S. Dept of the Air Force "3E9X1 CFETP". Washington D.C. 28 Dec 2009. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 2/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.