The Military Emergency Management Specialist Badge(s) (MEMS Badge) are earned through the

State Guard Association of the United States The State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS) is a non-profit organization advocating for the advancement and support of regulated state military forces, as established by state governments under the authority of federal law. The SGAUS ...

(SGAUS) Military Emergency Management specialist Academy (MEMS Academy). The various skill badges are authorized for wear by various agencies, notably State Guard units and

state defense force In the United States, state defense forces are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government. State defense forces are authorized by state and federal law and are under the command of the governor of each state. ...

s. The MEMS Academy was founded by LTC (WA) George H. Heart, Ret. of the

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in 1998. The academy curriculum and training program is structured around the

Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Exec ...

National Incident Management System The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a standardized approach to incident management developed by the United States Department of Homeland Security. The program was established in March 2004, in response to Homeland Security Presidentia ...

(NIMS) and

Incident Command System The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective. ICS was initially develo ...

(ICS).
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Curriculum

The MEMS program curriculum includes online Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) NIMS and ICS courses offered free of charge through FEMA's

Emergency Management Institute The United States’ Emergency Management Institute (EMI), of the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), serves as the United States’ focal point for the development and delivery of emergency management training. The emerg ...

's (EMI) Independent Study Program. In addition to online FEMA courses, students are required to complete operational practicums that incorporate the learning objectives of the online FEMA courses. The MEMS Academy curricula are based on the idea of developing areas of common knowledge required at different levels of responsibility in emergency response and use accepted, validated courses available throughout the nation. The principle behind the several MEMS curricula is that individuals with Basic MEMS qualifications will have an operational understanding of the principles of emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery, and have knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to effectively work within a comprehensive emergency management operation. Those with Senior and Master level qualification will be able to lead and plan incident response efforts of increasing complexity.

Requirements

Certification in the MEMS program consists of three levels: basic, senior, and master, with traditional military-style badges awarded to students upon completion of each level. In addition to the badges, those students who participate in operational missions may be awarded a distinctive flash, which is worn behind the badge. Participation in the MEMS program is free for current members of the SGAUS; however, nonmembers are required to pay a fee to defray program costs. Once awarded, the badge is permanent.

Basic

To qualify for the Basic MEMS Badge, an individual must meet the following requirements: #Complete select EMI courses. #Complete a basic MEMS practicum assigned by a proctor. #Complete a basic After Action Report (AAR) or narrative on the practicum option assigned.

Senior

To qualify for the Senior MEMS Badge, an individual must meet the following requirements: #Complete select EMI courses, in addition to those required for the Basic. #Complete the ICS 300 course. #Complete a senior MEMS practicum assigned by a proctor. #Complete a senior After Action Report (AAR) or narrative on the practicum option assigned.

Master

To qualify for the Master MEMS Badge, an individual must meet the following requirements: #Complete select EMI courses, in addition to those required for the Senior. #Applicants must have had the Senior MEMS Badge for at least six months. #Complete the ICS 400 course. #Applicants must have participated at a high level in the planning and execution of emergency plans, exercises, and emergency responses. (Experience in leadership of actual emergency activations may, on a case-by-case basis, be counted as partial fulfillment of the teaching requirement.) #Complete a master MEMS practicum assigned by a proctor. #Complete a master After Action Report (AAR) or narrative on the practicum option assigned.

MEMS Command and Staff College

For a short time, there was a MEMS Command and Staff College operated by the SGAUS. Students who successfully completed this program were awarded the MEMS Command and Staff College Unit Citation and the post-nominal designation of "MEMS." Both the unit citation and post-nominal "MEMS" designation are no longer conferred.

Design

The MEMS Badge was designed by the academy's founder and first Commandant (Emeritus), LTC (WA) George H. Heart, Ret., and depicts the historic the United States Civil Defense eagle of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

rampant on a bound laurel wreath, the ancient symbol for victory. The badge is authorized in basic, senior, and master levels. The Senior MEMS Badge has a five-pointed star added above the eagle. The Master MEMS Badge has a five-pointed star in a circular laurel wreath added above the eagle. The MEMS skill badges are worn in accordance with applicable state military regulations. The badges are available in full-sized and miniature-sized silver, high-gloss metal finish, as well as in full-sized subdued black metal finish. For the older BDU's, there are full-sized subdued black or white on olive drab sew-on patches. For the ACU and OCP uniforms, there are full-sized subdued sew-on patches as well as subdued black metal badges available through the SGAUS store.

References

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External links

State Guard Association of the United StatesFederal Emergency Management AgencyEmergency Management InstituteUnited States Fire Administration
United States military badges