Emergency Management Officers
Background
The military must be prepared for all types of emergencies, from natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes, to enemy attacks. Emergency management officers coordinate emergency response teams during natural disasters. Emergency management officers prepare warning, control, and evacuation plans.
What They Do
Emergency management officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Conduct training programs for specialized disaster response teams
- Develop joint disaster response plans with local, state, and federal agencies
- Develop warning systems and safe shelters
- Direct disaster control centers
- Obtain supplies, equipment, and protection equipment
- Organize emergency teams for quick responses to disaster situations
- Research ways to respond to possible disaster situations
Physical Demands
No information available.
Special Requirements
A four-year college degree is normally required to enter this career.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely
- Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- Interest in developing detailed plans
Helpful School Subjects
No information available.
Helpful Fields of Study
Helpful fields of study include:
- Business administration
- Engineering
- Environmental sciences
- Law enforcement
- Physical sciences
- Public administration
Work Environment
Emergency management officers usually work in offices while developing disaster response plans. They work outdoors while inspecting shelters or directing emergency response teams.
Services offering this career:
- Army
- Coast Guard
- Marine Corps
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for officers.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Job training consists of two to nine weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty.
Course content typically includes:
- Disaster planning
- Effects of radiation
- Procedures for nuclear accident teams
- Procedures for nuclear, biological, and chemical decontamination
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian emergency management officers work for federal, state, and local governments, including law enforcement and civil defense agencies. They perform duties similar to those performed by military emergency management officers.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 800 emergency management officers. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new emergency management officers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, emergency management officers are assigned to command centers or planning sections, where they develop emergency plans and training programs. In time, they may advance to senior management positions.