Emergency Management Specialists
Background
The military prepares for emergencies or natural disasters by developing detailed warning, control, and evacuation plans. Emergency management specialists prepare emergency plans and respond to all types of disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, or enemy attack.
What They Do
Emergency management specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Assist in preparing and maintaining disaster operations plans
- Conduct surveys to determine needs in the event of an emergency
- Monitor disaster preparedness activities and training operations
- Operate and maintain nuclear, biological, and chemical detection and decontamination equipment
- Train military and civilian personnel on what to do in an emergency
Physical Demands
Normal color vision is needed to identify chemical agents.
Special Requirements
No information available.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to communicate effectively
- Ability to plan and organize
- Ability to work calmly under stress
Helpful School Subjects
Helpful school subjects include:
- Algebra
- Chemistry
- Geometry
- Physics
- Trigonometry
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Emergency management specialists work indoors when conducting training sessions and preparing disaster plans. Sometimes they work outdoors while operating decontamination equipment and monitoring disaster training.
Services offering this career:
- Air Force
- 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 enlisted personnel.
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 eight to ten weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in the use of nuclear, biological, and chemical detection and decontamination equipment.
Course content typically includes:
- Defensive procedures for nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare
- Preparation of emergency plans
Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian emergency management specialists work for federal, state, and local governments, including law enforcement and civil defense agencies. They perform duties similar to military emergency management specialists.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 9,000 emergency management specialists. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new specialists due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, some prepare emergency plans under close supervision. With experience, they work more independently and assist in surveys and inspections. Other specialists conduct inspections and operate decontamination equipment. Eventually, they may become supervisors of emergency management programs.