Disaster Relief Ribbon - Outdated/Impossible Requirements?

[arajca]

I still don't see how there is a linage from "CD" to "DR" - they are completely different animals (one being combat related, one being force majeure), and the ribbons look nothing alike.  Thankfully we have not needed CD for decades, but sadly now need HLS.  That ribbon would certainly have more linage than the DR.

President Carter's 1979 executive order merged many of the separate disaster-related responsibilities into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Among other agencies, FEMA absorbed: the Federal Insurance Administration, the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration, the National Weather Service Community Preparedness Program, the Federal Preparedness Agency of the General Services Administration and the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration activities from HUD. Civil defense responsibilities were also transferred to the new agency from the Defense Department's Defense Civil Preparedness Agency.John Macy was named as FEMA's first director. Macy emphasized the similarities between natural hazards preparedness and the civil defense activities. FEMA began development of an Integrated Emergency Management System with an all-hazards approach that included "direction, control and warning systems which are common to the full range of emergencies from small isolated events to the ultimate emergency - war."

emphasis mine

Direct link from CD to DR.

[Eclipse]

OK, I'll grant that at the Federal level they realigned CD to DR and now HLS. 

That doesn't mean our decorations are related.  CD had one set of requirements, DR has / had a new one.

Did everyone who earned a CD ribbon receive a DR in replacement when they retired the CD?

[ol'fido]

Bob, I don't know the specific time frame(I'm getting forgetful in my old age) but yeah, basically when they redid the ribbons way back when and took all the pictures, planes, hats-in-the-ring off the cadet ribbons and redid the senior ribbons as well the CD was dropped off the ribbon and we called it the DR ribbon. But my first ones still had the CD on them.

[SoCalMarine]

I think some of you are confused about what IS-300 and IS-400 are. They have everything to do with disaster relief. The term disaster relief isn't just about what you do after a disaster. Also, if you look at the Red Cross courses that qualify for the ribbon, such as shelter management and damage assesment, the same things are taught in 300 and 400.

300 and 400 are more than just after disaster management, but the entire cycle of planning, training, evaluating and planning again. They also cover mitigation procedures, as well as a significant amount of time is spent on table top exercises dealing with an impending "incident" that you have to decide how to place your resources, and then how to react during the incident followed up by how to manage the incident during and after the incident has occurred.

Also, if one were to take IS-5, I believe that would generally be acceptable for the radiological requirements.

How do I know this? My qualifications. I am a certified basic Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS), I have taken nearly all of the IS courses on FEMA's site, CERT certified, responded to real disasters with the CG as a member of the CGAUX, member of IAEM and NEMA, and finally I hold a BA in Homeland Security which is emergency management with the added emphasis of how to respond to a release of a CRBN agent. I also was at NESA for the ICS basic and advanced classes teaching 300 and 400 amongst other courses.

Now, for those of you who do not have 300 and 400, rather than going to NESA you could check your state's EM website. I know Colorado and California routinely offer the classes throughout the year, for free, across the state.

[wacapgh]

OK, I'll grant that at the Federal level they realigned CD to DR and now HLS. 

That doesn't mean our decorations are related.  CD had one set of requirements, DR has / had a new one.

Did everyone who earned a CD ribbon receive a DR in replacement when they retired the CD?

I would be interested in the answer to that as well, having earned the CD ribbon as a cadet.

[ol'fido]

Well, when they changed, I took the one off that had the CD button on it and put on one that did not. YMMV.

[lordmonar]

Here is a quick link of some of DR course ARC still teaches........except for the radiological monitoring courses....there is no reason why someone can't still get this ribbon.

http://www.alexandriaredcross.org/index.php/component/content/article/367.html

[Senior]

I called the local ARC branch and told them that I was CAP.  I told them the courses I wanted to take according to the CAP manual.  Except for radiological
monitoring they have modern equivalents ( or really close) to courses listed in the manual.   If you were able to get a group together for ARC courses they may schedule them just for you and your group.

[Eclipse]

Just like the NRA situation "modern equivalents" does not equal "approved".

You should probably get an advanced read from your wing, at a minimum.

[lordmonar]

Just like the NRA situation "modern equivalents" does not equal "approved".

You should probably get an advanced read from your wing, at a minimum.

BS
The Intent of the regulation is that we get DR training from the DR experts.
We can't update our regulations when we control all the pieces.....are we really going to throw a wrench in the intent of the regulations (promote CAP particpation in DR activities with DR agencies...by getting their training.) over the fact that ARC does not offer ADVANCED FIRST AID any more...or that they changed the name of their Into to Disasters Course to Disaster Fundiementals?

[Eclipse]

It's not my monkey wrench, it's the reg's.

It doesn't say "40 hours of generalized training that you think is ok..." it says:

Five actual/evaluated disaster relief missions and completion of two of the following
requirements:
(1) All of the following Red Cross courses:
(a) Introduction to Disaster Services:
How the Red Cross Chapter Renders Emergency Assistance
(b) Disaster Damage Assessment
(c) Shelter Management
(2) The Red Cross course, Damage Assessment Supervision in Disaster
(3) The Red Cross course, CardioPulmonary Resuscitation and Advanced First Aid
(4) Radiological Monitoring for Instructors
(5) Radiological Defense Officer Course
(6) Airborne Radiological Monitoring Course

(7) Participation in other equivalent disaster relief activities totaling at least 40 hours of
activity certified by disaster relief agency. This could include any training similar to the above courses and/or
actual mission activity (in addition to the five required missions).

So, either they offer the named classes above, or anyone with any sense will get confirmation in writing
from their wing's OPS staff that "other" will qualify.   Maybe it will and maybe it won't.

[lordmonar]

Who's the awarding authority for the ribbon?  I'll ask them.

[Eclipse]

Who's the awarding authority for the ribbon?  I'll ask them.

Heh, nice.

That actually makes my point, though.  You have no issue with this and have a say (presumably) in your Wing.  In my wing
there is a heavy ARC influence as well, but in others there may not be.

[lordmonar]

No...no...that was my sarcasm tag.

Of course....when in doubt you should always ping your chain of command.
My point being.....those people at wing should be looking at the intent of the regulation as opposed to the black and white of the regulation...as so should we all.

Intent is always more imporatant then the letter.

It is obvious that the regulation is out of date.  The letter of the regulation means that we can't award the ribbon.  No ribbon, we loose one of our tools to motivate members to take the training.

The intent of the ribbon was not to reward people for getting outside training....the intent was to encourage people to take the training so we could improve our relationship with DR agencies and be able to provide a service if ever called on.

[Eclipse]

The intent of the ribbon was not to reward people for getting outside training....the intent was to encourage people to take the training so we could improve our relationship with DR agencies and be able to provide a service if ever called on.

I agree, but until more than a few regs are re-written that way, one cannot assume.

[SARDOC]

The intent of the ribbon was not to reward people for getting outside training....the intent was to encourage people to take the training so we could improve our relationship with DR agencies and be able to provide a service if ever called on.

I agree, but until more than a few regs are re-written that way, one cannot assume.

If the Regulation had something like "or an equivalent" listed next to the courses then an updated course could be substituted in keeping with the spirit of the rule...but it doesn't.  It's very clear what the authors intended...if you want to have it updated write a new one and send it up the chain.