FEMA Youth Corps Internship

[Shieldel]

Just wanted to see if anybody else has been selected for the FEMA Corps! I got an email from them today and could barely contain my excitement. My application was selected for regular team member. However I'm gonna wait to see if I also get an offer as a team leader.
The FEMA Youth Corps program is a partnership between FEMA and the AmeriCorps which "engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Since the program's founding in 1994, more than 900,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.2 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve." - http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps

FEMA Corps is a National Service Program, paid internship for 18-24 year olds, full time with FEMA, it is team-based and residential based, you get a living stipend and room and board, all expenses paid. While not in the field you live on a FEMA campus. When in the field such as in SC for the recent flooding you would live in a hotel or extended stay type place. - http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/fema-corps

I found out about this by way of a GoToMeeting I was invited to attend on Feb 17th, most of the audience it appeared was mostly all CAP. I -BELIEVE- (I could be wrong) I was invited to the presentation due to the fact I hold SAR Quals as a cadet. I'm not sure what the selection criteria was but I imagine my qualifications somewhere in there had a hand in it. I've seen Mr. Ninness around this board, who was also on the Webinar Staff, maybe he'll see this.

Members are assigned to FEMA for 10 months to whereas Leaders are with them for 11 months.

The presenter for the presentation was a former CAP Cadet, he had the rank of C/Major. He is now actually an employee of FEMA. Started as a CAP cadet, went through the internship, and he was yanked and earmarked by FEMA for employment. He's now serving as a work force analyst.

FEMA Corps members deployed to South Carolina and the surrounding areas for the major flooding in recent past and there are at least 2 teams deployed to Flint, Michigan to help with the water situation there. An astounding *29* teams out of the available 40-50 around the country were deployed and assigned to the flooding. I found this out after a quick run through of their Facebook page.

The 5 years I have been in CAP have developed a strong sense of service within myself, part of the CAP Cadet Oath is to "Advance my education and training rapidly to prepare myself to be of service to my community, state, and nation" I feel I am merely following my oath by applying for this internship. (That was just cut and pasted from an email to a reference when I was asking them to be a reference)

There was also 2 active FEMA Corps youth members (the program is for 18-24 year olds) on the webinar staff. They have been involved in all aspects of the program. They have been in training facilities (THEY got to train local police! They helped with training and disaster relief exercises), Joint Field Offices in active disaster hot zones and finally, Washington DC at FEMA HQ.

This is an amazing opportunity for me and I just thought I should share! Due to my experiences as a CAP Cadet I have decided on a career in EM. How to get started on such career I honestly have no idea! Maybe I should browse through the board and use the search function. I'm one of those cadets that's lurked here for awhile but is always nervous to post on here. Due to my experiences at mission base (which also as a side note is where I hang out. I consider myself a rare breed, I'm not a rucking type cadet, I LOVE the chaos of an ICP) I have decided EM is where I should be.

(edited here and there for grammar)

[THRAWN]

As a life long emergency management professional, all I can say is congrats! Just remember a few things: do right ALWAYS. Go to work everyday with the attitude that you are SERVING the American people. Don't do anything aggressively stupid.

:clap:

[USACAP]

That's a BIG deal.
Some of those Americorps internships with DHS have career ladders that run GS7-13.
Having a career ladder to GS-13 is a lottery ticket in this economy.
Good luck.

[Shieldel]

That's a BIG deal.
Some of those Americorps internships with DHS have career ladders that run GS7-13.
Having a career ladder to GS-13 is a lottery ticket in this economy.
Good luck.

Holly cow O.o I didn't realize it was THAT good of an opportunity. I thought it was just a nice way to get into FEMA possibly but I didn't realize it was a lottery ticket into midscale on the GS. Dang. Ok now I'm all the more excited after learning that! Thanks for sharing that bit of knowledge!

[USACAP]

I cannot speak, specifically, to your internship ...
But many are that way.
College to GS-12 or 13 career ladder is pretty awesome.
Are you familiar with DHS-FEMA?

[Shieldel]

I cannot speak, specifically, to your internship ...
But many are that way.
College to GS-12 or 13 career ladder is pretty awesome.
Are you familiar with DHS-FEMA?

Yeah I know a little bit about DHS and FEMA, I know FEMA is basically...how do I say...a subsidiary of DHS, all of FEMA are DHS employees. In the sense that all of the military is DoD. FEMA is DHS.

DHS most people think of suit and tie feds, LE types. I have no idea what DHS would be doing in a disaster site in all honesty but I know FEMA would have alot to do.
I know FEMA is basically while yes they are "SAR" kindof like how CAP is, FEMA itself does not have any deployable assets such as SAR ground teams and the like. FEMA is more coordinating efforts between state and feds when stuff hits the fan, and they are primarily base staff. They do have "Type XX teams" base staff teams they can send out

I've taken everything required up to ICS 300 required for CAP as I'm training for GBD and AOBD. So I've taken my IS and ICS courses up to 300 I've been exposed to FEMA and DHS a little but basically what I know is typed up above. 

[THRAWN]

I cannot speak, specifically, to your internship ...
But many are that way.
College to GS-12 or 13 career ladder is pretty awesome.
Are you familiar with DHS-FEMA?

Yeah I know a little bit about DHS and FEMA, I know FEMA is basically...how do I say...a subsidiary of DHS, all of FEMA are DHS employees. In the sense that all of the military is DoD. FEMA is DHS.

DHS most people think of suit and tie feds, LE types. I have no idea what DHS would be doing in a disaster site in all honesty but I know FEMA would have alot to do.
I know FEMA is basically while yes they are "SAR" kindof like how CAP is, FEMA itself does not have any deployable assets such as SAR ground teams and the like. FEMA is more coordinating efforts between state and feds when stuff hits the fan, and they are primarily base staff. They do have "Type XX teams" base staff teams they can send out

I've taken everything required up to ICS 300 required for CAP as I'm training for GBD and AOBD. So I've taken my IS and ICS courses up to 300 I've been exposed to FEMA and DHS a little but basically what I know is typed up above.

DHS is the cabinet department, FEMA is an agency subordinate to the department. FEMA personnel deploy. A lot. Travel frequency for disaster personnel is somewhere in the realm of 70% of the time. For a young single person, it's great. You get to go, help people, plus you get the added bonus of per diem. I miss those days. FEMA does not have much to do with SAR. They manage the federal relief effort for disasters. They were the lead agency during big fun trips to the Gulf of Mexico between 2005-2008. They manage the programs that provide relief and insurance claims through the NFIP. They are responsible for maintaining and making changes to the local slosh maps. They do have a very robust contingency communications program and work a lot within the regions to coordinate comms for big scale events.

Like USACAP said, getting into a career tracked program is like a dream come true. Good luck. Have fun. Learn everything.

[Spaceman3750]

I cannot speak, specifically, to your internship ...
But many are that way.
College to GS-12 or 13 career ladder is pretty awesome.
Are you familiar with DHS-FEMA?

Yeah I know a little bit about DHS and FEMA, I know FEMA is basically...how do I say...a subsidiary of DHS, all of FEMA are DHS employees. In the sense that all of the military is DoD. FEMA is DHS.

DHS most people think of suit and tie feds, LE types. I have no idea what DHS would be doing in a disaster site in all honesty but I know FEMA would have alot to do.
I know FEMA is basically while yes they are "SAR" kindof like how CAP is, FEMA itself does not have any deployable assets such as SAR ground teams and the like. FEMA is more coordinating efforts between state and feds when stuff hits the fan, and they are primarily base staff. They do have "Type XX teams" base staff teams they can send out

I've taken everything required up to ICS 300 required for CAP as I'm training for GBD and AOBD. So I've taken my IS and ICS courses up to 300 I've been exposed to FEMA and DHS a little but basically what I know is typed up above.

DHS is the cabinet department, FEMA is an agency subordinate to the department. FEMA personnel deploy. A lot. Travel frequency for disaster personnel is somewhere in the realm of 70% of the time. For a young single person, it's great. You get to go, help people, plus you get the added bonus of per diem. I miss those days. FEMA does not have much to do with SAR. They manage the federal relief effort for disasters. They were the lead agency during big fun trips to the Gulf of Mexico between 2005-2008. They manage the programs that provide relief and insurance claims through the NFIP. They are responsible for maintaining and making changes to the local slosh maps. They do have a very robust contingency communications program and work a lot within the regions to coordinate comms for big scale events.

Like USACAP said, getting into a career tracked program is like a dream come true. Good luck. Have fun. Learn everything.

There are FEMA USAR teams, but from my research those seem to be facilitated by local fire districts/state homeland security agencies and certified/coordinated by FEMA.

[THRAWN]

I cannot speak, specifically, to your internship ...
But many are that way.
College to GS-12 or 13 career ladder is pretty awesome.
Are you familiar with DHS-FEMA?

Yeah I know a little bit about DHS and FEMA, I know FEMA is basically...how do I say...a subsidiary of DHS, all of FEMA are DHS employees. In the sense that all of the military is DoD. FEMA is DHS.

DHS most people think of suit and tie feds, LE types. I have no idea what DHS would be doing in a disaster site in all honesty but I know FEMA would have alot to do.
I know FEMA is basically while yes they are "SAR" kindof like how CAP is, FEMA itself does not have any deployable assets such as SAR ground teams and the like. FEMA is more coordinating efforts between state and feds when stuff hits the fan, and they are primarily base staff. They do have "Type XX teams" base staff teams they can send out

I've taken everything required up to ICS 300 required for CAP as I'm training for GBD and AOBD. So I've taken my IS and ICS courses up to 300 I've been exposed to FEMA and DHS a little but basically what I know is typed up above.

DHS is the cabinet department, FEMA is an agency subordinate to the department. FEMA personnel deploy. A lot. Travel frequency for disaster personnel is somewhere in the realm of 70% of the time. For a young single person, it's great. You get to go, help people, plus you get the added bonus of per diem. I miss those days. FEMA does not have much to do with SAR. They manage the federal relief effort for disasters. They were the lead agency during big fun trips to the Gulf of Mexico between 2005-2008. They manage the programs that provide relief and insurance claims through the NFIP. They are responsible for maintaining and making changes to the local slosh maps. They do have a very robust contingency communications program and work a lot within the regions to coordinate comms for big scale events.

Like USACAP said, getting into a career tracked program is like a dream come true. Good luck. Have fun. Learn everything.

There are FEMA USAR teams, but from my research those seem to be facilitated by local fire districts/state homeland security agencies and certified/coordinated by FEMA.

Exactly. FEMA SAR is limited in scope and they're not really involved in the nuts and bolts of the operations.

[Shieldel]

All useful information folks thank you guys so much. I'm trying to act like the 19 year old I am and be professional as a cadet but I'm too excited haha. This is a dream come true for me. I've been wondering for years how to get into EM. This internship appears to be the ticket.

[Shieldel]

Forgive me bumping and necroing my own post but I have new info I am excited to share. I took a Team Member position. As of Friday, April 1st, I have orders and am assigned to FEMA's Atlantic Region, my home station will be out of Baltimore, Maryland. I leave for MD in July.

[USACAP]

Congrats!
That's a big deal.
Make the most of your time on this coast.

[Spam]

Well done and good luck to you sir!

V/R
Spam

[THRAWN]

Good luck to you! I know a couple guys at MEMA that you might be interacting with. I'm in the area and if I can be of assistance, let me know!