I have recently uploaded a first batch of photos to the Photobucket that I will be using for my time in AmeriCorp's FEMA Corp. You can access the photos with the link that is on the right of the page. It has its own box with the link and will always be on the right.
There will also be some pictures from there added to new posts as applicable, but all the pictures will be on the photobucket page, most likely sorted into different albums based on location and occasionally activity.
As always, feel free to contact me with questions about my time in AmeriCorp. I'll take questions and post them with my thoughts as new blog posts. If it is a primarally technical question, about the specifics of something AmeriCorp offers for example, I will share my thoughts as well as refer you to where you can find more info officially. Please note, what I post is based solely on my experiences, but I won't pretend to know something I don't. I will share my thoughts but will also refer readers to the official sources for the more technical questions.
Having a great time so far. While the weather in Maryland is often hot in my opinion [being from Oregon], Perry Point is a really nice area and the VA site has wonderful grounds. Take a look at the pictures and stay tuned for more pictures as well as blog posts as the journey continues.
Note: New pictures on the Photobucket may not always be announced in a blog post. They will be added to as time permits, but check back from time to time on both the blog and the Photobucket page if you enjoy the pictures.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Next Step in the Journey
After our next two weeks of training here at Perry Point in Maryland, we as a corp will all be heading for our job specialty training in Anniston, Alabama. Note: This is most likely only true for the Atlantic Region and is only true for FEMA Corp.
Once we get to Alabama, we will be getting trained by FEMA trainers on what our specific jobs are going to involve and the skills needed. This will give each of us the skills to excel at our personal jobs with the specific training catered to our specific position. For myself personally, myself as well as my team (of 11 people) will be working as IAs (Individual Assistants) who will be working directly with Distaster Survivors as they come into DRCs also known as Disaster Recovery Centers.
Once we are done with the two week job training, our team as well as the other teams from both of the Atlantic Regions Summer FEMA Corp units will be able to be deployed to anywhere in the US should there be a declared disaster, which is declared by the President.
I'm looking forward to being able to be on the road and get to see allot of new places as well as hopefully do some good. We'll see what my ability to post new updates to this blog is like while in Alabama, security might be fairly tight as well as the fact of us just working long days with training. Once we are deployed, it most likely won't be uncommon for us to be working 43 or more hour weeks. Naturally, this can change as can most other things.
Within FEMA and FEMA Corp, one of the common sayings is FEMA Flexible. For example, my team could be driving to California to help with disaster awareness, but if there is a sudden declared disaster in Georgia and no other team is available or it is an "all hands on deck" disaster, you are turning around and off to Georgia you all go.
I'll do my best to keep this blog up to date, and will have some posts ready to publish periodically. Feel free to comment if you have questions on this post, or send me your questions about AmeriCorp programs using the questions box on the right. Subscribe using your email account to get notifications when a new post is upgraded. I won't spam subscriber email addresses or give them out. Most likely, I dislike spam as much if not more than you. Thanks for reading.
Once we get to Alabama, we will be getting trained by FEMA trainers on what our specific jobs are going to involve and the skills needed. This will give each of us the skills to excel at our personal jobs with the specific training catered to our specific position. For myself personally, myself as well as my team (of 11 people) will be working as IAs (Individual Assistants) who will be working directly with Distaster Survivors as they come into DRCs also known as Disaster Recovery Centers.
Once we are done with the two week job training, our team as well as the other teams from both of the Atlantic Regions Summer FEMA Corp units will be able to be deployed to anywhere in the US should there be a declared disaster, which is declared by the President.
I'm looking forward to being able to be on the road and get to see allot of new places as well as hopefully do some good. We'll see what my ability to post new updates to this blog is like while in Alabama, security might be fairly tight as well as the fact of us just working long days with training. Once we are deployed, it most likely won't be uncommon for us to be working 43 or more hour weeks. Naturally, this can change as can most other things.
Within FEMA and FEMA Corp, one of the common sayings is FEMA Flexible. For example, my team could be driving to California to help with disaster awareness, but if there is a sudden declared disaster in Georgia and no other team is available or it is an "all hands on deck" disaster, you are turning around and off to Georgia you all go.
I'll do my best to keep this blog up to date, and will have some posts ready to publish periodically. Feel free to comment if you have questions on this post, or send me your questions about AmeriCorp programs using the questions box on the right. Subscribe using your email account to get notifications when a new post is upgraded. I won't spam subscriber email addresses or give them out. Most likely, I dislike spam as much if not more than you. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Training in CTI (Corp Training Institute), FEMA 101 and the next step
Training in AmeriCorp (pronounced Ameri-Core) starts with what is called the Corp Training Institute[From here forth called CTI]. This is a program that teaches you the basics of what AmeriCorp is about and your time in AmeriCorp. From what we are told, the CTI is the same for both FEMA Corp members and the Traditional NCCC (National Civilian Community Corp). After CTI, we as FEMA Corp members begun our FEMA training with FEMA 101. What the classes cover, which are currently over three days, are the basics as to what FEMA does in their work with disasters and how FEMA is set up. As the title says, it is in essence an introduction to the basics.
Once we are done with FEMA 101 and the final training here, we are having the induction "ceremony" with people from FEMA coming in to welcome us as well as some members parents and families. After that, we are off to Anniston, Alabama for our job specific training.
Minker Hall - Where allot of CTI happened.
Got questions or thoughts? Post comments, ask me questions in the box on the right of the page and subscribe with your email to stay up to date with newly published posts. The more questions sent, the more answers I can do my best to give.
More posts soon.
Once we are done with FEMA 101 and the final training here, we are having the induction "ceremony" with people from FEMA coming in to welcome us as well as some members parents and families. After that, we are off to Anniston, Alabama for our job specific training.
Minker Hall - Where allot of CTI happened.
Got questions or thoughts? Post comments, ask me questions in the box on the right of the page and subscribe with your email to stay up to date with newly published posts. The more questions sent, the more answers I can do my best to give.
More posts soon.
Why So Silent and an update
Just wanted to post an update as to why my blog has been so quiet since August 6th (fly out date). The internet where we are stationed on Perry Point, Maryland has had very slow and is often unreliant when trying to use it at all. That being said, it is a very nice campus where we are currently. We are stationed for training at the VA Hospital on Perry Point, just south of Perryville.
The Atlantic Region campus for AmeriCorp will be moving to a newly built facility in Baltimore at some point in the future, but until then we are based here at the VA Hospital. I do have to say, outside of the slow and unreliable internet, the VA Hospital has a really beautiful site. I hope to be able to post pictures soon, and will be linking to the Photobucket. Thus far, we have been busy with training Monday - Friday often going from eight in the morning till 5. The nice thing however is that while we are training, we have the weekends off to spend as we see fit [for the most part].
Just be aware, unless one of the Team Leaders has agreed to transport a group of Corp Members on an all ages trip, you are responsible for paying for cab fare although it can be split if you find a couple other people who want to go the same place. Wally World as we call Walmart here is a popular shopping place. Within my first week and a half, I have been there a number of times already just to get some stuff at the start, although I hope to only have to go back once more to buy a new phone for the rest of the month.
In the future, I plan to update this blog more. Until we move to Baltimore or until I get access to a better internet connection and computer like device, I may be posting a number of "back order" blog posts at once. I appologise for this in advance for those who get a number of "new post updates" one after another, I hope it can be changed once the internet connection ability improves. Until then, every post will be unique, hopefully meaningful/interesting while I deal with the less then decent internet. It will get better soon.
More posts to come. Read; comment; send me questions about AmeriCorp (on the right of the screen), and if you enjoy the blog, feel free to enter your email (also on the right) and you will be notified when more posts are published. Use an email you can check, I promise not to spam or give out emails; spam-mail bugs me at least if not more that it may you. More to come.
The Atlantic Region campus for AmeriCorp will be moving to a newly built facility in Baltimore at some point in the future, but until then we are based here at the VA Hospital. I do have to say, outside of the slow and unreliable internet, the VA Hospital has a really beautiful site. I hope to be able to post pictures soon, and will be linking to the Photobucket. Thus far, we have been busy with training Monday - Friday often going from eight in the morning till 5. The nice thing however is that while we are training, we have the weekends off to spend as we see fit [for the most part].
Just be aware, unless one of the Team Leaders has agreed to transport a group of Corp Members on an all ages trip, you are responsible for paying for cab fare although it can be split if you find a couple other people who want to go the same place. Wally World as we call Walmart here is a popular shopping place. Within my first week and a half, I have been there a number of times already just to get some stuff at the start, although I hope to only have to go back once more to buy a new phone for the rest of the month.
In the future, I plan to update this blog more. Until we move to Baltimore or until I get access to a better internet connection and computer like device, I may be posting a number of "back order" blog posts at once. I appologise for this in advance for those who get a number of "new post updates" one after another, I hope it can be changed once the internet connection ability improves. Until then, every post will be unique, hopefully meaningful/interesting while I deal with the less then decent internet. It will get better soon.
More posts to come. Read; comment; send me questions about AmeriCorp (on the right of the screen), and if you enjoy the blog, feel free to enter your email (also on the right) and you will be notified when more posts are published. Use an email you can check, I promise not to spam or give out emails; spam-mail bugs me at least if not more that it may you. More to come.
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