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.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Recieving Confirmation
Once you receive confirmation that your fingerprint card and background check have cleared along with them receiving your medical questionnaire, they will ask you to fill out a welcome packet and send it back to them within a 10 day period. As I have suggested before, I do suggest you fill it out in a timely manner and early so that it can get back to them via email will more than enough time. When filling out the PDF form, it will ask for a digital signature on a number of forms. This can be done using adobe reader or you could probably print out the forms, sign them, then scan and email them back. I would imagine having them hand signed would be fine, but I would confirm with them to make sure emailing them a scanned copy of the form would be fine instead of using a digital signature.
After you send the welcome packet back, give them some time to process it then they will email you back and ask you to fill out a travel plan document as well as fill out a travel plan on your MyAmeriCorp online. This as far as I know to date is the last form they will ask you to send back. Once you complete them and it is received, they will send you your itinerary for your trip to campus for the start of the program. This is the stage where they will give you your final information on how to prepare and your details for traveling there. You will also hear if other people are coming to the same campus from where you are leaving from if you are coming from a bigger city or via a bigger city.
More info to come. Most likely about getting ready to leave for FEMA Corp then the beginning of FEMA Corp where I will be starting in Maryland. Leave a comment, or you can now send me a question via the question box on the right. I'll do my best to answer questions and keep up to date with the answers, plus it could make for some good dialog.
After you send the welcome packet back, give them some time to process it then they will email you back and ask you to fill out a travel plan document as well as fill out a travel plan on your MyAmeriCorp online. This as far as I know to date is the last form they will ask you to send back. Once you complete them and it is received, they will send you your itinerary for your trip to campus for the start of the program. This is the stage where they will give you your final information on how to prepare and your details for traveling there. You will also hear if other people are coming to the same campus from where you are leaving from if you are coming from a bigger city or via a bigger city.
More info to come. Most likely about getting ready to leave for FEMA Corp then the beginning of FEMA Corp where I will be starting in Maryland. Leave a comment, or you can now send me a question via the question box on the right. I'll do my best to answer questions and keep up to date with the answers, plus it could make for some good dialog.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Hearing back from AmeriCorps
Once you hear back from AmeriCorp, for the Summer Session starting in August you will most likely hear back in mid May to early June, there will be a process of information that you need to fill out and get back to them. Contained in the first packet will be an information packet with a FAQ section as well as general information about what your program involves and what you should expect. Also in the packet will be a fingerprint card and a medical questionnaire. At this point, you will also get a letter about your approval status either as "conditionally accepted" or as being on the waitlist. If you have been conditionally accepted, it means that there is a spot at what ever campus (region) is listed however your approval is based on you getting the information back to them within the time period. This is why I suggest sending the forms back within 2 or 3 days of getting the packet so that it has more than enough time to be shipped. Also, ask for a proof of shipment when you drop it off at a local UPS store so you can keep it in your records in case any issues arise.
To complete the fingerprint card, you'll need to get a certified specialist to do the fingerprints on the card that was sent to you. It is important that the finger prints are on the official card and that all the appropriate information is filled out accurately. The way I did this was for looking for official fingerprinting services near where I live. If you live in a bigger city, there will usually be a number of places including passport offices that can do this. I would suggest doing a google search for "fingerprinting services city, state". Replace city, state with where you live and making some phone calls can save you a fair amount of money. I was able to find places that did them from $10 to $20, but if you call around, some places might be less busy and able to do them cheaper.
For the medical questionnaire, you don't need a doctor to fill it out, but you need to get both the forms filled out and mailed back asap and before 10 days after the date on the top of the packet. They will also a return UPS package for you to send the forms back in and I highly suggest you to try and send the information back a day or two after receiving the information so that it has plenty of time to get back to AmeriCorps.
Feel free to comment if you have questions. More info to come.
To complete the fingerprint card, you'll need to get a certified specialist to do the fingerprints on the card that was sent to you. It is important that the finger prints are on the official card and that all the appropriate information is filled out accurately. The way I did this was for looking for official fingerprinting services near where I live. If you live in a bigger city, there will usually be a number of places including passport offices that can do this. I would suggest doing a google search for "fingerprinting services city, state". Replace city, state with where you live and making some phone calls can save you a fair amount of money. I was able to find places that did them from $10 to $20, but if you call around, some places might be less busy and able to do them cheaper.
For the medical questionnaire, you don't need a doctor to fill it out, but you need to get both the forms filled out and mailed back asap and before 10 days after the date on the top of the packet. They will also a return UPS package for you to send the forms back in and I highly suggest you to try and send the information back a day or two after receiving the information so that it has plenty of time to get back to AmeriCorps.
Feel free to comment if you have questions. More info to come.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Beginning the process
Wanting to give some information for anyone who might be considering working with AmeriCorp. On their website, they have the deadlines for both of their work sessions (Summer and I believe Winter). If I am correct, the deadline for the Summer start date (early August) was around March 30th.
If you are even considering joining AmeriCorps, make sure to look into the different programs and get an application in asap. Once you have one "resume/application" online with two good references, you can use the same form to apply to different positions without needing to re-fill out the other applications. I would recommend filling them out early, as well as checking out other blogs on AmeriCorps programs. While this is one, I am in AmeriCorp's FEMA Corp program and having more opinions can only be beneficial. After you fill out the applications, there will be a waiting period but do check on the submissions screen and check on the status of your applications. Once you see that the application/s are completed, there will be a wait as the applications are being processed. Submitting applications in March, plan to hear back first some time in May (which is when I heard back), but don't feel like you are out just because it has been a month since you have heard anything back.
As always, feel free to comment below, and I will go into the next processes in applying in the next post. Stay tuned.
If you are even considering joining AmeriCorps, make sure to look into the different programs and get an application in asap. Once you have one "resume/application" online with two good references, you can use the same form to apply to different positions without needing to re-fill out the other applications. I would recommend filling them out early, as well as checking out other blogs on AmeriCorps programs. While this is one, I am in AmeriCorp's FEMA Corp program and having more opinions can only be beneficial. After you fill out the applications, there will be a waiting period but do check on the submissions screen and check on the status of your applications. Once you see that the application/s are completed, there will be a wait as the applications are being processed. Submitting applications in March, plan to hear back first some time in May (which is when I heard back), but don't feel like you are out just because it has been a month since you have heard anything back.
As always, feel free to comment below, and I will go into the next processes in applying in the next post. Stay tuned.
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