FEMA Emergency Management (EM)
Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP) Series
FISCAL YEAR 2014

OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: May 1-July 1, 2013

FY 2014 Schedule for Resident Emergency Management (EM) MEPP Series #28, 29 and 30.

To see the a Draft Course Agenda, please click on the Course code and Title

EM MEPP Series #28 – All Courses at EMI, NETC, Emmitsburg, MD

E132 Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation	October 7-10, 2013
E133 Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation	December 16-19, 2013
E136 Operations-Based Exercise Development	May 12-15, 2014

EM MEPP Series #29 – All Courses at EMI, NETC, Emmitsburg, MD

E132 Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation	October 21-24, 2013
E133 Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation	January 27-30, 2014
E136 Operations-Based Exercise Development	June 9-12, 2014 NOW June 23-26, 2014

EM MEPP Series #30 – All Courses at EMI, NETC, Emmitsburg, MD

E132 Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation	October 28-31, 2013
E133 Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation	February 24-27, 2014
E136 Operations-Based Exercise Development	July 14-17, 2014

Background

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) created the Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP) in 1999 as a non-resident program to recognize those individuals who have completed prescribed training and demonstrated, through hands-on application, a high degree of professionalism and capability in the arena of emergency management exercises. In 2004, EMI began offering this title certificate program in a resident series of courses at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to meet the needs of the post 911 emergency management exercise community.

The MEPP mission is to improve the capabilities of emergency management exercise personnel in exercise program management and in every phase of the overall exercise process. Through the improvement of the knowledge, skills, and abilities, both the quantity and quality of exercises conducted at the local, State, tribal, trust territory and Federal levels of government can be improved.

The MEPP goal is to increase the capabilities of MEPP candidates in mastery of the essentials of exercise program management and the overall exercise process in accordance with the policy, doctrine, practices, and tools in the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).

As of March 1, 2013, 2,125 individuals have completed EMI’s Master Exercise Practitioner Program. EMI has empowered these graduates to place “MEP” after their names in recognition of this accomplishment.

Target Audience for the MEPP

EMI's resident MEPP eligibility includes local, State, tribal, trust territory, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other Federal agency emergency management/emergency services personnel with responsibilities involving emergency management exercises. This includes exercise training officers, emergency managers, emergency services personnel from fire, emergency medical, hospitals, public/environmental health, coroners, law enforcement, corrections officials, public works/utilities, community service/volunteer agencies, non-profits, and private entities who participate in emergency services/emergency management exercise design/development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning activities, members of exercise planning teams, evaluation teams, and/or those who manage exercise programs.

Mandatory Training Prerequisites for the MEPP

For FY2014, EMI resident MEPP applicants MUST complete the following EMI Independent Study (IS) courses. These EMI IS courses are available on the web at http://training.fema.gov/IS/. It is also mandatory that copies of certificates of completion be included as part of an MEPP application package. A complete listing of all of the EMI IS courses can be found at http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.aspx

IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-100.b
IS-120 An Introduction to Exercises
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-120.a
IS-130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-130
IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-200.b
IS-230 Principles of Emergency Management
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-230.c
IS-235 Emergency Planning
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-235.b
IS-700 NIMS, An Introduction
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-700.ap
IS-775 EOC Management and Operations
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-775
IS-800 National Response Framework, An Introduction
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-800.b

Classroom Prerequisite for All FY2014 MEPP Series

EMI requires that all MEPP applicants MUST complete the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) training course and/or the accompanying Train-the-Trainer (TTT). This course has been administered since 2005 under Training and Exercise Integration (TEI) course catalog code MGT-330 or EMI code E/L146. The HSEEP TTT has been conducted as TEI 330-1 and as EMI code E/L 147. Many States have also conducted this course and have issued certificates. Copies of Certificates of Completion must be included in your MEPP applicant package. Certificates with dates of attendance of less than three (3) days are not acceptable unless accompanied by a course agenda which clearly shows that the HSEEP course (also referred to as mobile training course) was conducted in accordance with the Plan of Instruction (POI) for the seven (7) course modules and contact hours.

EMI reserves the right to modify the prerequisites for the MEPP on an individual MEPP series basis.

Eligibility for Reimbursement FOR FY2014

Individuals from local, State, tribal nations, trust territories, volunteer organizations, and eligible non-profit organizations may be able to secure reimbursement for their eligible travel expenses and be provided housing at NETC at no charge. All students who stay on the NETC campus for the MEPP courses must purchase a meal ticket. For more information on EMI, please visit http://training.fema.gov/.

OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: May 1-July 1, 2013

During this period, MEPP Applicants can submit application packages that contain the following:

1. A General Admission Application Form (FEMA 119-25-1). Item #9a must identify the MEPP Series in which the applicant wishes to enroll. Item #10 must list the IS Courses completed (cited above in the prerequisites) and the HSEEP Training Course. NOTE: You must include copies of all mandatory training certificates for completed prerequisites listed above.
2. A letter from the applicant requesting admission to the program. The letter should address applicant's qualifications with an emphasis on exercise experience including specific exercise roles, such as program manager, planning/design team leader/member, controller, or evaluator. The content of the letter must acknowledge the individual’s knowledge and use of the HSEEP exercise tools and templates. The letter should also address your expectations and commitment to complete the entire program. Please note involvement with and responsibilities related to Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/FEMA and/or other Federally-funded grant programs with exercise program requirements, such as CDC, FAA, DOT or DOE. Priority for enrollment will be given to individuals who support these grant-funded exercise programs.
3. A letter of recommendation from the your immediate supervisor indicating the organization's commitment to allow the applicant to complete the entire program which includes the time necessary to complete two (2) proficiency demonstration requirements (i.e. take home assignments) between the E132 and E133 courses and the E133 and E136 courses, requiring approximately 60 hours for completion. This letter must also identify the employment relationship between the MEPP applicant and the employing agency/organization (or sponsoring agency if the individual is not a permanent full-time employee and/or functions as a grant-funded permanent part-time, term or temporary employee, consultant, or contractor). Finally, the letter of support should identify the future contributions the organization/agency expects from the MEPP applicant on his/her completion of the program as applicable to exercise programs and activities.

To Submit Your MEPP Application Package

If you are eligible for reimbursement for your transportation expenses, you must submit your MEPP package to your respective State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); see list at http://www.fema.gov/regional-operations/state-offices-and-agencies-emergency-management. This Point of Contact (POC) will submit your application package to:

NETC Admissions Office
EMI Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP)
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

All other MEPP applicants from Federal agencies, private sector, and others who are NOT eligible for reimbursement for travel expenses and lodging at no charge should send their completed application packages directly to:

NETC Admissions Office
EMI Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP)
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

EMI resident MEPP application packages will be valid only for the MEPP Series within the Federal Fiscal Year in which they are submitted and for the MEPP Series numbers indicated on the FEMA Form 119-25-1. This means your MEPP application package will be considered for MEPP Series #28, 29 or 30 in the next Federal Fiscal Year (October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2014). After that time, your package will be invalid and you will need to update your MEPP package information. This will include a new properly-signed General Admissions Application (Form 119-25-1), updated letter from the MEPP Applicant, and an updated letter of support from the MEPP Applicant’s employing and/or sponsoring agency. This also would include the submission of any new MEPP prerequisites, such as additional independent study courses or classroom based course(s). This enables the NETC Admissions Office to maintain a current waiting list for the EM MEPP series.

MEPP Applicant Notification for FY2013

The NETC Admissions Office will notify all MEPP applicants of their acceptance or non-acceptance for the EM MEPP Series #28, 29 or 30 typically within 15-20 working dates after the Open enrollment closing date of July 1, 2013. If you have not received information via email or mail as to your MEPP status at that time, you may contact the NETC Admissions Office at (301) 447-1035 or toll free 1(800) 238-3358, extension 1035. Please do not contact EMI staff regarding your MEPP status.

MEPP Series Acceptance

If you are accepted as an MEPP candidate, you will be enrolled in a specific MEPP series. You are not permitted to enroll or participate in MEPP courses from multiple MEPP Series. Each MEPP series consists of three (3) resident courses at EMI.

You as an MEPP candidate must complete the training requirements in this order without exception:

1. 132 - Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation
2. 133 - Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation
3. 136 - Operations-Based Exercise Development

Current MEPP course descriptions are located in EMI's FY2013 Training Catalog. The EMI Course Catalog is located on the web at http://training.fema.gov/EMICourses/EMICatalog.asp

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

EMI awards 2.5 CEUs for each course, for a total of 7.5 CEUs for each MEPP Series.

If you need more information on the MEPP, contact Meghan Van Aken (301) 447-1723, email meghan.vanaken@fema.dhs.gov. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is an element of the FEMA’s Protection and National Preparedness (PNP) Directorate.