Congratulations to the following members who earned their Coast Guard Emergency Management Credential (CGEMC):
- CDR Jennifer Osetek, CGRU Joint Staff South
- CDR Michael Wurster, Sector New Orleans
- LCDR Joshua Fowler, District 9
- LCDR Adriana Gaenzle, CG-MER
- LT Kyle Kutzke, PSU 311
- LT Jake McAllister, Sector North Carolina
- LT Christopher Pappas, Sector Key West
- LT Abigail Sadler, Sector Puget Sound
- MST2 Christopher Bruner, Sector Puget Sound
- AUX Charles Gregory, 8WR Division 31
- Mr. Wyman Briggs, Sector Northern New England
Certificates will be sent to recipients’ email address provided in their applications, and COMDT (CG-OEM-1) will enter the CGEMC into Direct Access/ESS.
What is CGEMC?
The CGEMC was created in 2021 to advance crisis leadership skills within the Coast Guard. Twice a year, an independent CGEMC board—made up of credentialled members—recommends applicants who have demonstrated the highest levels of expertise and proficiency in the field of emergency management. The CGEMC is a great way to boost your competitiveness by developing a critical set of skills that can provide valuable service to the Coast Guard and advance your career. Steven Maynard, who manages the certification program, says he gets contacted frequently when review boards are coming up. “This credential highlights our efforts to further professionalize Coast Guard emergency management, and also gives you a certificate that shows all the work you’re doing,” he said.
Who can apply?
Anyone can apply, including, active duty, reserve, auxiliary, or civilian members, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. You just need to meet the training, experience, and test criteria requirements, which are detailed in the U.S. Coast Guard Emergency Management Credential Application Guide. These include:
- A memo detailing your EM experience
- 50 EM training hours
- 26 courses involving aspects of EM
- A multiple-choice exam
- A letter of reference and two additional references
Applicants must also demonstrate that they have met 6 of 12 criteria in professional contributions. These include everything from obvious EM activities like responding to the Key Bridge collapse, to giving a speech on EM at a conference, or publishing an article in a peer-reviewed journal.
How are the recipients chosen?
The CGEMC board reviews applications in April and September. In the latest round, the board reviewed 14 applications and recommended 11 individuals for certification. The Director, Emergency Management, COMDT (CG-5RI), approved these recommendations and awarded the certifications. The next application deadline will be Sept. 15.
Why are applicants rejected for certification?
The most common reason for rejections, Maynard says, is that your application doesn’t demonstrate that you meet the criteria. This might mean you lack sufficient real-world experience. In other cases, you may have the experience, but it isn’t documented.
When are the next applications due?
All applications for the next board are due by Sept. 15, 2024, for the October 2024 board convening. Those interested in applying for the CGEMC or seeking application guidance, can e-mail Coast Guard Office of Emergency Management and Disaster Response at CG-OEM-1@uscg.mil. OEM continues to fine-tune the application process, so you can expect to see process improvements as well as successful application tips detailed in the application guide annually. Additional information can be found on the Office of Emergency Management SharePoint site.
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