Thanks to the support and assistance from our local, State and Federal partners, the FY2010 Emergency Management Institute’s (EMI) Resident Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP) Series #13, #14, and #15 are filled and the courses are underway.    
As of October 2, 2009, 1298 individuals have completed EMI’s Master Exercise Practitioner Program.  EMI empowered these graduates to place “MEP” after their names in recognition of this accomplishment. 
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 National Standard Exercise Curriculum (NSEC) includes the MEPP as the Level IV: Professional level of training and includes both the resident and non-resident MEPP options for completion.
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).

Target Audience for the MEPP

EMI’s resident and non-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.

Thanks to our local, State and Federal partners, the EMI Resident MEPP Series #13, #14, and #15 are filled and the courses are underway.

FY 2010 Schedule for Resident Emergency Management (EM) MEPP Series #13, 14, and 15

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

EM MEPP Series #13 – All Courses at EMI, NETC, Emmitsburg, MD (Filled July 16, 2009)

E132    Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation       October 5-9, 2009     
E133    Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation      December 7-11, 2009 
(Changed from December 14-18, 2009)         
E136    Operations-Based Exercise Development                      May 3-7, 2010
EM MEPP Series #14 – All Courses at EMI, NETC, Emmitsburg, MD (Filled July 16, 2009)
E132    Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation      November 2-6, 2009       
E133    Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation      January 11-15, 2010          
E136    Operations-Based Exercise Development                     June 14-18, 2010
EM MEPP Series #15 – OPEN ENROLLMENT EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 (Filled September 17, 2009)

All courses for MEPP Series #15 will be conducted at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), NTF, Anniston, AL.  For information about CDP, please visit their website at:  https://cdp.dhs.gov/

B132    Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation      November 30 - December 3, 2009       
B133    Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation      February 8-12, 2010            
B136    Operations-Based Exercise Development                     July 12-16, 2010

MEPP Applicant Categories for the Resident Option (EMI courses taught in residence at NETC or NTF)

Category 1:  Local, State, tribal nation, and trust territories (eligible for EMI student stipend reimbursement and no charge lodging)
Category 2:  Department of Homeland Security organizations and agencies (e.g., FEMA, TSA, USCG)
Category 3:  Other Federal agencies
Category 4:  Private industry
Category 5:  International/foreign students

Mandatory Training Prerequisites for the MEPP

For FY2010, EMI resident MEPP applicants MUST complete the following EMI Independent Study (IS) courses and include copies of certificates of completion as part of their MEPP application packages.

These EMI IS courses are available on the web at  http://www.training.fema.gov/IS/.  A complete listing of all of the EMI IS courses can be found at http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp

IS-100.a Introduction to Incident Command System
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS100a.asp
IS-120.a An Introduction to Exercises
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS120A.asp
IS-130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS130.asp
IS-200a ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is200.asp
IS-230 Principles of Emergency Management
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is230.asp
IS-235 Emergency Planning
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is235.asp
IS-700.a NIMS, An Introduction
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700a.asp
IS-775 EOC Management and Operations
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS775.asp
IS-800.b National Response Framework, An Introduction
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS800b.asp

Final Prerequisite for All FY2010 MEPP Series

For FY2010 and continuing for FY2011, 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 7 course modules and contact hours. 
For more information on the HSEEP training course, please visit http://hseeptraining.com/.  Inquiries regarding this training opportunity may be directed via email to hseep@dhs.gov

MEPP Prerequisites

EMI reserves the right to modify the prerequisites for the MEPP on an individual MEPP series basis.  This means that no new prerequisites will be required of a MEPP applicant who has submitted a MEPP package within an enrollment period for consideration in a future MEPP series.

Eligibility for Reimbursement FY2010/FY2011

Individuals from local, State, tribal nations, trust territories, volunteer organizations, and eligible non-profit organizations (MEPP Category 1 applicants) may be able to secure reimbursement for their eligible travel expenses and be provided housing at NETC or NTF 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/.  For information on the CDP and the NTF, please visit the website at: https://cdp.dhs.gov/

RESIDENT EMI EM MEPP Series Dates for FY2011 will be announced on this website on or around April 1, 2010.

At that time, MEPP Applicants will be able to complete and submit  application packages that contains the following:

1. A General Admission Application Form (FEMA Form 75-5). Item # 9a must identify the MEPP Series in which the applicant wishes to enroll.  NOTE: Item #10 on the FEMA Form 75-5 must list the IS courses cited above in the prerequisites and the HSEEP course.
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.
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, please identify the future contributions the organization/agency expects from the MEPP applicant on his/her completion of the program as related to exercise programs and related activities.

To Submit Your MEPP Application Package

If you are eligible for reimbursement for your transportation expenses (Category 1 as shown above), you must submit your MEPP package to your respective State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); see list at http://www.fema.gov/about/contact/statedr.shtm.  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

NOTE: If you are a Category 1 MEPP applicant and send your MEPP package directly to NETC Admissions or to EMI, this may result in a delay or a determination of ineligibility as an MEPP candidate.
All other MEPP applicants (Categories 2 through 5) 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 good for one (1) year from the date of receipt at the NETC Admissions Office.  This means your MEPP application package will be considered for the next MEPP series and/or into the next Federal Fiscal Year (October 1, 2010 - September 30, 2011).  After that time, your package will be invalid and you will need to update your MEPP package information.  This includes a new FEMA Form 75-5 and any new information you wish to provide to the Admissions Office.  This enables the NETC Admissions Office to maintain a wait list for the EM MEPP series.

MEPP Applicant Notification for FY2011

The NETC Admissions Office will notify all MEPP applicants of their acceptance or non-acceptance for the EM MEPP Series 15 typically within 15-20 working dates after the Open enrollment closing date.  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 or NTF.
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 FY2010 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.