MEPP INFO FY2010

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

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 emergency management exercise community.

As of March 23, 2009, 1,180 individuals have completed EMI’s Master Exercise Practitioner Program and are empowered to place MEP after their names in recognition of this accomplishment.  EMI anticipates by October 1, 2009, over 1300 individual will have successfully completed the MEPP.

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, tribal, State, and Federal levels of government can be improved. The National Standard Exercise Curriculum (NSEC) includes the Master Exercise Practitioner Program (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 MEP 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 Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP)

EMI’s Resident and Non-Resident Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP) eligibility includes local, Tribal, State, Trust Territories, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other Federal agency emergency management/emergency services personnel with responsibilities involve 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 who manage exercise programs.

 

Open Enrollment Period May 1-July 1, 2009

FY 2010 Schedule for Resident EMMEPP Series #13, 14, and 15

 

EM MEPP Series #13 – All Courses at EMI, NETC, Emmitsburg, MD

E132    Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation       Oct 5-9, 2009 
      
E133    Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation       Dec 14-18, 2009
            
E136    Operations-Based Exercise Development                   May 3-7, 2010

 

EM MEPP Series #14 – All Courses at EMI, NETC, Emmitsburg, MD

E132    Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation      Nov 2-6, 2009 
      
E133    Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation     Jan 11-15, 2010
            
E136    Operations-Based Exercise Development                  Jun 14-18, 2010

 

EM MEPP Series #15 – All courses at Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), Noble Training Facility (NTF), Anniston, AL
For information about CDP, please visit the website at
https://cdp.dhs.gov/

B132    Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation      Nov 30-Dec 3, 2009 
      
B133    Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation     Feb 8-12, 2010
            
B136    Operations-Based Exercise Development                  Jul 12-16, 2010

MEPP Applicant Categories for the Resident Option (Courses taught in Residence at the National Emergency Training Center or the Noble Training Facility by the Emergency Management Institute)

Category 1:  Local, State, Tribal Nation, and Trust Territories
(Eligible for student stipend reimbursement and no charge lodging)
Category 2:  Department of Homeland Security organizations and agencies (FEMA, TSA, USCG, etc.)
Category 3:  Other Federal Agencies (DOD, DOE, DOT, DOL, etc.)
Category 4:  Private Industry
Category 5:  International/Foreign students

MEPP Prerequisites:
For FY2010, EMI Resident MEPP Applicants must complete the following EMI Independent Study courses and include copies of certificates of completion as part of their MEPP Applicant packages:

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-200 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

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

FINAL PREREQUSISITE: 

For FY2010, EMI requires that all new MEPP Applicants (those individuals submitting packages during the Open Enrollment Period May 1-July 1, 2009 for MEPP Series 13, 14, and 15) MUST complete the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) training course and/or the accompanying Train-the-Trainer. This course has been administered since 2005 under Training and Exercise Integration (TEI course catalog) code MGT-330 or EMI code L146.  Many States have also conducted this course as well and 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.  

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.

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 an MEPP Applicant who has submitted an MEPP package within an MEPP enrollment Period for consideration in a future MEPP Series.

To Apply for the Resident EMI EM MEPP for FY2010

Applicants must complete and submit an application package 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. We recommend that MEPP Applicants seriously consider entering applying for all 3 MEPP Series for Fy2010, Series #13, 14, and 15, in order to increase your opportunities for selection as an MEPP Candidate.  NOTE: Item #10 on the FEMA Form 75-5 must list the IS courses cited above in the Prerequisites and the HSEEP course. Do NOT submit multiple copies of the FEMA Form 75-5 for each of the 3 MEPP courses.

  2. A letter from the applicant requesting admission to the program. The letter should address applicant's qualifications with an emphasis on exercise experience in including specific exercise roles, such as program manger, planning/design team leader/member, controller, evaluator, etc. 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, DOE, etc.

  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 (take home assignments) between the E132 and 133 courses and the E133 and E136 courses, approximately 60 hours for completion. This letter should 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.

Eligibility for Reimbursement FY2010:
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 National Emergency Training Center (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 the Student Information website.  For information on the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) and the Noble Training Facility (NTF), please visit the website at https://cdp.dhs.gov/.

To Submit Your MEPP Applicant 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) http://www.fema.gov/about/contact/statedr.shtm.  This Point of Contact (POC) will submit your MEPP application package to the:

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 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 MEPP 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 (Oct 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 EMMEPP Series.

MEPP Applicant Notification for FY2010:
The NETC Admissions Office will notify all MEPP Applicants of their acceptance or non-acceptance for the EMMEPP Series 13, 14, and 15 for FY2010 on or around JULY 17, 2009.  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.

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. E132 – Discussion-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation
  2. E133 Operations-Based Exercise Design and Evaluation
  3. E136 – 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://www.training.fema.gov/EMICourses/EMICatalog.asp.

            Continuing Education Units (CEU’s)
            5 CEUs for each course, total 7.5 CEUs

Note: If you need more information on the NSEC/MEPP, contact Lowell Ezersky, MEPP Manager, email lowell.ezersky@dhs.gov, phone 1-800-238-3358, extension 1355 or (301) 447-1355 or Paul Ganem, email paul.ganem@dhs.gov, 301.447.1172. The Emergency Management Institute is an element of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Directorate.