As you know, there have been and will continue to be many changes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) evolves. As a result, the DMORT teams are being affected and will experience "growing pains" which may not always be comfortable. We are going to have to stretch ourselves both as individuals and collectively as a team, and I believe the outcome will be not only positive, but well worth any effort it takes.
Let me take a moment to try and simplify the new training requirements. To be deployable, each member must attend at least one training per year. This means you have the following options:
1-Attend Region 9's annual training
2-Attend another region's training session (see list below for 2004 dates)
3-Attend the annual NDMS conference (for more information go to http://www.chepinc.org)
**4- For this year only, if you have not been to any regional training or the NDMS annual conference, you can still meet your training requirement by completing the DMORT online training through CentreLearn by December 31, 2003.
**Online DMORT training through CentreLearn is mandatory for all team members, whether or not you have been to a regional training or the NDMS annual session this year. Deadline for everyone is December 31, 2003.
To be an informed and well-trained team, we are mandated by NDMS to complete the DMAT curriculum on the CentreLearn website. Once you have completed the DMORT curriculum, you can begin the DMAT curriculum. I am giving you plenty of notice. This set of courses should be completed by July 31, 2004. That gives you 7 months! Please do not wait until the last minute!
Please read the following notice:
DMORT Training
It is the responsibility of each member to attend at least one training per year to remain eligible for deployment. For those who have not been able to meet this requirement so far during this training year, time is running out.
Individual team members can participate in training with other regions. This must be coordinated through the Commander and AO, and proof of attendance and completion of training is required. (Barbara's note: see training calendar below)
For those who have not completed the training requirement for this year, it is strongly recommended that you go on line to the DMORT website and enroll in the on-line training. This series of on-line courses can be completed at your pace. It is mandatory to complete the annual training requirement no later than December 31, 2003. If the annual training requirement is not met, the individuals will not be eligible to remain on the team. Additional information is available in the DMORT National News June 2003 edition.
2004 Training Calendar for NDMS/DMORT
(listed by date)
March 26-28 -- WMD Training in S. Carolina
March 26-28 -- Region III training in Gettysburg
March or May -- Region II training (date/location TBA)
April 17-21 -- NDMS Conference in Dallas, Texas
June 4-6 -- Region VIII/X joint training in Salt Lake City
July 23-25 -- Region IV/VI joint training in Charlotte, N. Carolina
Region V -- sometime in the fall (next fiscal year)
Region I -- TBA
Region VII -- TBA
Region IX -- recently completed training for fiscal year 2003-2004
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There are new regulations for all DMORT teams regarding the deployment status of members (in other words, if you are not in compliance with the following you are not eligible for deployment):
> Each member must have a copy of their current professional license(s) (if any) on file with the AO
> Each member of Region IX must have a current passport on file with the AO
>Each member of Region IX must have completed the "Emergency Response to Terrorism" online course (send a copy of certificate to AO for your file)
> Each member must attend at least one training per year.
> Each member must complete the DMORT online training by Dec. 31, 2003
I have had numerous e-mails and phone calls (both desperate and frustrated!) about how to document the fact that you completed the DMORT online training through CentreLearn.
There may be a way to get an actual certificate on this, but I am not able at this time to find out how. Some of our team members have been creative in trying different things, but no one has been 100% successful at this point.
I am learning as I go, too, and I'd like to suggest the following to make things
easier for everyone. Since I need to have documentation of completion by
December 31, simply do the following in order that I may have something to put
into your files and for my reports.
1. Go to the DMORT Curriculum. You should have a listing (like an index) of all the segments we need to complete. Across the top of this window are some tabs (Home, Learn, Library, etc).
2. Click on the "Profile" tab
3. There is a column on the left side (My Personal Information; My Evaluation Results, etc).
4. Click on "My Evaluation Results" and print this page out. This is one you should send to me as well as keep in your own files.
5. Next, in that left-hand column, click on "My Progress."
6. On the right side of the window it says "Report Type" with a drop-down box of options. Open the drop-down and select "Curriculum Completion" (third from bottom)
7. A new window opens, which is basically the same one you have been on. Where it says "Report Scope" click on the middle selection, "Group(s)"
8. Where it says "Curriculums" click on the middle selection, "Curriculum(s)
9. On that same line type in DMORT for "Curriculum Name"
10. Ignore the next two items, and simply click on the button that says "Generate Report"
11. In the new window that opens, you will see a box at the bottom with your name, the name of your curriculum, and the word "completed". Print this page out.
12. Either mail or fax me both pages you printed out and this will document that you have completed the required online training. Please be sure the date is on these pages (writing it is fine).
I hope this saves you time and mental anguish when you complete the online training. Good luck, and as always, let me know if you have questions or get stuck along the way.