This week our board is a little late... But we all drew our favorite animated characters!
Otter Six will be participating in the 2014 National Capstone Exercise as facilitators for FEMA Headquarters during the exercise and as FEMA Corps players in the Alaska Shield exercise.
Jessica will be playing as the Alternate Special Assistant to the Directors, making sure that the Directors are able to perform their Mission Essential Functions in and out of the office. Kendra will be playing as a Private Sector Liaison, a role she filled last round ensuring that our stakeholders in the Private Sector are functioning and able to assist in any way they can. Courtney will be staffing the FEMA News Desk responding to inquiries on the Capstone exercise as well as real-world disasters. Brandi, Eduardo, and Shane will be facilitators, making sure that the exercise itself runs smoothly by escorting VIPs into the National Joint Information Center hosted here at Headquarters. National Exercise Program (NEP) - Capstone Exercise 2014 “The Capstone Exercise, formerly titled the National Level Exercise (NLE), is conducted every two years as the final component of each NEP progressive exercise cycle. The Capstone Exercise 2014 will examine the nation’s collective ability to coordinate and conduct risk assessments and implement National Frameworks and associated plans to deliver core capabilities. The Alaska Shield 2014 exercise, sponsored by the State of Alaska to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake, will provide the central scenario elements: significant damage from both the quake and the tsunami it triggers will affect the greater Pacific Northwest. Capstone Exercise 2014 incorporates several preparedness activities sponsored by other departments and agencies and is designed to educate and prepare the whole community for complex, large-scale disasters and emergencies.” National Exercise Program Capstone Exercise (NEPCE) Fact Sheet Living with the same nine people for ten months, we have gotten to know one another exceptionally well! One funny thing I have noticed is the frequently used phrases amongst our team and how humorous it is when we catch each other quoting someone else. As we enter our final round together I thought this would be an amusing side of our team to share with the world.
AmeriCorps NCCC/FEMA Corps is unlike any other AmeriCorps program mainly because as a team of 18-24 year olds, we live our lives communally (approximately 92.78% of the time). Not only do we work together, we exercise, prepare meals, sleep and organize activities together. This combination can easily make or break a team. And although we have had some tough times, at the end of the day we always come back together, much stronger and wiser than before. I am entirely grateful to have spent the past eight months with this remarkable group of people. I have become much more patient, open-minded and successful because of everyone’s positive influence. We have such a diverse, intelligent, creative and fun-loving team and I’m sure I can speak for everyone when I say that what we have together is truly unique and special. Cheers to how extraordinary we have all been so far and here’s to our final two months at FEMA Headquarters! Much love Otter 6! Contributed by: Grace Simoneau After a week of transition at our Atlantic Region campus in Perry Point, Maryland, we were ready to get back to work and back to DC. Transition week occurs after the end of every round. It is a time for all 16 of the Atlantic Region teams to reunite for one week of presentations, trainings, and all Corps fun!
Some Otter Six transition announcements include: - Kendra Eull is our elected Round Three Assistant Team Leader - Eduardo Venancio received the Otter Six P.A.C.E. Award (Positive Attitude and Consistent Effort) - Brandi Briones received the Otter Unit Corps Member of the Round Award Congratulations to the three of them! They make the team extremely proud! Round Three begins today for us as we are deployed back to FEMA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. for our final project site. We could not have asked for a more welcoming first day back. Walking into the FEMA HQ External Affairs office, Otter Six had a huge banner and balloons as well as many smiling faces to start off Round Three. We laid out our candy gifts as well to share with the office. Share the sugar! This is going to be a wonderful 7 weeks! And before we know it, graduation! Thank you to everyone at FEMA HQ External Affairs who helped welcome back Otter Six today! We appreciate each and every one of you and we look forward to what this round has to offer. Tuesday, Shane and Jess sat down with their campus liaison, Millie Diaz, to discuss what her role with the FEMA Corps Coordination Team is and her perspective on the agency as a whole.
Question: How did you get involved with FEMA Corps? Millie: I worked with Deanne Criswell in the past and she approached me one day in a Starbucks while she wearing a skirt (completely out of the ordinary, I was used to seeing her in jeans), and said that she had a position description that she wanted to find a reservist to fill and asked for my help. I took the job listing home, read it, read it, read it again. I ran into Deanne again, also at Starbucks, and she mentioned that I hadn't emailed her with a reservist's name. I told her, "Well, it has Millie Diaz written all over it" and Deanne said that she totally agreed and asked me to take the position. Question: What does working with the FEMA Corps Coordination Team entail? Millie: It involves working with three units from two campuses: Vinton, IA, and Perry Point, MD, making sure that their project requests are approved by all necessary bodies, making sure that campus can arrange housing, making sure team members have uniforms, equipment, and other necessary items. Question: What was your first day working at Headquarters like? Millie: It was hell. I had gone to the 8th floor to visit a friend of mine that works with you two who wasn't even in the office that day. There was a fire drill, and I was wearing 5" heels. During fire drills, you must walk down the stairs and doing that in heels was not fun. I had yet to meet my POC and so when I got across the street to the Department of Education, I called him to make sure he knew that I had made it to the office and was safe. Question: What is the best part of working with FEMA Corps?\ Millie: What you bring to the table. You all add something different, whether it be personality, hard work, or just your energy. You bring so many things and for you to have such great goals and be such hard workers is great. Question: If you could change anything about FEMA Corps, what would it be? Millie: I would make campuses more aware of what FEMA Corps members actually do in the field and make sure there is a distinction between how Traditional NCCC and FEMA Corps are handled by campuses. I would change your uniforms for when you're in more professional environments, i.e. get rid of cargo pants and replace them with slacks. I would give you an entire year to explore your FQS and give you an opportunity to apply for jobs using that and get a preference because you are former FEMA Corps members. Question: Where do you see FEMA Corps in five years? Millie: I believe there will be more blue shirts. This program has already made a big difference in the agency and will continue to do so. I don't see it going anywhere. Question: What is your dream job at FEMA? Millie: I would like to be a branch chief. My friend Deanne Criswell was one before she took her current job. Question: What is the most important thing our society needs? Millie: Strong leadership is key. You don't need a degree to be a strong leader. If you focus, set your goals, you can make it happen. |