Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The International Association of Emergency Managers U.S. Council (IAEM-USA) Uniformed Services Committee (USC) coordinated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow for the use of GI Bill benefits to fees related to IAEM?s Certified Emergency Manager® (CEM®) Program. U.S. veterans, active duty members, and others eligible in the Guard and Reserve now may use their GI Bill benefits to reimburse 100 percent of the $450 CEM® application and testing fees. The reimbursement for the CEM® does not affect the 36-month educational benefit that comes with the GI Bill.

Throughout its ten-year history, the USC has successfully worked to assist members of the uniformed services achieve the necessary affiliation and certification to raise the bar of professional development in emergency management within the Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Guard. ?This is a landmark accomplishment for the USC,? stated Col. Robert Ditch, USAF, Retired, IAEM USC Chairman. ?This initiative probably is the largest, and what could be the most profound, success story since the CEM® was first introduced in the early 1990s.?

Interested service personnel are urged to contact their VA counselors for information on how to apply the GI Bill toward certification. The general rule is that the interested person must first pay for the application and complete the test with a passing grade. The VA will reimburse the application fee upon receipt of a request letter and proof of passing the CEM® examination. Additional information is available at www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/LCweb.htm.