The SGAUS Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) Program is a combination of academics and performance-based, guided experiential learning through practical exercises or real-world activations.

The academic education utilizes both online and in-person emergency management courses through FEMA Emergency Management Institute and other nationally recognized agencies with expertise in emergency management and disaster response such as the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Louisiana State University (LCU NCBRT Homeland Security) and other agencies.  The academic portion of the MEMS Program primarily provides the candidate with knowledge of emergency management practices and techniques.

The Practicum is the most important part of the MEMS certification process. The Practicum is an accumulation of the candidate’s personal knowledge and past experiences, completion of the required FEMA courses, and the candidate’s ability to integrate that knowledge into operational skills and document those past experiences accurately and honestly after working in an actual incident or a field training exercise. As the most important part of the MEMS certificate process, the Practicum is understood to be an individual effort by the student demonstrating their accumulated knowledge and experience in the SGAUS Military Emergency Management specialty.

The Texas MEMS Academy Program is based on the National SGAUS MEMS Academy Standards.

1. Current membership in SGAUS
2. Complete the following FEMA Emergency Management Institute Independent Study Courses – Free Online Courses https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx     
   1. IS 42 – Social Media in Emergency Management (Added January 2021)
   2. IS 100c Introduction to Incident Command System
   3. IS 200c ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
   4. IS 700b National Incident Management System
   5. IS 800c National Response Framework
   6. IS 75 Military Resources
   7. IS 520 Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning for Pandemic Influenzas
   8. IS 907 Active Shooter
   9. IS 915 Protecting Critical Infrastructures Against Insider Threats
   10. IS 2200 Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions
3. Completion of the online courses should be documented by submission of FEMA or Preparing Texas transcript.
4. Submit a written practicum using the National SGAUS Practicum template at the Basic MEMS level with the candidate as an attendee or in a role listed in the Incident Action Plan, TXSG MRP, or MTOE ICS equivalent role or documentation of completion of a FEMA Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX).   Review the separate section on MEMS Practicums prior to submission of the practicum.

1. Current membership in SGAUS
2. Complete the following FEMA EMI Independent Study Courses:
   1. IS 120 Exercise Design
   2. IS 230 Principles of Emergency Management
   3. IS 235 Emergency Planning
   4. IS 241 Decision Making and Problem Solving
   5. IS 242 Effective Communication
   6. IS 244 Developing and Managing Volunteers
   7. IS 26 Points of Distribution
   8. IS-2900 National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) 
   9. Any of the currently required MEMS Basic Courses not previously taken.
3. Completion of the online courses shall be documented by submission of FEMA or Preparing Texas transcript.
4. Complete a FEMA / TDEM approved, instructor-led, G300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents  course   https://www.preparingtexas.org/ViewCourse.aspx?courseid=402f88cb-2f13-4627-82ab-8fe44fb10502 
5. Complete an AWR 160 Weapons of Mass Destruction /Terrorism Awareness for Emergency Responders course through TEEX’s https://teex.org/class/AWR160/ 
6. Submit a written practicum using the National SGAUS Practicum template at the Senior MEMS level with the candidate in a NIMS / ICS Unit Leader position or above listed in the Incident Action Plan, TXSG MRP, or MTOE ICS equivalent role or documentation a similar level role in the completion of a FEMA Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX).   Review the separate section on MEMS Practicums prior to submission of the practicum.
    

1. Applicants must have held a Senior MEMS Award for a minimum of six months before applying for Master MEMS level certification. 
2. Current membership in SGAUS
3. Complete the following FEMA EMI Independent Study Courses
   1. IS 201 Forms Used in Preparation of the Incident Action Plan
   2. IS 703 NIMS Resource Management Course
   3. IS 20.20 EEO Supervisors Course revised or a current version of the course
   4. IS 916 Critical Infrastructure Security: Theft and Diversion
   5. IS 240 Leadership and Influence
   6. Any of the currently required MEMS Basic or Senior classes not previously completed
4. Completion of the online courses shall be documented by submission of FEMA or Preparing Texas transcript.
5. Complete a FEMA / TDEM approved, instructor-led, G-400 Advanced Incident Command System Command and General Staff Course.
6. The Master MEMS Practicum Event must be pre-approved by the MEMS Academy State Director.  The candidate at the Master MEMS level must be functioning in a leadership/command level in NIMS / ICS Section Chief or Incident / Unified Commander role as listed on the incident/event’s Incident Action Plan (copy of IAP required) with examples of ICS forms completed, or TXSG MRP or MTOE equivalent role in command level position involving planning and execution of emergency plans, exercises, emergency responses, or major special event that use ICS practices and processes. Alternately they can participate at an ICS Section Chief / Incident Command – Unified Command level in a FEMA Virtual Tabletop Exercise with documentation of their involvement.  Review the separate section on MEMS Practicums prior to submission of the practicum.
    

The Liaison Officer (LNO) is the point of contact for representatives of other governmental departments and agencies that are not members of Unified Command.  The LNO certificate program is the capstone of the MEMS Academy training program. The LNO certificate unites all the training through the Basic, Senior, and Master level programs and culminates that training to actual “In the field activations” representing the State Defense Force and the National Guard at any Emergency Operation Centers. The LNO certificate program establishes the highest level of emergency management knowledge for personnel who can be relied upon to represent their organizations during major disasters.  
It is the most challenging of SGAUS Programs in that it requires completion of a standard FEMA LNO Task Book in addition to the academic components:

1. Current Membership in SGAUS
2. Currently hold a Master MEMS certification
3. Complete the following:
4. FEMA Course G-191 Incident Command System/ Emergency Operations Center Interface (instructor-led course)
5. FEMA Course G956 All-Hazards Position Specific Liaison Officer Course
6. Submit a completed FEMA All-Hazards Liaison Officer (LNO) Task Book.  Copies of the task book can be found at https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/assets/tb_liaison.pdf  or at the TAMU Texas All-Hazards Incident Management Team website: https://ticc.tamu.edu/IncidentResponse/LOFR_v5_USFA_hf_061509.pdf 
7. Submit a copy of valid orders assigning you to a Liaison Officer role
8. There is no SGAUS Practicum for this certification.  The completed LOFR Task Book is your practicum.