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Military Emergency Management Officers

Military Career

General Information

Description

Emergency management officers evaluate potential and actual disasters, ensuring adequacy of warning systems, shelters, and disaster preparedness plans. Emergency management officers prepare and administer measures to cope with both natural disasters and chemical, nuclear weapon, reactor, and radiological incidents. They direct command and control centers during the development of situations and also participate in emergency response operations. These operations may involve responding to accidents.

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Work Environment

Emergency management officers usually work in offices while developing disaster response plans. They work outdoors while inspecting shelters or directing emergency response teams.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Comparable Industries

  • Government & Public Administration

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Officer
    • Managerial/professional
    • College degree required

Military Workforce

Emergency Management Officers in the Military

11,590

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

$78,777

What makes up a military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

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Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 52%
  • Master's degree 20%
  • Associate's degree 16%
  • Some college 8%
  • Post baccalaureate 4%
  • High school 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%
  • Post-secondary certificate 0%

Military training

Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for emergency management officers primarily consists of on-the-job learning in various environments. Like other officers, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, military structure and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content may include: Disaster planningProcedures for nuclear, biological, and chemical decontaminationEffects of radiationProcedures for nuclear accident teams

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Military training

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Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for emergency management officers primarily consists of on-the-job learning in various environments. Like other officers, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, military structure and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content may include:

  • Disaster planning
  • Procedures for nuclear, biological, and chemical decontamination
  • Effects of radiation
  • Procedures for nuclear accident teams

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Education and Training
  • Administration and Management
  • English Language

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.