MILITARY ARCHIVES
The DoD Defense Coordinating Element and How It Is Certified
Patrick McNiece
April 17, 2023
While the main mission of the defense coordinating element (DCE) is defending the homeland, Department of Defense (DoD) capabilities can be important in supporting citizens in case of major disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and the like. This article describes the mission and composition of the DCE and how Army
Guidance for Preparing Professionals Mentally for the Worst
James Greenstone and Weldon Walles
March 22, 2023
Professional groups have debated and researched the best practices relating to the standards and quality of care sufficient to maintain minimum standards during a disaster. Due to the fluid nature of a disaster, it is difficult to abide by a standard that will fit every situation. For example, the onset
The Importance of Strong Leadership for a Unique Discipline
Catherine Feinman
December 21, 2022
A transformational leadership style can help bridge relationship and communication gaps between
leaders and other community stakeholders. Learn how one young deputy fire chief learned from his past
leadership missteps and honed his meta-leadership skills, which were essential in reconnecting
communities when he became a state emergency manager.
Building Strength in Workforce and Structure
Catherine Feinman
December 21, 2022
Each person plays a critical leadership role, from top leadership to frontline workers. The authors in the December edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share various ways readers (aka leaders) can build strength and resilience within their workforces and structures.
Find Chances to Make Positive Changes
Catherine Feinman
November 30, 2022
Emergency preparedness and response professionals willingly insert themselves into many emergencies and disasters that they could have avoided in other professions. However, they use these opportunities to make positive changes and build resiliency within their communities.
Rationale for Structuring Pandemic Response on a War Footing
Thomas Russo
October 26, 2022
Given 20 years of pandemic planning, is it not surprising when people ask, “Why were we not ready?”
This question should be explored whether the time has come to put the country on a warlike footing for
pandemic response with a coherent, institutionalized, and tested pandemic policy.
Military Combat Skills for Civilian Disaster Response
Lisa Nenno and Timothy Miller
September 28, 2022
During their service, military personnel acquire a broad range of lifesaving skills that are critical when on the frontline during wartime. Effective medical triage is one of the skills needed during combat and any major disaster or catastrophic event. When preparing and training for all hazards, the learned experience from
Resources Not to Be Overlooked
Catherine Feinman
September 28, 2022
The term “whole community” is frequently used in preparedness materials and discussions. In
practice, though, how often is the whole community represented and all community resources considered?
Here are some key resources that should not be overlooked.
Hospital Response – A Personal Training Experience
Erin Valentine
August 17, 2022
Effective trainings are ones where the participants remember and later implement what they learned
into their daily operations. Not everyone knows how they would respond in a true emergency. However,
some trainings provide a more realistic glimpse into disaster scenarios than others. This first-hand
account describes what it was like for one participant
Discovering Another New Normal
Catherine Feinman
July 27, 2022
Because of the interconnectedness of so many aspects of society, the authors in this July edition
of the Domestic Preparedness Journal help readers better understand what is needed in the new normal: a
common operating picture, predictable lifelines, new or repurposed technological tools, and more. The
new normal after COVID
“Boot Camp” for Emergency Managers
David Covington
July 6, 2022
In most fields, basic training is part of the learning process. Fire, law enforcement, the
military, and other disciplines have training academies for building competencies and testing new
recruits. An exception to these types of requirements is the field of emergency management. This new
training academy will ensure that all emergency managers are
What Preparedness & Response Leaders Need in the New Normal
Catherine Feinman
July 6, 2022
To address the challenges that emergency preparedness professionals face in an ever-changing threat
environment, the Domestic Preparedness Journal hosted a panel discussion at the Texas Emergency
Management Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on June 2, 2022. The multidiscipline panel was moderated by
James (Jim) Featherstone, a principal consultant at a crisis management consultant agency,
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