Teen CERT

[jimmycthemd]

First, I've already taken several 'oath of allegiance' as part of my military oath and security clearances. That part doesn't bother me a bit as they are oaths to the Constitution, not to the government. The background check is a no-brainer as my background is clear. I have to consent to that as part of my civilian job applications also. I have no problem with doing background checks for emergency responders. Would you want a convicted felon administering first aid to your daughter? Or even having access to her? Don't think so.

I don't like unnecessary government intrusion any more than the next person, but there are times when a background check is warranted and I believe that this is one of them IMHO.

[DIM TIM]

Just wanted to add my 2cents.

Any training is a GOOD THING. I don't worry about the DHS getting their mitts into the program, because I like to see WHAT and WHO is coming at me so as to adjust my plans accordingly. They're mostly harmless, and the more serious threats are what they are.
Any time you can get any extra supplies, that is a GOOD THING. Even though they are pretty simple and basic, they are FREE, so taking advantage of that is not going to do any harm.
If you know better how the SYSTEM works, then that is a GOOD THING. Some good contacts made at community level in government is going to be a GOOD THING for post disaster information, and sometimes pre-disaster as well. If you have a friend on the inside that sees or knows something is coming, then they might be able to give you a heads up sometime.

Whenever possible use any information to YOUR ADVANTAGE !

BTW... about a year ago, I found a CERT backpack someone was throwing to the garbage while I was out scrapping metals for recycling. Saw it as an advantage and a force multiplier, so I snagged it from certain doom in a landfill.
Still makes me wonder what knid of person would go through the training and get their free materials, only to throw away the backpack for carrying their stuff they got.

[jimmycthemd]

I plan to use this in several ways. First, I signed up to be a member of the local CERT. If called upon in a non-baloon-going-up event, I will help my community any way I practically can. Second, as Dim_Tim suggests, use the contacts within the system to gather information both absent of a disaster/event and in the pre-during-post stages for information gathering. Third and probably most importatly, I have the information as to how the locals will repond in an event. I can use that information to work with them or, knowing how they will probably operate, work around them if I feel it necessary.

In this case, there were no DHS or any other alphabet-soup sponsored programming in evidence. The folks that led the sessions were local fire fighters/EMTs that were doing their jobs helping the community.