Homeland Security Certification

More than 50 Navy professionals – Sailors and civilians – earned their homeland security certification Nov. 6 after attending a two-day seminar in Pearl Harbor.

Following the days of Sept. 11, 2001, a call to action was made for all Americans to come together in defense of the county, and the discussion of homeland security became a leading topic of the day.

The American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFEI) developed a program in January 2003 for people around the nation to become certified in homeland security. The Certified in Homeland Security (CHS) program, according to the program's Web site, provides certification, training and continuing education to professionals committed to improving homeland security.

The seminar rounded out five progressing levels of qualifications designed to recognize individual expertise and to increase knowledge of homeland security matters, according to the CHS's brochure. The first three levels were completed by the recent CHS attendees prior to the seminar.

Level I is an entry-level certification that covers disasters and introduces emergency preparedness basics. Level II focuses on terrorism and the weapons associated with terrorism. Level III is an advanced study into proactive emergency preparedness during disasters and their aftermath as well as strategies and tactics of terrorists and violent criminals.

During the seminar, levels IV and V were obtained by the attendees. These senior-level certifications dealt with incident awareness; response and terrorism; and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives.

Attendees cited preparedness for a national emergency and protecting the nation from further terrorist attacks as the primary reasons for earning the certification. However, career progression from the military into the homeland security and emergency management professions also appealed to them.

(Source: Navy News Service)