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Thoughts on the Army Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) Badge (hot take)?
I've seen some whacky national guard patches/badges/tabs - but none close to the MEMS badge. Okay... maybe the Oklahoma National Guard Honor Guard patch (I've attached images of other different guard patches in this post). Seeing that the MEMS badge is *technically* a state award, and lets be real - not EVERY state ribbon/medal and badge is going to be listed in AR 600-8-22, why isn't it more widespread amongst the NG?
If there's one thing that the MEMS badge can 100% guarantee that the other federal awards don't is transferrable civilian skills. Those going to emergency management has to take a series of online or in-person courses at their local EMI academy or state's EM program. These courses, along with their practicum, go into earning the MEMS badge. When you get out of the military, you'll already have a leg up over other people on getting into a very specific career field.
The MEMS badge is accredited and sponsored by the State Guard Association of the United States. You know what other "Associations" are there in the Army that hand out their own branch specific medals that you can wear?
Order of Saint Michael - Army Aviation Association of America
De Fleury Medal - Army Engineer Association
Order of Saint Maurice - National Infantry Association
I can keep goin with this list. My point is although the MEMS badge is not from the "national guard association" but from the "STATE guard association", it's still deemed a state-level award , thus, giving it some validation to wear.
In the end, I believe the MEMS badge should be proudly worn by national guard soldiers who aspire to learn the skills of the national guard's functions - disaster relief. It's completely free and doesn't cost anything to the unit or the state, and only to the individual. This badge falls in line similar to the Vermont National Guard Mountaineering badge, where it was formerly a national guard exclusive. I'm a proud wearer of this badge and had the certificates of completion uploaded to iPerms to officiate it. I'd like to hear your takes on this!
Joey
I've seen some whacky national guard patches/badges/tabs - but none close to the MEMS badge. Okay... maybe the Oklahoma National Guard Honor Guard patch (I've attached images of other different guard patches in this post). Seeing that the MEMS badge is *technically* a state award, and lets be real - not EVERY state ribbon/medal and badge is going to be listed in AR 600-8-22, why isn't it more widespread amongst the NG?
If there's one thing that the MEMS badge can 100% guarantee that the other federal awards don't is transferrable civilian skills. Those going to emergency management has to take a series of online or in-person courses at their local EMI academy or state's EM program. These courses, along with their practicum, go into earning the MEMS badge. When you get out of the military, you'll already have a leg up over other people on getting into a very specific career field.
The MEMS badge is accredited and sponsored by the State Guard Association of the United States. You know what other "Associations" are there in the Army that hand out their own branch specific medals that you can wear?
Order of Saint Michael - Army Aviation Association of America
De Fleury Medal - Army Engineer Association
Order of Saint Maurice - National Infantry Association
I can keep goin with this list. My point is although the MEMS badge is not from the "national guard association" but from the "STATE guard association", it's still deemed a state-level award , thus, giving it some validation to wear.
In the end, I believe the MEMS badge should be proudly worn by national guard soldiers who aspire to learn the skills of the national guard's functions - disaster relief. It's completely free and doesn't cost anything to the unit or the state, and only to the individual. This badge falls in line similar to the Vermont National Guard Mountaineering badge, where it was formerly a national guard exclusive. I'm a proud wearer of this badge and had the certificates of completion uploaded to iPerms to officiate it. I'd like to hear your takes on this!
Joey
Awards
NGB
Posted 12 h ago
Responses: 1
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