Going To The National Fire Academy (NFA) For The First Time?
General Information
The National Emergency Training
Center campus was purchased from the Daughters of Charity by the
Federal government in March 1979 to be the home of the National Fire
Academy.
The first
classes
were offered on January 21, 1980. In 1980, the former Defense Civil
Preparedness Staff College was relocated from Battle Creek, Michigan.
It reopened in January 1981 as the Emergency Management Institute. Today the campus is the home of the United States Fire Administration which administers both the National Fire Academy and the Emergency Management Institute. These are all elements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Also located on the campus are the Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Total employment on the campus consists of 170 Federal employees and 200 contractor employees.
Classes are conducted
approximately 47 weeks a year and the student body includes
representatives of the Federal, state, and local government; volunteer
organizations; private industry; and educational institutions. Students
attend classes for a period of 2 days to 2 weeks and come from all over
the United States. Students also attend from other countries around the
world.
There is also no tuition cost,
students are generally reimbursed
for the transportation to and from Emmitsburg, and ground
transportation is provided between Emmitsburg and the
Baltimore-Washington area. The only cost to students is their meal
ticket and local transportation at their point of departure.
Students apply for and are accepted into specific courses. Acceptance is generally based on the benefit the community will derive from the training and improvement of present job knowledge and skills. Classes are not open to the general public. In FY 1999, approximately 14,000 students attended classes on the campus.
Campus Security:
Due to heightened security requirements, please understand that you, your vehicle, or your luggage may be searched by security and law enforcement personnel. Maryland law is very narrow in its definition of Law Enforcement Officers who may carry firearms. For your own protection, and to expedite your processing into the NETC, do not bring any firearms to campus. Sworn and State POST certified officers and federal officers or local officers with concurrent jurisdiction who require a firearm for the performance of required official duties must obtain an exception from the Director of Support Services or the NETC Safety and Security Specialist prior to arrival on campus. For more information, please call (301) 447-1422.
New Security
Measures at NETC - July 20, 2008
FEMA
Leadership has decided to establish and fund additional security
measures at the Main Entrance to the National Emergency Training Center
(NETC). The additional security measures include placing two
Armed Security Officers at the Main Entrance. Implementation of
the additional security measures is targeted for 0001 Hrs, Saturday,
August 2, 2008.
Most of the
process and procedures for entering the NETC that were in place during
2006 are being re-established, while others are being revised to be
less problematic or intrusive for those who work at NETC on a full-time
and regular basis. Here is an overview of the processes to enter the
Campus:
NETC Staff:
NETC
government and contractor staff (herein referred to as NETC staff)
permanently assigned to NETC will be granted access to the facility at
anytime. NETC staff are granted access to the facility by
properly displaying a valid parking permit, and are not
required to show their NETC badge nor undergo a vehicle search.
If an NETC staff member does not have their parking permit, they will
be granted access upon presentation of a valid NETC- or FEMA-issued
identification badge. Security will issue a parking permit, which
will be returned to Security upon departure.
Other FEMA
Staff:
FEMA staff
not assigned to NETC will be granted access to the facility at anytime
by presenting a valid FEMA identification badge. Security will
issue a special temporary parking permit, which will be returned to
Security upon departure. Vehicles are not subject to search.
Government
and contractor Staff (non-FEMA):
Government
and contractor staff as well as active and retired members of the armed
services not permanently assigned to NETC, are granted access to the
facility during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to
5:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays) upon presentation of a valid
Federal government-issued photo
identification badge. Security will issue a temporary identification
badge and temporary parking permit to individuals driving a motor
vehicle. Everyone will be required to provide a government-issued
photo identification (i.e., valid state
driver’s license), which will be retained by Security until the
Visitor badge and temporary parking permit are returned. Vehicles
are subject to search.
Students
(non-FEMA) and Contract Instructors:
Students and
contract instructors on the access list and traveling by shuttle bus
will be directed to Building C for registration. Students and
contract instructors arriving in other vehicles must be on the access
list to be granted access and are subject to a vehicle search. At
registration, all students and contract instructors will receive a
temporary photo identification badge and a temporary parking permit to
individuals driving a motor vehicle. Note: Students who are
FEMA employees will be granted access using their FEMA
identification. Vehicles occupied by NFA or EMI contract
instructors are subject to search only if the contract instructor is not
in possession of their temporary parking permit AND temporary
identification issued by NETC.
For contract
instructors not requiring housing, the respective project officer is
responsible for entering the names of any contract instructors at NETC
in the Security Access Request Authorization (SARA) database.
Security will issue contract instructors a temporary photo
identification badge and a temporary parking permit to individuals
driving a motor vehicle. Vehicles occupied by NFA or EMI contract
instructors are subject to search only if the contract instructor is not
in possession of their temporary parking permit AND temporary
identification issued by NETC.
Special Groups (non-FEMA):
Special
groups that require lodging will be granted access provided the names
of the individuals are included on the access list provided to Security
prior to arrival. Special groups will be directed to Building C
for registration. Vehicles operated by members of special groups
are subject to search. At registration, all members will receive
a temporary identification badge and temporary parking permit to
individuals driving a motor vehicle.
Special
groups that do not require lodging will be granted access provided the
names of the individuals are entered in SARA by the sponsor.
Vehicles will be subject to search. Security will issue a
temporary identification badge and temporary parking permit to
individuals driving a motor vehicle. Everyone will be required to
provide a government-issued photo identification, (i.e., valid state driver’s license),
which will be retained by Security until the Visitor badge and
temporary parking permit are returned. Note: Members who
are FEMA employees will be granted access using their FEMA
identification.
Visitors:
National
Fallen Firefighters Memorial and cafeteria visitors will be granted
access to the campus for that purpose without being on an access
list. Vehicles occupied by visitors are subject to search.
Visitors will be issued a Visitor badge and the driver will be issued a
temporary parking permit. Government-issued photo identification (i.e., valid state driver’s license) for
each individual will be retained by Security until the Visitor badge(s)
and temporary parking permit are returned.
Visitors to
NETC accompanied by an NETC staff member will be granted access at
anytime. The NETC staff member is responsible for the
individual. The driver will be issued a temporary parking permit
if the employee’s permit is not displayed, and will be returned to
Security upon departure.
Visitors
that do not require housing will be granted access to NETC upon receipt
of a request (i.e. SARA) from an NETC staff member. This includes
individuals desiring to use the
If a guest
arrives at the security gate requesting access and they are not in
SARA, Security should contact the identified staff point of contact to
obtain verbal approval for access. Such visitors will require an
escort once they enter the campus and are the responsibility of the
NETC staff member once they enter the campus. Visitors will be
issued a Visitor badge and the driver of a motor vehicle will be issued
a temporary parking permit. Visitors will be required to provide
a government-issued photo identification (i.e.,
valid state driver’s license), which will be retained by
Security until the Visitor badge(s) and temporary parking permit are
returned.
Vendors and
Delivery Vehicles: Vendors
and delivery vehicles will be granted access to NETC upon request
submitted by the project officer using SARA or upon presentation of
proper shipping documents. Vehicles occupied by vendor and
delivery service staff are subject to search. Each individual
will be issued a Visitor badge and the driver of a motor vehicle will
be issued a temporary parking permit. Vendors will be required to
provide a government-issued photo identification (i.e., valid state driver’s license),
which will be retained by Security until the Visitor badge(s) and
temporary parking permit are returned.
As a
courtesy, local emergency services personnel, law enforcement
personnel, and residents and employees of St. Joseph Provincial House
will be granted access as needed. No Visitor badge or parking
permit is necessary and vehicles are not subject to search.
NOTE:
These guidelines do not apply when the threat level is elevated beyond
yellow.
