THIS VIRTUAL COURSE WILL BE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH ONLY. Â THERE WILL BE NO SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION.
Much of the Western Hemisphere lies within an area that is prone to natural disasters. The Pacific nations, for example, lie on the "ring of fire," a massive chain of volcanoes and seismic fault lines that circle the Pacific Ocean. The Caribbean and Central American nations are frequently in the path of Atlantic hurricanes. Global climate change can have a variety of environmental impacts from water scarcity, to rising sea levels, to droughts that devastate crops, to forest fires. In response to these natural disasters, every country in the region places Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) as one of its top priorities.
The goal of the HA/DR course is to educate decision-makers from the region who work closely on HA/DR programs in their country as well as to improve the capacity of US and partner nation forces to respond to humanitarian crises and disasters.
Course participants will hear from representatives from regional HA/DR organizations as well as a number of national representatives with important HA/DR responsibilities within their governments. The course is not US-focused; however, US programs will be examined specifically regarding the US Agency for International Development / Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA), lead federal coordinator for international disaster assistance, as well as the United States Southern Command’s response mechanisms in support of BHA.
The HA/DR course supports current OSD Regional Center Policy priorities directed by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities (ASD-SPC), including:
The HA/DR course supports the Regional Center goal of enhanced security communities which increase security through mutual understanding and collective or collaborative action. Specifically, this course is designed to provide opportunities to participants to:
HA/DR is a fully virtual, two-week course
Ideally, participants in the course are those who have duties associated with HADR in their country. This may include positions in the national disaster response agency, the civil defense force, search and rescue organizations, and military units specifically tasked to respond to HADR crises. Participants who can speak directly of HADR experience and policy boost the value of the discussion.
Candidates must possess a university degree or, in cases where a candidate does not hold a degree, equivalent practical experience. Military and police personnel must have completed a command and staff course or equivalent. Exceptions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
This course is conducted in English. Fluency in English is required for reading theoretical and conceptual materials and for conducting group discussions. Candidates who do not speak English as their native language will be interviewed prior to final selection.
