Posted by: Bob Fenton, Assistant Administrator, Response
Today marks the midpoint of The Reservist Program application period for Disaster Assistance Employees – Thanks to all of you who have successfully completed your application! So far we have received more than 7300 applications to the program. On the first day of the application period, our FEMA call center agents took over 500 calls, answering your questions and capturing your comments. Your feedback on the process helped us find opportunities for improvement, so please continue to write and call.
What’s next?
Please join us for another Question & Answer webcast today at 1:00 EDT with our panel of subject matter experts. Remember, the Phase I application period is exclusively for current DAEs to apply for the Reservist Program; the period will close at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 29th. After that time, DAEs who have not applied will have to wait for the next application phase in which DAEs will be competing with the general public.
We value our DAEs – you are why FEMA is an extraordinary organization. If you haven’t applied, please do so as soon as possible.
Reminders:
Several cadres intentionally excluded some positions – if you do not see certain positions, they were excluded at the direction of the cadre leadership.
On some of the vacancy announcements the FEMA contact number was transposed. The correct phone number is (304) 480-7300.
Some of you may have used the outdated version of the OF 306 “Declaration for Federal Employment” dated October 2001. Please use the most current version of the OF 306, dated October 2011. Find the correct form here http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp. The older version of the form does not include some critical questions for federal employment, including citizenship. If you need help re-submitting this document you can contact the call center at (304) 480-7300 or by email at fema.inquiries@bpd.treas.gov.
Reminder: Our next webcast will be today, June 26 at 1:00 pm EDT. Expect a notification email 24-48 hours prior to the actual webcast.
Don’t forget – Reservist Program Application Period closes this Friday, June 29, 2012.
Thanks everyone for helping build a better FEMA!
You said: "We value our DAEs – you are why FEMA is an extraordinary organization." That is true, DAEs have made a great organization. Yet, somehow, now you are dismantling, not fixing the organization. Almost year round required availability, no new benefits (as yet), no pay raises within grade, new positions starting at almost half what it was results in: lower morale, less quality new hires, no motivation to go up levels unless you are "promoted." Having to apply for 60 days "leave time," and more. You didn't fix the problems if there were any, especially related to deployments. With 12,000 DAEs, some FEMA Corps, all you did was maybe save some money, there will be less deployments for each Reservist. In the long run the mission will suffer, Reservists will not stay long term, and politically for those at the top this will be a nightmare. And who were the DAEs who were so miserable with the way things were? Probably marginal employees who were overlooked for deployments because they were a nightmare to have on staff. You want to fix things? Get a real impartial panel of mostly Reservists (of different levels)to review these new "changes." As a hard working, Reservist (I even won an individual award for my work), deployed as a CR Manager while a Specialist, and known for my competence and willingness to help others, I'll give the new "workforce" a chance, but doubt if I'll be around much longer.
ReplyDeleteYou are 100% correct with your comments. Now that FEMA corp is being deployed it is obvcious that they are replacing current reservist one for one. When people aren't appreciated for their experience, sit at home while the "kids" work for free, they will slowly leave FEMA and find other jobs. The experience will be gone and the applicants will suffer.
DeleteI hope there are timely updates on the reservist reapplication process. Info: how many DAEs applied, when will the applicants know their employment status, and reasons for the long time line to get this accomplished. It is now 7/2/12 and I would hope today there will be some kind of update on this blog.
ReplyDeleteNo updates I see...
DeleteNow that the intial application process is completed, when are those of us who have applied for our current jobs going to be notified as to our status within the new reservist program?
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the first comment-what kind of employee(s) are going to accept salaries that are barely above minimum wage? Also, does FEMA really think that they are going to attact "qualified applicants" for the conditions that are being attached to their employment?
Remenber that quanitiy (of applicants) does not mean that the applicants chosen are going to be qualified to do the job. Pity the poor survivors who have to deal with less than stellar "new" FEMA reservists.
It is very scary!!! Unless they keep their promises and up the training, which I will have to see to believe..
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of you that have the guts to write your feelings. I am one of the many who have worked for FEMA for several years and received a non-reappointment letter. First thing that I found is no one will tell you why you received this letter and then no one will tell you how to reapply. I have like many all great ratings when I have completed each job assigned to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree in what you said about the what qualified applicants will get hired. It takes sometime to be properly trained and get the knowledge needed to work in a disaster. And to do this receiving minimum wages?
I know this job is part-time but many of us rely on it for a job each year. What happen to getting Americans back to work?