Texas Division of Emergency Management begins third cadet class of Texas Emergency Management Academy

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced today that the third cadet class of the Texas Emergency Management Academy is underway.

24 cadets began their 8-month journey as part of the first-of-its-kind program in the nation operated by TDEM. The Academy comprehensively trains the next generation of the emergency management workforce in all phases of emergency management including preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation. Graduation is scheduled for Spring 2025.

“This cadet class, representing communities from across the state and nation, will spend the next several months honing skills, acquiring knowledge, and participating in activities that will prepare them for futures in the emergency management discipline,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “This valuable ‘boots on the ground’ knowledge from the field and classroom training will better help communities protect life and property in the years to come.”

This cohort includes cadets from Texas and three other states and includes individuals with a variety of backgrounds and education.

Now training its third graduating class, The Academy offers approximately 1,300 hours of training. Since its inception, more than 350 applicants have applied from 20 states and 4 countries. 40 cadets have successfully completed the intensive training program.

Successful graduates of The Texas Emergency Management Academy ascertain comprehensive knowledge of Texas emergency management law, planning, disaster finance, resource staging, incident management, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) response management, hazard mitigation, risk assessments, disaster recovery, resource requests, operations technology, volunteer management, wildland firefighting, public information, private sector partnerships, and other key aspects of emergency management. Graduates of The Academy earn multiple nationally recognized emergency management certifications such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Professional Development Series, Level I Professional Continuity Practitioner program, and the National Emergency Management Basic Academy (NEMBA).

Graduates also leave The Academy as certified basic emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and achieve National Registry Certification upon successful completion.

Throughout the curriculum, subject matter experts will provide in-depth, hands-on, and classroom training during the various courses, utilizing informational lectures and innovative emergency management technology tools to equip cadets with an advanced emergency management education.

Additional information about future Academy cadet classes is available at tdem.texas.gov/academy.