How Veterans Can Get Involved With Citizen Corps
FEMA acknowledges and honors the service of American military veterans in protecting our nation and wishes to extend opportunities within Citizen Corps for veterans who wish to continue to serve at home in their communities. Citizen Corps programs across the country give citizens the opportunity to get involved in the safety, security, and disaster preparedness of their communities. Veterans possess a unique set of talents, skills, dedication, and experiences that make them exceptional leaders in preparing their communities for threats of all kinds. Veterans can volunteer, be advocates, or lead their communities during times of disaster or emergency.
Opportunities for Veterans Who Wish to Continue Service and Leadership
Be a volunteer with your local Citizen Corps.
- Help your neighbors during and after a disaster. Join a local Community Emergency Response Team.
- Assist local law enforcement via Neighborhood Watch or Volunteers in Police Service.
- Staff a flu vaccination clinic or provide support during a public health emergency via the Medical Reserve Corps.
- Assist local fire departments via Fire Corps.
- Give blood, help military families communicate during emergencies, or learn CPR with the American Red Cross.
- Become certified so you can assist in local search and rescue efforts via the National Association of Search and Rescue.
- Help Girl Scouts earn their Preparedness Patch.
- Help provide aerial reconnaissance during disasters via the Civil Air Patrol.
- Teach courses on seamanship and boating safety via the U.S. Power Squadrons.
- Get trained and certified as an emergency radio operator at the American Radio Relay League.
- Educate others on financial literacy via Operation Hope.
- Help local seniors and the disadvantaged by delivering meals via the Meals on Wheels Association of America.
- For more volunteer opportunites, search: Serve.gov or HandsOn Network-Points of Light Institute. Use the keywords: "preparedness" or "disaster".
Be an advocate for local preparedness.
- Pass on information you receive on Community Preparedness from our email service, RSS feeds, or Citizen_Corps Twitter account.
- Educate family and friends on how to "Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed." Learn more at Ready.gov.
- Know your disaster plan and tell others about it. Encourage them to create a plan. Help each other practice your plans.
- Talk to co-workers, neighbors, school administrators, and club organizers and ask "What's our plan during a disaster?"
- Challenge your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to be prepared and direct them to helpful resources.
- Talk to your local veterans' organizations about local safety and preparedness and see how you can team up to assist local efforts. Start at Veteran's of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and American Legion Auxilliary.
- Talk to your VA Medical Center or CBOC about preparedness outreach and education opportunities.
- Encourage others to complete the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit.
- Give disaster preparedness presentations at schools, nursing homes, businesses and social clubs. Visit the following links for educational materials:
Be a leader in local preparedness.
- Host a neighborhood meeting to identify local safety and security issues. Learn how with the Community Preparedness Toolkit.
- Work with others in your community to develop a community plan to prevent, mitigate, respond and recover from hazards of all kinds- fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, crime and terrorism. Learn about the federal planning guidance that your community utilizes to get prepared. View Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101.
- Serve on a preparedness planning committee. Contact the leader of your local Citizen Corps Council. No Council in your area? Learn how to start a Council by contacting your State Citizen Corps Program Manager.
Related Links
Veterans' Day Web Site - The Official Veterans' Day Web SiteDHS.gov - The Department of Homeland Security Veterans Resources Page
American Legion - The Official Web Site of the American Legion
American Legion Auxiliary - The Official Web Site of The American Legion Auxiliary
Veterans of Foreign Wars - The Official Web Site of the Veternans of Foreign Wars