WSEMA member Kirstin Hofmann is a recognized and successful exercise practitioner. On this page she provides process insights and recommendations if this is an emergency management track you are interested in.
The Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP) is designed for advanced exercise practitioners in Emergency Management exercise design, conduct, and evaluation. Ideal candidates for the MEP Program will have 3-5 years of experience designing and conducting exercises consistent with the HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program) doctrine. The Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP) consists of two (2) resident courses; E0132 and E0133 These courses are each four (4) days in length. Additionally, candidates must complete the K0136 MEPP Capstone Presentation. The courses are not offered individually, and candidates must complete the two classroom courses in sequential order. Participants must apply and be selected by an annual evaluation board. Tip: Connect with someone who has completed the MEP Program. In my experience, exercise practitioners are very eager to share their experiences and knowledge and may provide opportunities to be a part of their exercise design, delivery, or evaluation
E0132 Exercise Foundations, Program Management, Design and Development
- Advanced Exercise Program Management
- Planning for Exercise Evaluation
- Beyond the HSEEP Templates
- Planning for Exercise Control
- Beyond the traditional Response Exercise
- Exercise Enhancements
E0133 Exercise Conduct, Evaluation and Improvement Planning
- Evaluating Conduct Capabilities
- Refine Your Facilitation
- Hot Wash Vs Debrief
- Root Cause Analysis
- The AAR’s you wish you could write
- Corrective Action Programs
- Research Project: Contemporary Issues in HSEEP
K0136 MEPP Capstone Presentation
MEPP candidates have one year to play a leadership role in the design, developing, conducting and evaluation of a full scale or functional exercise. The candidate then presents the exercise to a capstone panel. The exercise must be a minimum of three hours long and all components need to be unclassified. Extensions beyond the one-year period are possible and are granted on a case-by-case basis. The capstone presentation is conducted virtually.
Required Prerequisites
There are 10 required prerequisite courses that must be completed before applying to the MEPP program.
The following courses must be completed in their entirety prior to submitting an application: Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), IS100, IS120, IS130, IS200, IS230, IS235, IS700, IS800, and IS2200
As an alternative, a certificate of graduation from the Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) Basic Academy from 2018, or later will satisfy the prerequisites for the MEPP Program
Recommendations for success in MEPP
Complete the basics! Courses like the Professional Development Series, ICS 300 and 400 are helpful so participants have an understanding of the Incident Command System and applicability during the exercise design phase. Tip: The more Emergency Management knowledge and training you have, the better the exercise practitioner you will be. You will draw on all phases and components of Emergency Management and will be better equipped with a strong background.
Familiarize yourself with HSEEP! HSEEP provides a set of fundamental principles for exercise programs, as well as a common approach to program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning. Tip: HSEEP provides an excellent roadmap for an entire exercise program – providing for the flexibility and customization for your specific needs.
Participate in as many exercise Seminars, Workshops, Tabletops, Games, Drills, Functional Exercises, and Full-Scale Exercises as you can! Try to be on the exercise planning team, participate as an exercise controller or evaluator, be a part of the exercise evaluation team. Tip: Exercises are coordinated at the local level and beyond – work with colleagues and contacts from other sectors and regions to see how you can participate in an exercise or exercise planning.
Finally, take HSEEP! Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation pre-requisites: Applicants are required to have completed IS-120.C: An Introduction to Exercises. It is also recommended that participants take IS-0130.A: How to be an Exercise Evaluator Tip: Connect with the instructors and your classmates. Ask if you can participate in their exercises or how to get connected with others involved in exercise design and delivery.
The path to completing the MEP Program is varied and truly unique to each individual. In my experience, I found it to be extremely beneficial to have a broad experience and exposure to exercises – large and small – in many settings (government, healthcare, NGO, private sector, educational institutions), locations, and venues. Participating in multiple roles throughout the phases of exercise design, delivery, and evaluation will provide a good foundation to prepare for HSEEP and the MEP Program. If you want to apply to the MEP Program, know that you will have to complete a capstone exercise that must be a functional or full-scale exercise. It cannot be an exercise that you conducted in the past. Have a plan for how to complete this before you apply to the MEP Program.
If you have questions, you can reach Kirstin at khofmann@puyallupwa.gov
Kirstin Hofmann, MEP (Master Exercise Practitioner)
