Our Training Program
Preparedness is the first phase of the Emergency Management Cycle. Just like individuals and families must make preparations for potential dangers and threats, so too, disaster workers prepare by participating in training classes. Courses are designed with adult learners in mind and emphasize group interaction and cooperative learning. Training courses include classes in incident management, canteen operations, food service, and emotional and spiritual care, as well as basic first aid and CPR training.
Disaster training courses are rated according to difficulty; the higher the difficulty level, the more complex the knowledge presented. Certain courses may also require prerequisite classes.
To see upcoming trainings near you, select your location below or reach out to your local Salvation Army unit.
Foundational Courses
Course ID: SA-100.B
Course Length: 4 hours
Difficulty: Basic
Description:
The gateway course to The Salvation Army’s disaster training program, Introduction to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, is required for all disaster workers. The course offers an overview of The Salvation Army’s mission, the services it provides during a disaster, and prepares participants for their first disaster assignment, describing everything from packing to travel to self-care. This course is available in both a classroom and an online self-study version and is a prerequisite for most other Salvation Army disaster training courses.
Primary Audience:
New disaster workers just beginning their association with The Salvation Army.
Prerequisites:
None
Course ID: ????
Course Length: 4 hours
Difficulty: Basic
Description:
This course explores the introductory concepts of providing appropriate emotional and spiritual care (ESC) from the foundational level of “just being there.” This is a highly interactive course that will both challenge and help participants to care for others and themselves during a disaster deployment.
Primary Audience:
Salvation Army officers, employees, and disaster workers who are interested in understanding the basic principles of responsible and appropriate emotional and spiritual care on disaster operations.
Prerequisites:
Intro to EDS
Course ID: ??
Course Length: 6 hours
Difficulty: Basic
Description:
The Salvation Army emphasizes the biblical framework that every human is made in the image of God and therefore worthy of being treated with dignity, kindness, and respect. This class examines these principles while creating space for participants to examine their own diverse backgrounds, learn about others, and share their experiences with the goal of building a stronger team of compassionate people ready to serve others.
Primary Audience:
Salvation Army officers, employees, and disaster workers involved in serving others.
Prerequisites:
None
Course ID: SA-150.C
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Basic
Description:
During a disaster, the first gesture of comfort The Salvation Army offers is often a cold drink and a hot meal from one of its mobile feeding units. The Disaster Food Service & Canteen Operations course is designed as the starting point for any disaster worker who wishes to be a part of disaster food service operations. Participants who complete the course will learn about the different types of Salvation Army food service equipment, the essentials of building a food service team, canteen operations and maintenance, and the basics of menu planning.
Primary Audience:
This course is designed to introduce participants to the fundamentals of disaster food service operations. Anyone interested in food service delivery or serving on a Salvation Army canteen should take this course. Any version of ServSafe® Handlers acts as a prerequisites.
Prerequisites:
Introduction to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, ServSafe® Handler (5th Edition)
Course ID: SA-133
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Basic
Description:
This course provides an overview of emergency management in the United States, examining how The Salvation Army works together with other disaster relief providers, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). The course will explore how all disasters are fundamentally local events, the federal disaster declaration process, the role of an emergency operations center (EOC), and the advantages of a ‘whole community’ approach to the emergency management planning process.
Primary Audience:
New disaster workers who wish to understand the basics of emergency management and local Salvation Army officers and liaisons who will be interacting with government agencies and VOADs.
Prerequisites:
Intro to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services
Intermediate Courses
Course ID: ??
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate
Description:
This course provides a general orientation to the Incident Command System (ICS), an organizational management tool used by The Salvation Army and many other disaster relief agencies, to command, control, and coordinate emergency operations. operation.
Primary Audience:
Salvation Army officers, employees, and disaster workers who plan to participate in a Salvation Army disaster relief operation and for those interested in serving in a leadership or supervisory position during an operation.
Prerequisites:
Intro to EDS
Advanced Courses
Course ID: SA ???
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course is designed to provide advanced level training on Salvation Army’s Safety Officer position as it pertains to a disaster relief operation. Participants will learn about the importance of hazard recognition, corrective action, and incident reporting with a special emphasis on the most common safety hazards on a Salvation Army Disaster relief operation.
Primary Audience:
Experienced disaster workers, employees, and Salvation Army officers who will be serving as the Safety Officer during a Salvation Army disaster relief operation. Ideally, participants will have experience in OSHA General Industry safety practices, ServSafe® food handling procedures, and be certified in general first aid.
Prerequisites:
Intro to EDS and Incident Command System
Course ID: SA-310.B|
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course is designed for experienced communications professionals, who have master based public information skills, and who are ready to serve as a Public Information Officer (PIO) on large disaster operations. Participants will learn how to establish, staff, and manage a Public Information team on a large disaster operation, support disaster-related communications in preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation phases of a disaster event and learn how to proactively address potentially negative public relations issues.
Primary Audience:
This emergency disaster course is designed for communications professionals and Salvation Army officers who will serve as the Public Information Officer on a Salvation Army disaster relief operation.
Prerequisites:
Introduction to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, Incident Command System
Course ID: SA-390
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
The Operations Section, whether small or large scale, is the heart of any disaster operation. All of the services provided by organizations in disaster relief are coordinated through the operations function within an incident command team. This course will cover the critical components of coordinating an uninterrupted disaster operation from pre-incident preparedness through the post-incident demobilization
Primary Audience:
This advanced course is designed for experienced disaster workers who will be serving in the Operations section during a Salvation Army disaster relief operation or as a Operations Chief on an Incident Management Team (IMT).
Prerequisites:
Intro to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, Incident Command System
Course ID: SA-380
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course is designed for experienced communications professionals, who have master based public information skills, and who are ready to serve as a Public Information Officer (PIO) on large disaster operations. Participants will learn how to establish, staff, and manage a Public Information team on a large disaster operation, support disaster-related communications in preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation phases of a disaster event and learn how to proactively address potentially negative public relations issues.
Primary Audience:
This emergency disaster course is designed for communications professionals and Salvation Army officers who will serve as the Public Information Officer on a Salvation Army disaster relief operation.
Prerequisites:
Introduction to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, Incident Command System
Course ID: SA-360
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course has been developed to provide advanced level training for those interested in serving in the Salvation Army’s Planning Section within the Incident Command System. The course provides participants with an in-depth look at the role of the Planning Chief and the intricacies of the roles and responsibilities of the Planning Section participants will also be taught how to use the various tools and forms associated with this role.
Primary Audience:
Experienced disaster workers interested in working in the Planning section.
Prerequisites:
Intro to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, Incident Command System
Course ID: SA-370.B
Course Length: 8 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course is designed to introduce participants to the Finance and Administration section as it pertains to the Incident Command System. Participants will learn how to interact with other members of the Incident Management Team and be introduced to the three major responsibilities of the F&A function (disaster worker management, statistics, and finances). Participants will explore the different policies and procedures regarding disaster worker deployments, general command administration and how to navigate the EDS Database.
Primary Audience:
This advanced course is designed for experienced disaster workers and Salvation Army officers and employees who will be serving in the Finance and Administration section during a Salvation Army disaster relief operation.
Prerequisites:
Intro to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, Incident Command System
Specialized Courses
Course ID: SA ??
Course Length: 4 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course explores the idea of compassion fatigue for those engaged in a service-oriented workplace or serving in a ministerial role. Participants will learn several best practices for recognizing burnout before it occurs and what steps one can take to help prevent it.
Primary Audience:
Individuals engaged in a service oriented workplace, care givers and those in ministerial roles.
Prerequisites:
None
Course ID: SA-400
Course Length: 3 Days
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course prepares participants to serve as certified trainers within The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) program. The course stresses effective teaching techniques for adult learners, covering key concepts including classroom set-up, short effective lecturing, group exercise facilitation, and effective questioning and feedback techniques. The course concludes with a practicum in which participants will be asked to ‘practice teach’ EDS course material.
Primary Audience:
This course serves as a prerequisite for anyone seeking to become a certified Salvation Army disaster trainer. Perspective participants should consult with their divisional disaster department for approval to attend and qualify as an EDS trainer. Trainers are not permitted to instruct courses which they have not already successfully taken and passed.
Prerequisites:
Introduction to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services
Course ID: NRAEF
Course Length: 4 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course introduces individuals to the basics of safe food handling. Participants will learn about how food can become unsafe through time-temperature abuse, cross-contamination, and improper cleaning and sanitizing, and the important role good personal hygiene plays in limiting the spread of dangerous pathogens.
Primary Audience:
Individuals who will be preparing and/or serving food.
Certification Requirements:
To receive credit for this course, participants must attend the class in its entirety and pass a multiple-choice examination, administered in accordance with ServSafe standards.
Course ID: NRAEF
Course Length: 16 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
Through the National Restaurant Association, The Salvation Army is licensed to provide Food Safety Manager’s training. This course teaches food service managers about the dangers of foodborne illness, how to prevent it, and the keys to food safety. The course also covers specifics on how to safely receive, store, prepare, cool, heat, and serve food, emphasizing active managerial control as a critical component in reducing the risk of a foodborne illness outbreak.
Primary Audience:
Individuals who will serve in a supervisory capacity over direct food preparation and service delivery.
Certification Requirements:
To receive credit for this course, participants must attend the class in its entirety and pass a multiple-choice examination, administered in accordance with ServSafe standards.
Course ID: ??
Course Length: 4-8 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
This course is designed to teach participants the skills needed to perform CPR, use an AED, and provide basic first aid care to individuals in need. CPR and AED use can be offered as a half day class. First Aid can be offered as a half day class. Or participants can request both as a full day option. The CPR portion of the class can be offered as Adult, Pediatric, Infant, or a combination of the three. Contact your local Salvation Army EDS representative for more details.
Primary Audience:
This course is intended for those who are not healthcare providers or professional rescuers who desire, or are occupationally required, to be trained and certified in adult first aid and/or CPR AED for the adult, child, or infant.
Certification Requirements:
To receive a certification card, participants must attend the entirety of the course and pass a practical examination administered in accordance with Health and Safety Institute standards.
Course ID: ??
Course Length: 4-8 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Description:
Through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, The Salvation Army is licensed to certify participants in Mental Health First Aid. This course approaches the subject of metal health from a first aid perspective, teaching participants how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge or crisis, listen nonjudgmentally, and connect people to professional resources.
Primary Audience:
Individuals who wish to learn more about recognizing and responding to mental health challenges.
Certification Requirements:
To receive certification for this course, participants must attend the entirety of the class and pass an online multiple-choice exam taken on their own time after class.
