Richard Embry, from Munford and an employee of Cleburne County EMS, recently completed a weapons of mass destruction training class sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. The course provides students with an awareness of the fundamentals of radiation, health effects of radiation and how to respond to terrorist use of radiological materials. "This class helps better prepare emergency management professionals to prevent, deter and respond safely and effectively to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction," said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. "We are proud of the hard work and accomplishments of the students participating in the training." Training classes are tailored to meet the needs of the students and can range from a four-hour awareness course, where students learn how to recognize radiological incidents and report notification procedures, to a 32-hour HazMat techniciancourse, where students learn how to operate radiological detection equipment, conduct surveys of personnel and equipment, participate in hands-on exercises and work as a team within the Incident Command Structure. To date, over 47,000 professionals from across the country have participated in these highly-specialized training courses conducted through the Nevada Test Site by field experts in radiological and WMD response. All training is provided at no cost to students. Embry attended the WMD Radiological/Nuclear Course for HazMat Technicians in Mercury, NV. He is no stranger to taking classes in counter terrorism. Other classes that he has attended range from Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings & Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombing Incidents - Technical Operations courses allowing him to instruct local first responders at the Awareness Level. He also has training in Understanding and Planning for School Bomb Incidents - Awareness Level, all of which are taught through New Mexico Tech, Toxic Chemical Training course (nerve & blistering agents) for medical support in Edgewood, MD, to Basic EMS Concepts for WMD Incidents from Texas A&M. Embry recently applied for and was accepted as a contract Fire Fighter/EMT in Iraq. It has been a long road to obtain all the certifications needed. The Department of Defense requires him to be Pro Board or IFSAC, both of which are nationally recognized, before they would consider him for deployment. He has obtained certifications from the Alabama State Fire College ranging from 160 Volunteer Fire Fighter I, Fire Fighter II, Hazardous Material Technician, Fire Instructor I and Fire Inspector I, also Fire Inspector I through the National Fire Fighter Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. Embry also works part-time for Oxford EMS and enjoys assisting numerous volunteer fire departments (including Heflin) as a firefighter/training instructor. He holds three other Instructor certifications - Basic Cardiac Life Support, Emergency Vehicle Operator and National Incident Manage System. He is currently a national registered Emergency Medical Technician. His son Stephen recalls, "Back in 1995 my father became disabled and loss his certifications as a Firefighter/EMT. In 1999 he attended E.H. Gentry for job training through vocational rehab, than was hired at Talladega County Board of Education. He received the Alabama Employee of the Year in 2001 and went back to school while working full time. He has continually told me that no dream is impossible, unless you don’t try. He has received national certification as a Firefighter I/II, Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, Hazmat Tech., through both the Alabama Fire College and National Fire academy. He has also regained his EMT license as an National Registered EMT and has attended numerous Homeland Security classes all over the United States. “Since attending these classes, through the Department of Homeland Security, he has been able to train fellow first responders in, Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings, Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombers, Radiological & Nuclear response, Chemical war fair training, and National Incident Management.”
Embry was deployed June 23 to work in Iraq as a. Combat Firefighter/EMT under private contract.
