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Article Published in the Jan. 2011 IAEM Bulletin
IAEM Certification Recognition Ribbon Now Available
By Col. Robert L. Ditch, USAF (Ret.), CEM, CEM® Commissioner,
and President, Synaptic Emergency Educational Services
It is with a great deal of
excitement that IAEM
announces the arrival of the IAEM Certification Recognition Ribbon. The ribbon represents the attributions and contributions of members of the uniformed services and other organizations who have achieved the pinnacle of professional development in emergency management and have received the IAEM Certified Emergency Manager® (CEM®) or Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) credential.
Recognized Need for Approved Uniform-Style Ribbons
The genesis of this project was the desire of many uniformed services and public safety members to display their hard-earned credential on their uniforms. Unfortunately, many of their organizations do not authorize them to wear the IAEM-provided certification pins on their uniforms, but do authorize them to wear an approved uniform-style ribbon. Acknowledging this need, the IAEM CEM® Commission authorized the design, heraldry, production, and now sale of these ribbons. Vanguard® Industries, which produces ribbons for the uniformed services, was chosen to develop and produce the ribbon for IAEM.
As the former Chair of the IAEM-USA Uniformed Services Caucus and a CEM® Commissioner, I initiated and managed the project. Michael James Kelley, Jr., AEM, First Vice President, IAEM-USA Student Region came up with the design and heraldry.
Ribbon Description and
Meaning of Colors and Devices
The colors of the ribbon bands are blue, gold and white. The blue band traditionally represents truth, loyalty, perseverance and vigilance, both to others in the field of emergency management and to those whom we protect. The blue also derives from the civil defense logo, keeping in mind our roots. The gold band represents elevation of the mind and honor. The white band comes from the IAEM logo and represents sincerity. It too harkens back to the original civil defense logo. The rules of heraldry state that you cannot have color on color, or metal on metal. Therefore, to avoid violating these rules, we separated the colors.
Two devices denote the different levels of certification; a bronze letter “A” device added to the ribbon designates the AEM, while a bronze letter “C” device designates the CEM®. Additionally, past and present members of the CEM® Commission may add a gold frame to the ribbon to recognize their service and achievement. One of several bronze devices (e.g. star, cluster, propeller), dependent on the recipient’s organization’s preference, represent recertification of the AEM/CEM®. Members may wear up to four bronze devices, with a silver device worn in lieu of five stars.
How to Purchase Online
Certified individuals may purchase the ribbon online through the IAEM Store at www.iaem.com/Store. Devices may be purchased through Vanguard Industries at www.vanguardmil.com?main_page=
index&cPath=9_523_2291. Each ribbon costs $5.00. Devices and gold frames from Vanguard run from $1.40 to $2.60 each.
Recognition of Excellence
Both the IAEM-USA Uniformed Services Caucus and CEM® Commission collaborated to make this happen. However, it is still the responsibility of the individual’s organization to authorize the wearing of this ribbon and to provide instructions on how to display the ribbon on the uniform. The ribbon and devices are one more way that IAEM recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence through certification in emergency management.
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