By Lauren West

Fifty students in the Wylie East High School principals of law, public safety, corrections and security classes completed training with the Federal Emergency Management Agency April 23.

The students completed the Introduction to Incident Command System and CERT Introduction to Incident Command ICS 100 classes and a 25 question test before becoming certified.

“The students should be very proud of themselves in accomplishing the courses and taking the first step in a career of public service,” David Lanman, the criminal justice instructor, said.

In the Introduction to Incident Command System, the students learned the basic command structure and the responsibilities of each person while in the CERT class the students learned about search and rescue.

“The best part about being certified is that we can be a bit more helpful than just another citizen on the street,” freshman Haley Proctor said.

EMA’s website states that the organization’s mission is to “support citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.”

“These students definitely have an advantage when they enter the workplace,” Lanman said, “This training will help them not only in emergencies, but in organizing and making critical thinking decisions.”

Lauren West is a junior at Wylie East High School