Emergency Response Team Member (AmeriCorps)

Since 1994, inspired people from across America have brought to AmeriCorps St. Louis their enthusiasm, talents, and commitment to serve their country. AmeriCorps St. Louis has distinguished itself as one of the leading AmeriCorps programs in the nation through a long and impressive history, recruiting 42 new Members each year to serve as an Emergency Response Team. AmeriCorps St. Louis aims to serve communities affected by natural disasters across the country and to protect the natural environment through conservation and natural resource management. Our motto is “See The Need, Meet The Need,” which we take to heart in everything we do, as we always strive to reach those who are least served, last served, or never served.

Job Overview

Change your world, change your life! Spend a year as an AmeriCorps National Service Volunteer assisting disaster-affected communities, fighting wildfires, and conserving natural resources with a team of passionate people committed to making a real difference. Are you ready for your next adventure?

The AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team (ERT) is a multi-functional rapid deployment group based out of St. Louis, Missouri, that has been called out to respond across the country to floods, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, search and rescue, ice storms, terrorist attacks, and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. When not responding to natural disasters, the ERT functions as a conservation corps that assists the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and local Missouri organizations with various natural resource projects, including trail building and maintenance, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and prescribed burning. For almost three decades now, the ERT has continuously proven to provide highly successful programs, partnerships, and trainings, making it a model to other National Service programs across the state and country.

Members serve within a 42-Member team for an 11-month term as a full-time National Service Volunteer. Our program year began late September but we have a few spots still open. We will have another start date on January 3, 2022. Apply now to join this great team! 

All Members receive extensive trainings and certifications throughout their term in the areas of emergency response, environmental stewardship, and wildland firefighting. Some of these trainings include team building and leadership skills, introduction to disaster services, chainsaw and other power equipment operations, supporting people in crisis, risk management approaches, Incident Command System, emergency communications, and other basic emergency medical care.

On any given day, an ERT Member could:

1. Provide immediate and long-term relief in areas affected by natural disasters
2. Restore Missouri forests, river-ways, and natural areas
3. Build and maintain trails, bridges, recreation areas, and more
4. Fight wildland fires or participate in prescribed burns in Missouri or Western States
5. Conduct disaster response and preparedness trainings for communities and other national service organizations

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all slots are filled. A PDF version of our application can be found on our website, www.acstl.org. Interested applicants can download the application, fill it out, and email it to [email protected]. They must also send our reference form (available on our website) to 2 references who must fill the form out and email it to the same address. Applicants can also go to my.americorps.gov and search for our program and fill out an application through the AmeriCorps national job portal.

Special Benefits

Members receive a $1,480 (pretax) monthly living stipend in addition to a $6,400 Education Award after the completion of the program. This Award can be used towards federal student loans or future tuition costs (please see www.nationalservice.gov for more information). Any current federal student loans are placed in deferment for the duration of the term of service. Health insurance reimbursement is provided, if applicable. Uniforms and most equipment are also provided.

Minimum Requirements

Members must have the ability to function as supportive and dependable teammates, even in times of extreme stress and adversity. A love for the outdoors, traveling and adventure is desired as ERT Members spend most of their service out of town, living communally in rustic conditions.

Members must be in excellent physical condition for the entirety of their service term. The baseline level of fitness includes being able to pass the wildland firefighter pack test: a 3-mile walk carrying a 45-lbs pack completed in under 45 minutes.

Members must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien; be at least 18 years old; have at least a high school diploma or GED; and must pass a national service criminal history check.