Study guide
15.1 Air Force Emergency Management, Disasters & Hazards
Air Force PFE Promotion Fitness Examination
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1 Introduction & Exam Overview
1.1 PFE Exam Facts & Format 1.2 The WAPS Scoring System 1.3 The Tested AFH 1 Chapters & Study Strategy
2 Professionalism (AFH 1, Chapter 1)
2.1 The USAF Professional & the Profession of Arms 2.2 The Air Force Core Values & Their Virtues 2.3 Ethical Standards & the Airman's Creed
3 Military Organization & Command (AFH 1, Chapter 5)
3.1 The United States Armed Forces 3.2 The Military Departments & Services 3.3 Military Command Structure & Combatant Commands 3.4 The Air Force Total Force 3.5 Air Force Organizational Structure
4 Enlisted Force Development I (AFH 1, Chapter 7A–7D)
4.1 Leadership Levels 4.2 The Enlisted Force Structure & Tiers 4.3 Duty Titles & Special Positions 4.4 Force Development & the Competency Framework
5 Enlisted Force Development II (AFH 1, Chapter 7E–7H)
5.1 Training Responsibilities & Upgrade Training 5.2 Professional Military Education 5.3 The Community College of the Air Force 5.4 Continuing Education & Voluntary Programs
6 Assessments & Recognition (AFH 1, Chapter 8)
6.1 The Airman Comprehensive Assessment 6.2 Performance Evaluations & the EPB 6.3 Reenlistments, Retention & Continuation 6.4 Awards & Decorations
7 Enlisted Promotions (AFH 1, Chapter 9)
7.1 Promotion Systems & Programs 7.2 Promotion Cycles & Eligibility 7.3 Preparation & Individual Responsibilities 7.4 Promotion Testing & Test Control 7.5 Evaluation Boards & Central Selection
8 Personnel Programs & Benefits (AFH 1, Chapter 11)
8.1 Benefits & Services 8.2 Leave & Authorized Absences 8.3 Military Associations & Civilian Programs
9 Finance, Manpower & Resources (AFH 1, Chapter 12)
9.1 Individual Finances & Allowances 9.2 Official Travel Expenses & Allowances 9.3 Manpower Management 9.4 Resource Management & Stewardship 9.5 Environmental Commitment
10 Developing Organizations (AFH 1, Chapter 13)
10.1 Strategic Thinking & Results Focus 10.2 Resources & Organizational Structure 10.3 Change Management & Problem Solving
11 Developing Others (AFH 1, Chapter 14)
11.1 Teamwork & Team Dynamics 11.2 Develops People: Mentoring, Coaching & Feedback 11.3 Service Mindset & Fostering Effective Relationships 11.4 Leadership: Styles, Power & Influence
12 Developing Self I (AFH 1, Chapter 15A–15C)
12.1 Accountability & Self-Management 12.2 Military Communication 12.3 Preparing to Communicate
13 Developing Self II (AFH 1, Chapter 15D–15F)
13.1 Written Communication 13.2 Spoken Communication 13.3 Electronic Messaging
14 Developing Ideas (AFH 1, Chapter 16)
14.1 What We Know: Priorities & Innovation 14.2 Cognitive Processes & Critical Thinking 14.3 Informed Decision-Making 14.4 What We Don't Know: Uncertainty & Assumptions
15 Emergency Management (AFH 1, Chapter 17)
15.1 Air Force Emergency Management, Disasters & Hazards 15.2 Preparedness, MOPP & Individual Protection 15.3 Crisis Response & Recovery 15.4 Department of the Air Force Mishap Prevention 15.5 Risk Management
16 Security (AFH 1, Chapter 18)
16.1 Integrated Defense & Force Protection Conditions 16.2 Operations Security (OPSEC) 16.3 Information Protection & Classification 16.4 Information Access, Cybersecurity & Mobility 16.5 Antiterrorism
17 Standards of Conduct (AFH 1, Chapter 19)
17.1 A Way of Life: Oaths, Standards & Off-Duty Conduct 17.2 The Law of War 17.3 The Code of Conduct
18 Enforcing Military Standards (AFH 1, Chapter 20)
18.1 The Air Force Inspection System 18.2 Individual Accountability & Corrective Action 18.3 Appropriate Working Relationships & Fraternization 18.4 Addressing Misconduct & Prohibited Behavior
19 Fitness & Readiness (AFH 1, Chapter 22)
19.1 USAF Fitness & Comprehensive Airman Fitness 19.2 The Official Fitness Assessment 19.3 Nutrition & Performance 19.4 Substance Use, Abuse & Treatment Programs 19.5 Readiness State of Mind & Resilience
20 Military Customs & Courtesies (AFH 1, Chapter 24)
20.1 Honored Traditions: Saluting, Titles & Reporting 20.2 Respect for the Flag 20.3 Respect for Individuals 20.4 Ceremonies & Events 20.5 Drill & Formation 20.6 Preserving Our Heritage
21 SJT Format & Competencies
21.1 SJT Format & Mechanics 21.2 Airman Leadership Qualities (ALQs) 21.3 Foundational Competencies & Behaviors
22 SJT Reasoning, Scenarios & Traps
22.1 SJT Reasoning Strategies 22.2 Sample SJT Scenarios 22.3 SJT Traps & Best Practices
15.1 Air Force Emergency Management, Disasters & Hazards
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
The five DAF Emergency Management Program mission areas are prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.
The DAF EM Program is accomplished through seven pillars of EM preparedness, beginning with risk management and the planning framework.
The Crisis Action Team focuses on mission continuation and sustainment, not the management of the incident.
First responders include fire and emergency services, medical, and security forces; emergency responders deploy after them to expand incident commander capabilities.
Protective masks, ensembles, and military standard collective protection filters are not designed to protect against toxic industrial materials — the most important action is to evacuate outside the hazard's path.
Last updated: August 2026
Why the Program Exists
AFH 1 ties emergency management directly to the mission: "The ability of the DAF to carry out its mission of Great Power Competition directly depends on continuance of the mission in the face of adversity." Challenges include natural and man-made disasters, terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction, and hostile attacks .
The program's stated purpose is to "ensure the readiness of our forces to save lives; minimize the loss or degradation of resources; and continue, sustain, and restore operational capability in an all-hazards threat environment at DAF installations worldwide."
The primary mission is to prevent, protect, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards/threats that pose the greatest risk to lives, key resources, facilities, infrastructure, and operational missions. The ancillary mission supports homeland defense and support to civil and host nation authorities; antiterrorism programs; and the countering weapons of mass destruction enterprise.
- The Seven Pillars of EM Preparedness
- Risk Management
- Planning Framework
- Common Core Capabilities
- Capability Evaluation and Validation
- Program Management Reviews
- Capability Investment Strategy
- Adaptation via Information
- The Five Mission Areas
Mission area AFH 1's definition
Prevention Actions to avoid an incident or to intervene to stop an incident from occurring ; involves actions to protect lives and property
Protection Provides the capabilities necessary to protect the installation against all threats, hazards, and manmade or natural disasters
Response Activities that address the short-term, direct effects of an incident — immediate actions to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs , plus execution of emergency operations plans
Recovery Development, coordination, and execution of service- and site-restoration plans and reconstitution of government operations and services — identifying needs and resources, providing housing, addressing long-term care and treatment , incorporating mitigation measures, evaluating the incident to identify lessons learned
Mitigation Activities designed to reduce or eliminate risks or lessen the actual or potential effects of an incident . Measures may be implemented prior to, during, or after an incident
The mitigation timing rule is the trap: mitigation is not only a before-the-fact activity — AFH 1 states it may occur prior to, during, or after an incident.
The Disaster Response Force
The program is comprised of offices and responders known as the Disaster Response Force (DRF) , detailed in DAFI 10-2501, Emergency Management Program .
Element Role
Emergency Communications Center (ECC) A 24-hour a day, seven days a week operation incorporating the core functions of fire and emergency services, security forces, and medical dispatch . Provides emergency communications, alarm/sensor/video monitoring, tactical channel assignments , emergency notification, responder reachback , and notification to medical treatment facilities
Incident Commander (IC) Responsible for all incident activities , including developing strategies and tactics and ordering and releasing resources . Has overall authority and responsibility for conducting and managing incident operations at the incident site
First responders Fire and Emergency Services, medical, security forces, and other personnel who immediately engage to save lives, stabilize the incident, and prevent further property damage
Emergency responders Response elements that deploy after the first responders to expand IC capabilities and perform support functions — follow-on EM elements, CBRN defense specialists, Explosive Ordnance Disposal , physicians, nurses, medical treatment providers, and mortuary affairs
Specialized and support teams Formed from existing installation and unit personnel — Damage Assessment, Search and Recovery, Aircraft Crash Damaged or Disabled Recovery, Spill Response, Hydrazine Response , Emergency Family Assistance, Disaster Mental Health, Medical Response, Contingency Contracting, Bioenvironmental Engineering
Control centers Activated during EOC activation ; provide expertise and resource support to the EOC director and serve as the command and control node for all installation units tasked in the Installation Emergency Management Plan
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) The installation's critical function to address imminent or realized threats/hazards and coordinate support to the incident command, on-scene personnel, and/or other EOCs
Command Post A full-time, 24/7 command and control node directly responsible to commanders, serving as the focal point of operations for receipt and dissemination of orders, information, and requests
Crisis Action Team (CAT) The top echelon of installation mission continuation and sustainment. Includes senior officers and senior enlisted leaders across the A-Staff and supporting units , and may include joint, civilian, and host nation partners . Supports the installation commander by assessing the situation, determining mission priorities, and directing subordinate units
The CAT note is the single most tested line in Section 17A: "The CAT is intended to focus on mission continuation and sustainment and not the management of the incident." Managing the incident belongs to the Incident Commander .
First versus emergency responders is the other reliable discrimination: first responders immediately engage; emergency responders deploy after them to expand IC capabilities.
Categories of Hazards
AFH 1 opens Section 17B with the planning premise: disasters "can occur at any time with little or no advance warning" and "can be local or widespread, predictable, or unpredictable." Installations must develop plans for the hazards likely to affect their areas .
Category Definition and examples
Natural disasters Non-routine events that cause severe damage that may require assistance — hurricanes/typhoons, tornadoes, storms, high-water, high winds, tidal waves, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, mudslides, snowstorms, fires, floods, explosions, and droughts
Technological hazards Man-made events caused by a malfunction in a technological structure or human error in controlling the technology. Can be as serious as a natural disaster , causing loss of life, property damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation, and can happen with little to no warning . Examples: hazardous materials release and nuclear power plant failures
Man-made hazards A non-routine event that exceeds the capacity of the affected area to respond in a way that saves lives, preserves property, and maintains social, ecological, economic, and political stability. Includes technological hazards , plus acts of terrorism, active shooters, nuclear accidents, crime, arson, civil disorder, war, biological/chemical threat, cyber-attacks, pollution, fires, and transportation accidents
Note the nesting: man-made hazards include technological hazards , so an item asking which category encompasses the other is keyed to man-made.
CBRN Hazards
AFH 1 notes that terrorist threat or use of CBRN materials is an emerging transnational threat used as asymmetric measures of intent , and points to DAFI 10-2503, CBRN Defense Program .
Hazard Key facts
Chemical agents "A chemical substance intended for use in military operations to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate mainly through its physiological effects." Categorized by physiological effect: lung damaging (choking), blister, blood, incapacitating, and nerve agents . Delivered by tactical ballistic missiles, bombs, artillery, grenades, mines, and spray attacks . Due to their persistent nature, nerve and blister agents pose the primary threat to air bases
Biological agents "A microorganism (or a toxin derived from it) that causes disease in personnel, plants, or animals or causes the deterioration of materiel." Includes viruses, bacteria, fungi, and toxins cultured from living organisms , found as liquid droplets, aerosols, or dry powders . Symptoms may not be experienced immediately after contact — each agent has a different exposure (incubation) period
Radiological and nuclear Nonionizing radiation (light, radiofrequency, microwaves) generally produces heat when it interacts with the body. Ionizing radiation has sufficient energy to produce ions and alters or destroys cell processes and structures . Adversaries may disseminate radioactive material without a detonation , or detonate at subsurface, surface, airburst, or high altitude . Primary concerns of a detonation: blast/shock, thermal radiation (heat), ionizing radiation, and ballistic debris ; nuclear blasts may also pose an electromagnetic pulse hazard
Toxic industrial chemical (TIC) A chemical developed or manufactured for use in industrial operations or research by industry, government, or academia that poses a hazard
Toxic industrial material (TIM) A generic term for toxic, chemical, biological, or radioactive substances in solid, liquid, aerosolized, or gaseous form used or stored for industrial, commercial, medical, military, or domestic purposes
The TIM Rule Every Airman Must Know
AFH 1 states it plainly, and the exam tests it:
Most toxic industrial materials present a vapor (inhalation) hazard and may also reduce the oxygen concentration below that required to support life. In the event of a toxic industrial material incident, the most important action is to immediately evacuate to an area outside the hazard's path, if feasible.
The protective mask, ensemble, and military standard collective protection filters are not designed to provide protection from toxic industrial materials.
If evacuation is impractical, implement shelter-in-place procedures.
This is the one CBRN scenario where MOPP gear is not the answer — donning the mask does not protect against a TIM, and the keyed response is evacuate , with shelter-in-place as the fallback.