My introduction to the 16th ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) Induction Course provided a crucial foundation for understanding regional disaster response. The course offered essential insights into the process and flow of disaster operations, fostering a shared understanding among personnel from diverse backgrounds, including emergency response and other sectors. This common ground was vital, as not everyone came from a dedicated rapid assessment team like in my national context.
The course, particularly learning the ASEAN-ERAT Guidelines, served as a portable handbook that I could reference before and during deployment to understand the ASEAN system thoroughly. The training modules proved highly relevant to my subsequent preparedness deployment during my deployment of ASEAN-ERAT for preparedness in the last ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2025 (ARDEX-25). Although I have not yet been deployed as an ASEAN-ERAT member for response, my experience showed that the knowledge gained was directly applicable.
Learning the whole process was the most helpful aspect, especially for understanding the ground situation and knowing who to coordinate with. I found that having several trainings under my belt, including the 16th ASEAN-ERAT Induction Course, ASEAN-ERAT Refresher Course, and Training of Trainers for ASEAN-ERAT Localisation Training in Indonesia, significantly helped me perform at my best for deployment, reinforcing that familiarity with the ASEAN system grows with repeated exposure while bridging with the national response system.
I quickly learned that while the training is valuable, it also highlighted areas needing attention. I observed that ASEAN-ERAT members from older batches were sometimes unfamiliar with new digitalised systems, indicating a potential gap that I could fill. I noted that some digital tools for data collection during rapid assessment might be ignored or used later, partly due to dependencies on internet connectivity. This experience underscored the importance of balancing technology with practical field approaches, understanding that real-world deployment dynamics can differ significantly from exercise scenarios.
My story is one of continuous learning and preparation. I believe that the more training you get, the more you get familiarised with the system and the guidelines, which are not always part of our everyday work. This ongoing learning is crucial because, in the field, you must trust your teammates and team leader, prepare for the unexpected, and understand that the only constant is change. My journey so far, rooted in preparedness exercises, emphasises the importance of building a strong foundational understanding and adapting continuously to ensure readiness for future, more complex deployments.
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The 16th ASEAN-ERAT Induction Course and ASEAN-ERAT Refresher Course for ARDEX-25 were conducted as part of the project “Strengthening the Capacity of the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) Phase III”, a project supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).
Written by:
Nadya Devina Zharfan
Disaster Management Analyst, BNPB Indonesia
ASEAN-ERAT Member, Indonesia
