Membership
Recognition and Membership Framework of the Institute and Associated Academies
Fellowship
Fellows of the Institute
| Postnominal | Title | Description |
| HonFIAES | Honorary Fellow of the Institute | Highest honour for extraordinary service or leadership across austere sciences. Founding as a historical modifier. |
| DFIAES | Distinguished Fellow of the Institute | Reserved for faculty of IAES. Founding as a historical modifier. |
| FIAES | Fellow of the Institute | Conferred upon those with multiple fellowship or outstanding cross-disciplinary contribution. |
Honorary Academy Fellows
| Postnominal | Title | Description |
| HonFAAMed | Honorary Fellow, Academy of Austere Medicine | For notable non-members or external contributors to austere medicine. |
| HonFAALead | Honorary Fellow, Academy of Austere Leadership | For notable non-members or services to austere leadership, crisis logistics, or military leadership. |
Standard Academy Fellowships
| Postnominal | Title | Description |
| FAAMed | Fellow, Academy of Austere Medicine | Requires credentialing and documented contribution in austere clinical practice. |
| FAALead | Fellow, Academy of Austere Leadership | Requires credentialing and documented contribution in logistics, operations, military, or expeditionary leadership. |
Membership
General Membership Types
| Postnominal | Title | Description |
| LMIAES | Life Member of the Institute | Longstanding recognition for commitment and support. |
| MIAES | Member of the Institute | General members who meet eligibility criteria. |
| AssocMIAES | Associate Member | Early-career professionals, students, or others building credentials toward full membership. |
| — | Affiliate Member | Supporters, allied professionals, or industry participants aligned with IAES values. No postnominal. |
| — | Institutional Member | Organisations that support or partner with IAES. May display IAES logo and recognition but do not use individual postnominals. |
Note: Associate and Affiliate members may transition to MAES or FAx through progression or recognition.
Additional Recognition
| Title | Description |
| Governor / Dean / Faculty | Internal roles or responsibilities; not used as postnominals but may be cited in bios or on certificates. |
Membership Criteria
1. Full Member (MIAES)
Who it’s for:
Professionals actively working or credentialed in a discipline related to austere, expeditionary, wilderness, humanitarian, remote, or disaster medicine, leadership, or operations.
Eligibility Criteria:
Holds a recognised qualification or certification in a relevant field (e.g. paramedicine, nursing, remote healthcare, wilderness medicine, expedition leadership)
At least 2 years of relevant professional experience
Agrees to uphold the IAES Code of Conduct and Scope of Practice
May use post-nominals: MIAES
Examples:
Expedition medic or wilderness EMT
Humanitarian health responder
Remote clinic paramedic
Expedition logistics or operations manager
Disaster team leader or NGO field health coordinator
2. Associate Member (AssocMIAES)
Who it’s for:
Students, trainees, early-career professionals, or those newly involved in austere or expeditionary contexts.
Eligibility Criteria:
Currently enrolled in or recently completed training in a related field
Actively working toward or exploring a professional role in austere environments
May use post-nominals: AssocMIAES
Examples:
Paramedic or nursing students
Wilderness First Responders or Austere First Aid graduates
Graduate students or interns on expedition research teams
Early-career expedition staff
3. Affiliate Member
Who it’s for:
Professionals, suppliers, and supporters in adjacent sectors that align with or benefit from IAES’s mission but who do not practise directly in austere or expedition medical roles.
Eligibility Criteria:
No specific certification required
Demonstrates a professional or organisational interest in austere and expedition sciences
Seeks to support, learn from, or collaborate with the field
Examples:
Gear manufacturers and suppliers (medical kits, comms, shelter, SAR equipment)
Expedition outfitters and tourism operators
Insurance providers specialising in expedition and remote rescue cover
Tech firms working on field diagnostics, GIS, or comms
Researchers, anthropologists, or journalists operating in remote settings
Policy advisors in disaster risk reduction or humanitarian access
Basecamp managers, expedition chefs, or logistical planners
4. Institutional Member
Who it’s for:
Organisations engaged in education, research, operations, or logistics relevant to austere and expeditionary disciplines.
Eligibility Criteria:
Organisation actively operates in aligned sectors (e.g., training, clinical care, logistics, humanitarian ops)
Demonstrates commitment to high standards and IAES values
May list up to 3 named representatives with full member privileges
Eligible for collaborative projects, joint credentialing, and course accreditation support
Examples:
Expedition medicine schools or remote medical training providers
NGOs or humanitarian response agencies
Wilderness leadership academies or outdoor programme providers
University research teams focused on austere or field sciences
5. Life Member (LIAES)
Who it’s for:
Committed professionals who wish to support the long-term mission of IAES and remain involved for life.
Eligibility Criteria:
Must meet the criteria for Full Membership
One-time membership fee in lieu of annual dues
Includes recognition as a supporter and advocate for the advancement of austere and expedition sciences
May use post-nominals: LMIAES