All NDMS teams stand an on-call schedule which is currently once every three months for all DMATs. During these months, VA-1 will be “up” on-call and members are expected to report their availability for deployment and deploy on short notice if needed. The team command staff will use member availability information and create an on-call deployment roster which meets criteria specified by NDMS (ie, specified number of personnel in each required position).

The manner of DMAT activation is expected to occur in 3 steps. Disasters, however, may result in a modified slower or faster process depending on circumstances.

1. The team is placed on an advisory or alert status by NDMS and notified that a disaster has occurred or is imminent. Team members are requested to monitor the disaster situation via the local/national news and through their local team.
2. The team is placed on a warning status by NDMS and/or team leadership. Team members are polled internally to see who can deploy within 12-24 hours.
3. The team is activated for a mission deployment – current time to departure for a mission is a maximum of 6 hours. This includes response by team members to a designated mobilization point with their personal gear, mission briefings, travel assignments, equipment loading and departure.

The team may have advance notice of a non-disaster deployment such as a scheduled national security event.

Deployments can occur during non-on-call months depending on the magnitude of disaster or if certain team employees possess specialities needed for a given situation. Team members can also be assigned, if available and willing, to another team to "backfill" their roster due to personnel shortages and could deploy with that other team if activated.