CURRENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

LOCAL FIRE & HAZMAT TRAINING (Updated 1/16/2005)

Southwest Tech:

Please Contact SWTC for a list of current classes, or speak with your fire/ems chief.

To register for any of these classes or for other questions, contact SWTC directly at (608) 822-3262 ext 2700 or send an email to Fire/EMS coordinator Rita Luna at rluna@swtc.edu.
 

LOCAL EMS TRAINING (updated 1/15/2006)

Southwest Tech:

Please Contact SWTC for a list of current classes, or speak with your fire/ems chief.


To register for any of these classes or for other questions, contact SWTC directly at (608) 822-3262 ext 2700 or send an email to Fire/EMS coordinator Rita Luna at rluna@swtc.edu.
 

LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING (updated 1/5/2005)

STATEWIDE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Note: The training opportunities below are open to all Grant County public safety responders and local government officials.  Unless otherwise stated, Wisconsin Emergency Management will generally cover the costs of tuition and overnight lodging, leaving your department to pay for mileage and incidental expenses.  Some courses are also eligible for reimbursement of overtime or backfill expenses.  Click here for more information.  To register, please mail, email, or fax a copy of the course registration form to the emergency management office.  Confirmation of enrollment will be sent to you about three weeks before the course date.
 

Click here to access Wisconsin Emergency Management's website directly, for the most current and complete listing of additional statewide training opportunities and registration forms.
 

OTHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

• WMD Law Enforcement Protective Measures (LEPM TtT) -- This 16 hour training program is resident delivered and encompasses WMD related topics and scenario driven practical exercises for the in-service training of law enforcement officers.  The first 8 hours of training presents information on terrorist tactics and targeting, related WMD hazards, indicators of terrorism, and protective measures taken by law enforcement officers responding to a terrorist WMD event.  The second 8 hours of this training program is a Train-the-Trainer (TtT) session to assist attendees with the skills necessary to present the LEPM training in their home jurisdictions. 

  Prerequisites:  This course is for certified/commissioned State and Local Law Enforcement officers and trainers with more than one year's experience.  This course is not an executive level course.

   

• WMD Technical Response Training Course ("COBRA") -- The WMD Technical Emergency Response Training Course (COBRA), is a 4-day training program designed to provide emergency responders operational level instruction on responding to and operating in a WMD environment.  The course covers chemical, ordnance/explosive, biological, and radiological/nuclear (COBRA) threats; the current domestic and international terrorist threat; managing a WMD scene; determining the breadth of a WMD incident area; and dealing with the media at a WMD incident.  In addition it provides 20 hours of hands-on familiarization training with specialized protective clothing and equipment, chemical detection and identification equipment, decontamination, triage and ordnance/explosive recognition and response.  The course concludes with a multi-task, hands-on performance oriented training in the WMD [Toxic Agent] (COBRA) Training Facility.

  Prerequisites: This course is designed for emergency responders who have completed WMD awareness level training. The target audience for this training is emergency responders in Fire Service, Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Service, Emergency Management and Emergency Communications.
  
   

• WMD Hazardous Material Technician Training Course (HT) -- The WMD Hazardous Material Technician Training Course (COBRA), is a 3-day in-depth training course in the composition, action, identification, and decontamination of WMD agents that have the potential for use in a terrorist incident.  This course also includes training in the preservation of evidence at a crime scene, an overview of the international and domestic terrorist threat, and a series of practical exercises involving WMD detection, identification and protective equipment and techniques for operating at a WMD terrorist incident. This training course culminates with a multi-task, hands-on training exercise in the WMD [Toxic Agent] (COBRA) Training Facility.

  Prerequisites: Hazardous Material Technicians attending this training must be certified as having successfully met the competencies outlined in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 and NFPA 472 for HAZMAT Technicians.
  
   

• WMD Incident Command Training Course (IC) -- The WMD Incident Command Training Course is 3-days of in-depth training that take the attendee through the entire spectrum of command of a WMD terrorist event.  The course provides instruction on WMD, the incident command system coupled with the Federal response, and examines the complexities of operational considerations and actions of command at a WMD event.  The course takes the attendee through pre and post considerations by incorporating a segment on planning for the response using techniques that allow the commander to determine the correct composition of the planning team, evaluating the threat to the  jurisdiction, identifying and prioritizing probable targets, measuring required capabilities, and developing a local incident response plan to a WMD terrorist incident.  The course culminates with the attendee participating in an eight-hour real time tabletop exercise using the materials developed in the previous sessions to plan for and command the emergency response resources at the incident site.

  Prerequisites:  Emergency responders attending this training must be trained to the competencies outlined in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 and NFPA 472 for Incident Commanders, and they must have a thorough understanding of the Incident Command System. The target audience for this training includes those command level responders in the fire service, law enforcement, emergency medical service, emergency management and emergency communications, or other emergency response profession.
  
   

• WMD Hands-On Training Course (HOT) -- The Hands-On Training Course consists of a 2-day advanced training program providing hands-on training with personal protective equipment (PPE), advanced sampling and monitoring equipment, evidence collection and preservation, mass casualty triage, and explosive/ordnance secondary devices and searches. The course concludes with a multi-task, hands-on performance oriented training in the WMD [Toxic Agent] (COBRA) Training Facility.

  Prerequisites: The WMD HOT course is for responders who have successfully completed the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) WMD Incident Command Course (after April 1, 2002), a CDP site delivered training program, a CDP Indirect Response Training course, or other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognized training program as outlined in the Office of Domestic Preparedness Training Course Catalog.  This course is also a sustainment program for graduates of CDP operations and command courses.   Graduates are eligible one year from their initial training date.  Prerequisite Certificate must be sent with application.
  
   

• Instructor Training Certification Course (ITC) -- This course is an intensive 5-day training course that provides instruction on: adult learning theory and practice, job and training task analysis, training risk and hazard analysis, developing learning objectives and lesson plans, communication skills, instruction delivery and delivery media, developing tests and conducting evaluations, and performing after action reviews.  The classroom sections of the training are supported by a series of practical exercises that require the student to perform and teach tasks associated with WMD techniques, procedures and equipment to support classroom lessons.  The evaluation strategy for this training consists of one written test and two performance evaluations.  To complete this training and receive a certification from the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) as a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certified instructor, the student must achieve a minimum score of 70 per cent for each test/evaluation.  Students that enroll in this course and fail to achieve the minimum standard for each test/evaluation will receive a certificate of attendance, but will not be certified as an instructor.

  Prerequisites:  Applicants must have successfully completed a WMD operational, technician or command/management level DHS, ODP recognized training program. Prerequisite Certificate must be sent with application.
  
   

• WMD Emergency Medical Services Training (EMS) -- The WMD EMS Course is a 3-day training program designed to educate paramedic and EMT responders on awareness and operational level skills needed to respond to a WMD mass casualty incident.  The course instruction includes an overview of WMD materials including chemical, biological, and radiological agents, and explosive devices.  Responders will explore levels of personal protective equipment and issues relating to their own safety and wellness during and after a WMD incident.  Methods of victim rescue and treatment will be practiced including extrication, cutout, triage, decontamination, assessment, and transport.  Responders will be encouraged to use routine job skills and experience how they differ in a WMD environment.  Responders will be made aware of special crime-scene considerations and the details of working a multitude of agencies including the Public Health department.  The training culminates with a multi-task hands-on scenario exercise.
  
  Prerequisites: Responders must be a state-licensed paramedic, EMT, or emergency care provider (emergency room physician or nurse).
  
   

• WMD Emergency Responder Hazardous Materials Technician Training (ER HazMat) -- The Emergency Responder Hazardous Materials Technician Training course is a 5-day training program designed to provide emergency responders with Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and hazardous materials technical training to satisfy requirements of OSHA 1910.120 (q)(6)(iii). The guidelines of this course target those emergency responders who may be responding to the scene of a hazardous material or potential terrorist/criminal use of WMD. 

  This course is a combination of classroom training and several hands-on exercises that culminate in a final day of practical and written evaluations. The training covers WMD specific material and the Eight Step Process for HazMat Incident Management which includes Site Management and Control, Identifying the problem, Hazard and Risk Evaluation, Selecting Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment, Information Management and Resource Coordination, Implementing Response Objectives, Decontamination, and Terminating the Incident. 

  Prerequisites: HazMat awareness and eight hours of operational level training as identified in OSHA 1910.120 (q)(6)(i) and OSHA 1910.120 (q)(6)(ii)

  ** Course fulfills OSHA requirements for Bomb technicians wishing to attend the FBI Hazardous Devices School for delivery of the Hazardous Materials Basic Course [HMBC]
   

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (National Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center) (NMIMT).   NMIMT offers live explosive training including the use of field exercises and classroom instruction. NMIMT is the lead NDPC partner for explosives and firearms, live explosives, and incendiary devices training.  These courses are offered at no cost to local emergency responders, and DHS generally will cover costs of lodging, transportation, and airfare.

• Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings (IRTB).  IRTB is a four-day train-the-trainer format designed for first responders who may respond to incidents involving explosives.  Participants will learn to identify commercial and military explosives, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and readily available explosive formulations that terrorists have or could use.  Course methodology includes classroom presentation, field laboratories, and practical exercises.  A more detailed course description can be found here.
   
• Preventing and Responding to Suicide Bombing Incidents --  A four-day train-the-trainer format course that provides the knowledge and skill for development of policies, procedures, training, and operational capabilities to deter, prevent, interdict, respond to, and mitigate the effects of a suicide bombing.  Participants must be senior level decision makers in state and local police, fire, emergency medical services, and emergency management operations.  Course methodology includes classroom presentation, field laboratories, and practical exercises.  A more detailed course description can be found here.
   
• Understanding and Planning for School Bomb Incidents.  A free ONLINE COURSE for emergency responders and school staff to assess or develop a school bomb incident response plan.  Addresses pre-incident issues, including countermeasures and pre-attack indicators.  Addresses the issues involved in formulating safe and effective response plans for school bomb incidents.  Click here to learn more or register.
  
   

U.S. Department of Energy's Nevada Test Site (National Exercise, Test, and Training Center) (NTS): NTS conducts large scale field exercises using a wide range of live agent simulants as well as explosives. NTS develops and delivers a Radiological/Nuclear Agents Course.



Texas A&M University (National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center):  Texas A&M delivers a set of courses to prepare state and local officials for the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction. Courses are developed and designed to provide each specific segment of the emergency response community with the tools needed to accomplish its role in the event of a WMD incident. Additionally, Texas A&M has developed an Interactive Internet WMD Awareness Course for emergency responders.



Louisiana State University (LSU) (Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education): LSU provides on-site WMD response training to law enforcement agencies.  The courses listed below can be offered locally with a minimum of 20 students (maximum 30).  Contact the county emergency management office for details.

• Law Enforcement Prevention and Deterrence of Terrorist Acts -- This 16 hour awareness level course is presented in a Train-The-Trainer format.  This course is designed to address Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Awareness Level standards associated with Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) prevention and deterrence applications for law enforcement officers. Information gathering, recognizing terrorist motivations and characteristics, identifying high-risk targets, and legal issues associated with terrorism prevention and deterrence are discussed. Terrorist trends in fraudulent documents are highlighted as well as methods that can be used to detect such malfeasance. This course includes classroom instruction and practical exercises.

  This course is designed to provide certified federal, state, and local law enforcement officers with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to assist in the prevention and/or deterrence of WMD terrorist incidents by using OSHA, Awareness Level knowledge. Prerequisites:  Minimum of three years of service with a law enforcement agency; Instructor certification by an authority having jurisdiction; Endorsement by the respective agency training supervisor .
   

• Law Enforcement Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents -- This 24 hour performance level course is presented in a Train-The-Trainer format.  As one of the major initiatives supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the goal of this course is to prepare emergency response personnel to perform safely and effectively at a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incident. The Law Enforcement Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents course is designed to address specific fundamentals and skills associated with such an occurrence by providing detailed technical information and including hands-on practice of required procedures.

  This course facilitates a proactive approach to response training by recognizing the diverse communities that must partner together in response to a suspected WMD incident. Therefore, throughout the program of instruction, participants are reminded of the need for teamwork among all responding agencies; as emergency responders, they must support and facilitate the operations of fire and medical services and other responding agencies. In summary, the course will prepare representatives of state and local emergency response agencies to perform a critical emergency responder role safely and effectively during an incident involving WMD agents.

  Primary Audience: The course is intended primarily for those emergency responders most likely to be called upon to operate within the warm or cold zone of a WMD incident involving hazardous materials. However, because a WMD response is likely to be multidisciplinary in nature, the course will also be useful to responders who work in roles that do require hot zone entry. This second group includes firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, public health, and other personnel with the duty to respond to these incidents.

  In addition, the course provides vital information to supervisory and management personnel responsible for developing policies and procedures governing emergency responder actions during WMD incidents. This course demonstrates how participants can effectively interact with other federal, state, and local partners to respond efficiently to a WMD emergency.

  Prerequisites: Attendees must be emergency response personnel of a local, state, or federal emergency agency in good standing; Successful completion of Awareness level training in Weapons of Mass Destruction
   

• Tactical Weapons of Mass Destruction Commanders Course -- This 24 hour performance level course is presented in a Train-The-Trainer format.  This course is designed to teach law enforcement tactical commanders the appropriate action(s) at the scene of a suspected terrorist Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) incident and other incapacitating agents, selection and acquisition of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other required WMD equipment, (etc.), and the development of tactical training programs for Close Quarters Battle (CQB) in PPE. To reinforce the objectives of this course, scenario-based tactical WMD, tabletop exercises will be conducted. Applicable standards and regulations outlining the core competencies at the Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) Performance – Defensive level for emergency responders will be utilized in delivering this course.

  Primary Audience: This course is designed to provide certified state and local law enforcement tactical operators/commanders/team leaders with the knowledge, skill and abilities to evaluate, plan for and command a tactical respone to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction.

  Prerequisites: Participants must be a sworn member of a federal, state or local law enforcement agency with responsibility for tactical operations that may involve terrorist acts with weapons of mass destruction; Completion of Awareness level training in weapons of mass destruction; Endorsement by respective agency supervisor
   

• Weapons of Mass Destruction Tactical Operations -- This 40 hour technician level course is presented in a Train-The-Trainer format.  This course is designed to address technical functions associated with a tactical law enforcement response to a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incident. As such, it includes detailed technical information for hands-on practice of actions required of tactical law enforcement officers in WMD situations. The course consists of nineteen modules, which include classroom instruction, limited scope performance skills, and comprehensive practical exercises. This course provides law enforcement tactical operators (SWAT Officers) with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely and effectively perform tactical mission responsibilities in a WMD environment.

  WMD tactical operators are individuals who respond to incidents where the release of WMD agents has occurred or is likely to occur as a result of terrorist actions. These tactical operators may have to assume a more aggressive role than a typical tactical operator would in a conventional incident. Their mission may require them to enter hazardous environments to arrest terrorists, affect the rescue of hostages, and/or prevent the release of a WMD. This course will provide the WMD tactical operator with competency in the following areas: Describing past and current trends in WMD terrorism; Recognition and identification of WMD materials; Performance of monitoring and detecting for WMD materials; Selecting and using the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); Describing and performing the fundamentals of decontamination operations; Applying tactical operations planning and considerations involving WMD materials; Describing field-expedient WMD disruption techniques; Performing Close Quarter Battle (CQB) while wearing Personal Protective Equipment

  Primary Audience: This course is designed to provide certified state and local law enforcement tactical operators with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to operate using performance level skills in incidents involving WMD. Prerequisites: Participant must be a sworn member of a state or local law enforcement agency and currently assigned and functioning as an integral part of a fully operational law enforcement tactical team;  Completion of Awareness level training in Weapons of Mass Destruction; Completion of a medical questionnaire verifying that the participant is physically fit to attend this training program and to work in personal protective equipment (PPE), including wearing a negative and/or positive pressure respirator; Completion of a mask-fit test for the mask that the participant will utilize during this course

FUNDING FOR LOCAL TRAINING

• Incident Command System
• Critical Incident Management
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Hazardous Materials Technician
• Law Enforcement Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Operations
• Disaster Response and Recovery Operations
• Exercise Design and Evaluation
• Debris Management