Improvised Explosive Device Recognition and Response

The use of explosives in criminal and terrorists’ activity both domestically and internationally has increased significantly over the past few years.  The Improvised Explosive Device continues to be the weapon of choice for radical terrorist as well as the closest threat, the narco-terrorists south of the United States border.  When an attack or threat occurs, the Police, Fire, and EMS first responders will be the first arriving officers at the scene, often without EOD and Tactical support for several hours.

This course is designed to provide the first responder with the tools, knowledge and capabilities to react to and stabilize an incident involving an improvised explosive device or suspect device until qualified technical support arrives on scene.  The course takes the student through the “Who” with historical studies of previous bombings and current threats that face them.  The “what” is covered in the components of improvised explosive devices and the effects of energetic material detonation.

Day 1 covers historical threats, current threats and explosives effects, including blast wave pressures and damage scales. Construction of improvised explosive devices, as well as Homemade Explosive threats is also taught.

 During Day 2, we will instruct the students in Explosive incident crime scene management as well as testing their knowledge through tabletop discussions and exercises involving explosive incidents.

The students will be trained in conducting a vulnerability assessment of potential targets in their area of operations and how to conduct a threat assessment and predictive analysis of an actual or suspected IED incident. Practical exercises will be conducted thorough group tabletop events that will challenge the students using threats in their AORs.

This course will provide valuable information for the first responder to accurate assess an incident and provide useable intel information to responding technical units.  It also provides the supervisory and management officer with valuable information to determine the level of threat and what is needed to justify operational closures and evacuations. 

The course is taught by a retired Bomb Squad Commander and Hazardous Devices Technician with experience in maintaining operational capabilities at a major International Airport as well as insuring the safety of citizens and responders.