More than 100 Public Safety and Military Unit Personnel from North America and Europe Took Part in Training Focused on Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in Oneida County
New York State is One of Four Sites to Host This Prestigious Public Safety Exercise in 2022, Funded by Department of the Army and Led by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State hosted another successful «Raven’s Challenge,» the world’s largest annual training exercise for public safety bomb squads and military explosive ordnance disposal teams. Held in four locations across the U.S., including this week at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany, the «Raven’s Challenge» brought together bomb squad technicians and military explosive ordnance teams for a week of scenario-based training on response tactics for improvised explosive devices. More than 30 law enforcement and military organizations in New York, other states including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont and Virginia, as well as Canada and Germany participated in the exercise.
«Protecting New Yorkers is our top priority and realistic training scenarios like these ensure our first responders have the skills they need to respond to a number of threats,» Governor Hochul said. «The training offered at the Raven’s Challenge enables bomb technicians here in New York, as well as throughout the country and abroad, to sharpen their skills and better address potential threats.»
In addition to New York, ATF conducted the Raven’s Challenge exercise in Florida, Oklahoma, and Utah this year. The Raven’s Challenge is funded by the U.S. Army and coordinated by the ATF and partner agencies including the Army, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and state and local law enforcement agencies.
More than 100 bomb technicians and military personnel participated in the Raven’s Challenge at the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) this week. This is the fourth time in seven years New York State has hosted this interagency exercise at the SPTC. During the week-long exercise, teams conducted scenario-based training based on the current threat environment and intelligence.
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, «Keeping New Yorkers safe, in the midst of a changing threat environment, is our top priority. Providing world class training opportunities to New York Law Enforcement is critical to this mission. We are grateful to the ATF and our federal partners for continuing to host the Raven’s Challenge at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oneida County. The SPTC is a world class venue that we’re proud to share with our partners at all levels of government in order to promote a safer environment for everyone.»
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) has administered $25.6 million in federal homeland security funding to support the 12 local FBI-accredited bomb squads in New York State in recent years. These teams utilize this funding to support equipment, planning, training, and exercise costs. This funding, coupled with high-level training exercises such as the Raven’s Challenge, helps prepare these teams to respond to New York’s ever-evolving threat landscape.
About the State Preparedness Training Center
New York State is home to one of the premier emergency response training facilities in the nation – the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) in Oriskany. Located on 1,100 acres, the SPTC offers an extensive series of realistic training venues, a Swift Water and Flood Training venue, a 45,000 square foot CityScape complex, and an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) simulator. From classroom lectures and discussions, to skill development lanes, to reality and high-performance scenario-based training, the SPTC offers state, local, and federal agencies a wide range of opportunities for dynamic emergency first responder training.
About the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or visit our website.