The Empowered Trainer Program (ETP) is a Train-the-Trainer (TtT) program managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)’s Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP), designed to build the counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) training capabilities of public and private sector stakeholders by providing trainers with the essential knowledge and support required to effectively deliver OBP’s counter-IED and risk mitigation training in their local jurisdictions and/or their individual organizations using accredited curriculum and learning management systems.

What is ‘Train-the-Trainer’?

OBP trains and supports private, state, and local trainers to teach pre-determined C-IED training curriculum to their local audiences to increase IED awareness and preparedness across the nation.

• Provides accredited curriculum and learning management system access to authorized trainers to administer, document, track and deliver counter-IED training.
• Equips the trainer with the knowledge to sustain a viable counter-IED training program to support current and attrition training requirements.
• Works with the authorized trainer to administratively manage course scheduling, application approval, course deliveries, track course completion and certificates, and provide reach back support.
• Provides seasoned instructional staff and subject matter experts to provide best practices and platform techniques to deliver counter-IED and risk mitigation training to learners and groups.

We recruit individuals into the program who have a training mission as part of their assigned duties, have a trainer/instructor background and have permission from their supervisor/leadership to participate and meet the minimum requirements of the program.  The program expectation for those that attend and complete our Empowered Trainer certification course is to teach two (2) classes per year to remain active members of the program.

The next slot that we have available at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) will be June 9-13, 2024 (first and last days are travel days) in Anniston, Alabama.  All costs associated with training are absorbed by OBP (course tuition, air fare, transportation, lodging, and meals). We just can’t pay the cost of attendee salaries. The next set of dates at the CDP will be August 18-22.

We have other trainings scheduled in Los Angeles (April 2-4), Orange County, CA (November 5-7), and Boston (December 3-5). You can attend one of these trainings if you would like, but OBP will not be able to fund any of your travel, lodging or meals.

We are currently offering the following courses:

• AWR-348: Bombing Prevention Awareness (BPAC) - (an eight-hour course that can be taught as individual courses that are 75-90 minutes in duration)
  • AWR-333: IED Construction and Classification  -  (75 min)
  • AWR-334: Introduction to the Terrorist Attack Cycle  -  (90 min)
  • AWR-335: Response to Suspicious Behaviors and Items  -  (75 min)
  • AWR-337: IED Explosives Effects and Mitigation  -  (75 min)
  • AWR-338: Homemade Explosives (HME) and Precursor Awareness  -  (75 min)
• AWR-340: Protective Measures Awareness – (60 min)
• AWR-945: Bomb Threat Assessments for Decision Makes (60 min)
• AWR-943: Suspicious Activity Recognition for Bombing Prevention (60 min)
• AWR-939: Introduction to Bomb threat Management (60 min)

 For more information on the OBP Empowered Trainer Program e-mail us at OBPTraining@cisa.dhs.gov, or contact the ETP Program Manager, Donald Grinder, at donald.grinder@cisa.dhs.gov