CISA’s Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) recently announced the addition of two new training classes to its suite of Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) courses. The new classes, “Suspicious Activity Recognition for Bombing Prevention” and “Introduction to Bomb Threat Management,” are being offered in online sessions throughout the summer.  

VILT courses provide general awareness level counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) information to a broad audience through an on-line virtual training experience with a live instructor, according to OBP. The “Suspicious Activity Recognition for Bombing Prevention” course covers the BOMBER acronym, baseline behaviors, indicators, materials, bomb-making materials, elicitation, and reporting. Aimed at enhancing public safety awareness among professionals, it focuses on detecting activities that accompany the planning of a bombing attack. The “Introduction to Bomb Threat Management,” course offers learners essential knowledge on domestic bomb threats, the Office for Bombing Prevention BTMP process, creating bomb threat plans, and understanding their impact. It covers historical and current domestic bomb threat data, delivery methods, recipients, and effects. Serving as a blueprint, the course guides participants in managing bomb threats effectively, aiming to minimize financial and psychological impacts on communities.

These 75-minute courses offer 1 contact hour and 0.1 CEUs that are authorized by International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). A FEMA Student Identification (SID) number and Password are required to apply. If you don’t have a FEMA SID, one can be obtained by going to: https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/register. 

For registration issues, contact OBP Training Support at the CDP at [email protected] or (256) 847-2195 during business hours.

For questions, contact OBP Training at [email protected] with any questions. Register for the new online courses here.

Given the frequent sharing of tactical guidance on how to manufacture explosives, WaterISAC encourages its members to consider the risks of violent extremists employing explosives in attacks on their infrastructure and plan accordingly. Last year, for instance, a malicious actor in California used explosives to attack and destroy two electrical transformers, causing power outages to the local community. For resources on bomb threat mitigation, WaterISAC encourages members to visit the DHS Office of Bombing Prevention (OBP). Its mission is to help organizations prepare for, assess, and respond to a bomb threat and with that goal it offers multiple free products, training courses, and resources. Additionally, WaterISAC hosted a briefing with OBP in July 2023 – the recording and presentation are available here.