TO:	All State Administrative Agency Heads All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact All State Homeland Security Directors Urban Area Working Group Core City Representative Urban Area Working Group Core County Representative
FROM:	C. Suzanne Mencer Director
SUBJECT:	WMD Standardized Awareness Authorized Trainer (SAAT) Program

Homeland Security strategies recently submitted to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) indicate that approximately 3.5 million emergency responders require chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) weapons of mass destruction (WMD) awareness training. In an effort to meet this identified need while supporting state and local efforts to institutionalize CBRNE awareness training, ODP is developing a standardized WMD awareness training program for implementation in fall 2004.

The goal of this program is to provide states and urban areas with a mechanism for delivery and sustainment of WMD awareness training for the ten emergency response disciplines included in their strategies: emergency management, emergency medical service, fire service, government administrative, hazardous materials, health care, law enforcement, public communications, public health, and public works. The standardized awareness curriculum will cover basic awareness level training; prevention and deterrence of terrorism; chemical and biological weapons agents; radiological and nuclear materials and explosive devices; and response actions.

The program will rely on a Train-the-Trainer approach to maximize the program's reach and facilitate ongoing efforts to incorporate WMD Standardized Awareness Authorized Trainers (SAAT) into state and local training programs. Trainers designated by States and urban areas will participate in a 12-hour National WMD Standardized Awareness Authorized Trainer (SAAT) Train-the-Trainer course taught by members of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium. Graduates of that program will then be certified to deliver the 6-hour National WMD Standardized Awareness course to personnel within their State and local jurisdiction. The expectation is that this program will build a core cadre of instructors who will carry out this training on an ongoing basis within their state and local area. Overtime and backfill costs associated with training deliveries will be eligible for reimbursement under the Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program. ODP will support Authorized Trainers with course materials and program updates as necessary.

The National WMD Standardized Awareness Program has fully met the requirements of the ODP Course Development and Review Process and will be referenced in the ODP Course Catalog as "AWR 160, Direct Delivery" and "AWR 160-1, Train-the-Trainer Courses." Delivery of this program will be implemented in three phases. In the first phase, AWR 160-1 will be delivered to six initial UASI cities. Once those six cities have completed the training, the delivery of the AWR-160-1 Train-the-Trainer course will expand to all UASI jurisdictions as part of the program's second phase. To facilitate this process, ODP requests that the Urban Area Working Group identify a single training point of contact to lead this coordination effort on behalf of the urban area. In the coming weeks, all urban areas should begin to identify at least 3 trainers for each of the 10 disciplines (30 trainers total) who will participate in the Train-the-Trainer program.

The third phase of the program will focus on States and territories and will commence after all urban areas have completed the Train-the-Trainer component. Each State and territory will have its own standardized awareness training team, in addition to urban area teams. Training points of contact in the states and territories will be expected to lead the coordination effort for this program. States are also urged to begin consideration of at least 3 candidates from each of the 10 disciplines to participate in the program as authorized trainers.

More detailed information on the National WMD Standardized Awareness Training initiative will be provided at the upcoming UASI conferences and through additional communications to State and urban area points of contact. Inquiries on this program related to your jurisdiction's participation should be directed to your Preparedness Officer. Requests for additional information on training program content should be directed to the Training Program Manager, Willie Johnson at 202-514-4134 or willie.johnson2@dhs.gov.