Office for Domestic Preparedness 

Washington, D.C. 20531 

ODP Information Bulletin 

No. 130 August 30, 2004 

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-theTrainer 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. 

 

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