Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Provides Year-Round Training to State’s Public Safety Agencies and Personnel to Address Current and Evolving Threats
676 Public Safety Officials Completed Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training
176 First Responders Completed Swift Water/Flood Rescue Training
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany trained nearly 8,000 local, state, and federal public safety professionals from a variety of disciplines and agencies, including law enforcement, the fire service, and emergency management, from across New York State and beyond in 2023. Operated by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Center offered trainings last year that helped prepare these professionals to address current and evolving threats, perform water rescues in a variety of conditions, and grow knowledge in all aspects of emergency response. For example, 676 public safety professionals learned how to integrate unmanned aircraft systems into their public safety missions and 176 first responders completed water rescue courses at the Center’s Swift Water/Flood Rescue facility enabling them to respond to flood and swift water emergencies across the state.
“Public safety is my top priority, and that includes having the best trained first responders in the country to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “For 17 years, the State Preparedness Training Center has delivered cutting-edge, contemporary training to first responders to ensure they can respond effectively to any situation to protect the public. Over the years, the Center has expanded its course offerings and venues to attract a broader audience of public safety professionals from across New York State.”
The State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) offers state, local and federal agencies an extensive set of training venues and formats. From classroom lectures and discussions to reality- and high-performance scenario-based exercises, the facility offers a full range of dynamic training opportunities. The SPTC offers agencies realistic training environments such as a simulated city, a Swift Water/Flood Rescue facility, collapsed building rubble pile, woodland structures, train cars and other settings. Now in its 17th year of operation, the facility annually trains thousands of New York’s public safety partners including, but not limited to, law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services, and emergency management personnel, in a variety of areas including response to active shooter events, crisis negotiation, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations.
Since the Center opened in 2006, New York State has invested more than $40 million to create a world-class facility for training public safety officials. While training New York’s public safety community is the Center’s top priority, first responders from across the U.S., Canada and other countries have trained in Oriskany.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “New York State operates one of the premier first responder training centers in the world. Responders and officials who receive training at the Center are more prepared to meet the moment when challenging emergencies strike. I look forward, with the DHSES team, to welcoming even more first responders, emergency response, and public safety teams throughout the State to this excellent training venue in 2024.
In addition to holding numerous courses throughout 2023, the State Preparedness Training Center hosted several, large-scale training events including:
- Canine Week: More than 50 Explosive Detection Canine teams from across the state participated in scenario-based training and a series of challenging skills lanes. View highlights from Canine Week here.
- Tactical Week: Forty-two tactical team operators from across the state participated in advanced scenarios to test their capabilities. The Syracuse Police Department SWAT Team earned the ‘top’ team award this year. View highlights here.
- Public Safety Unmanned Aircraft Systems Summit: More than 350 local, state, and federal UAS stakeholders attended the summit to learn how to integrate this technology into their public safety missions.
- Technical Rescue Conference: Nearly 100 first responders attended the conference to conduct rope, water, structural collapse, vehicle rescue and UAS rescue training.
- U.S. Bomb Squad Technician Association Training Technology Exercise: Nearly 150 bomb technicians and military explosive ordnance device participants from across the nation attended the exercise to learn about current and emerging bomb disposal technologies.
- Excelsior Challenge: One hundred and fifty law enforcement officials including Bomb Technicians, Explosive Detection Canine teams, and Tactical Team operators participated in scenario-based training based on the current threat environment. Law enforcement officials from more than 50 different agencies participated in training, making the 2023 Excelsior Challenge the largest exercise in its history.
In 2024, the State Preparedness Training Center will continue to broaden the types of training provided in Oriskany, as well as the stakeholder groups engaged in these efforts, to ensure New York State is prepared to address the evolving threat environment. Next year the Center will host the Raven’s Challenge bomb squad exercise for the fifth time. This prestigious event, only hosted in four locations nationally each year, will bring together approximately 200 local, state, federal and international Bomb Technicians for a week of scenario-based training.
In addition to major events, the Center will host a broad array of courses for public safety officials. Visit the Center’s training calendar for more information and a list of upcoming courses.
About the State Preparedness Training Center
New York State is home to one of the premier first responder 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 (SWFT) 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 spectrum of opportunities for dynamic emergency first responder training.
About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism, natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.