CDP creating virtual field force executive course

FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness is updating its Field Force Command: Executive Course and transforming it into a Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) offering.

The 8-hour course includes the topics Legal Perspectives, Crowd Dynamics, Demonstrator Tactics and Force Multipliers.

Legal Perspectives enhances the executive’s understanding of the legal limitations placed upon them by the U.S. Constitution, federal law and the courts to facilitate and protect constitutionally protected activities. It includes discussions of constitutional articles and amendments as well as legal precedents and statutes and how they relate to public demonstrations.

Understanding protest psychology is a key element of the Crowd Dynamics topic. It explores the types of protestors responders may encounter, their motives, and patterns of crowd behaviors.

In the Demonstrator Tactics segment, students will learn to identify tactics used by protest groups during a civil action event requiring law enforcement involvement. It provides an overview of individual roles within protest groups, demonstrator devices and countermeasures used by demonstrators against law enforcement.

The Force Multiplier topic provides executives with background about force multipliers and techniques to use during a civil disorder event. It also provides an overview of barrier systems and information about uses of barrier systems.

The FFC-E course is currently being reviewed by FEMA’s Office of Law Enforcement Engagement and Integration. Its release date is currently unknown.

For a list of all VILT courses offered by the CDP, visit https://cdp.dhs.gov/vilt.